When & Why to Burp Your Baby

As a new parent, there are certain basic skills that you will need to learn and be really good at in order to provide proper comfort to your baby. Helping the baby burp post feeding is one of those extremely important skills that you will need to pick up. Burping helps in getting rid of some of the air swallowed by baby during feeding and if that air is not emitted then it just makes them spit up or feel very cranky due to discomfort.

In this article, we will discuss in detail about why do babies need to burp, the importance of it & when should you burp them.

What Is a Burp?

A Burp (also called a belch) is release of excess gas bubbles out of your mouth. A burp in grown up kids and adults is usually just composed of gas (dry burp) but in babies it can contain certain stomach contents as well (wet burp) making it almost necessary for parents to use a burp cloth while helping the kid.

Why do Babies need to Burp ?

It is a known fact that whenever your baby drinks or is fed, they swallow a small amount of air along with the milk (or formula). These air bubbles (or gas) formed in their little stomach’s can get trapped and cause them constant discomfort. Please also note that this gas can also be formed in the stomach due to the process of digestion & any kind of food intolerance. These air bubbles can also cause the child to feel full much earlier than normal, preventing them from being fully fed as per recommended amount.

Due to these reasons, it is important for parents to properly help the babies burp and get rid of the excess gas and keep them in happy mood.

When Should you Burp your Baby ?

Doctors recommend that parents should burp their babies during feeding breaks and at the end of a feeding session. This helps get rid of excess gas and allows them to be fed fully. If baby is being breast-fed, burp when you switch the baby from one breast to the other to make room for more milk. For babies being fed from bottle, it is recommended to burp them after every 2-3 ounce of liquid till they are atleast 6 months old.