Complete Baby Burping Guide
Is your Baby not burping after feeding ?. Helping your Baby Burp is a necessary skill that every parent needs to learn. Here we have a complete guide for you with every little information you need to learn how to help your little one Burp.
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.
Primary Reasons why Babies form Gas
1) Swallowing Air while Feeding
While feeding, babies inadvertently swallow certain amount of air along with the milk (or formula) which gets trapped in their stomach. It is usually much more common with babies being fed from bottle however breastfed babies also get atleast some amount of gas through this factor.
2) Through the Process of Digestion
It is a common knowledge that mother’s eating habits influence the quality of milk that is produced and being fed to the child. There are certain foods which get passed on to the child through breast milk and gets broken down in intestine by bacteria and cause gas. Some of the common foods which have been observed to cause this issue are
– Vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, artichokes)
– Fruits (apricots, melons, peaches)
– Beans- Fried Food
– Strong Caffeinated Drinks
3) Food Intolerance
Babies can sometime have intolerance towards certain foods (received through breast-milk) or certain baby-formulas. If you notice your baby forming excessive gas, it could be a case of being allergic to certain food groups. Carefully note down what you eat which is resulting into baby forming excessive gas and visit your pediatrician who can suggest certain diet changes you might need to make.
Best Positions to Burp the Baby
1) On the Shoulder In this first and most popular position, you should sit upright and hold your baby against your chest. Your baby’s chin should rest on your shoulder as you support the baby with one hand. With the other hand, gently pat your baby’s back. Sitting in a rocking chair and gently rocking with your baby while you do this may also help.
2) On your Lap Lay your baby on your lap on his or her belly. Support your baby’s head and make sure it’s higher than his or her chest to prevent any stress on the neck. Gently pat your baby’s back while holding them securely with the other hand.
3) While Sitting up Hold your baby sitting up, in your lap or across your knee leaning slightly forward. Support your baby’s chest and head with one hand by cradling your baby’s chin in the palm of your hand. Use the other hand to gently pat your baby’s back.
4) While Walking A less popular approach for slightly older babies who have decent head control. Hold the baby upright in front of you,, while you stand and walk. Put one hand under her bottom and the other arm across her tummy to apply very light pressure.
Burping : Tips & Tricks for Parents
1) Babies sometimes tend to spit a little (wet burp) during burping. Always use a burp cloth no matter which burping technique you are adopting.
2) Focus on the left side of baby’s back where your little one’s stomach is located. This will help speed up the burping.
3) In most cases, a gentle pat on the back is enough for babies to burp but in some cases, you might need to use a firmer hand.
4) If your baby is showing reluctance while feeding then that might be because of stomach gas. Give feeding a break and try to burp the baby in the middle and continue once the child is comfortable.
5) Don’t try to feed the baby too much milk in one go. Also don’t wait to feed till baby is too hungry because it will try to bigger gulps which will only promote more gas to form.
Do you have any more tips that you would like to share with us ? Please let us know through your comments below.
