These three components are play factors in the best way to burp a baby. Learn more about each component below:
- Timing
- Positioning
- Expectations
Timing
- The natural timing of the perfect burp is ¾ of the way through a feeding and at the end.
- If you’re breastfeeding, burp in between each side and at the end.
- Burping sessions last 2-3 minutes tops (this is a sprint – not a marathon).
Positioning
- Over the shoulder with some light pats that go from the middle of the back upwards.
- Our fave – “the waffle iron” – see here (not a real appliance – just a description of how to position a baby so their legs actually put a little pressure on that sweet spot right under the rib cage that helps the bigger air bubble get to the top)
- Repositioning – Just like a Coke bottle that has an air bubble at the bottom, in order to get it to the top – you reposition. Recline the baby and then place them in a seated position a bit more over their thighs and then pat the back from middle to upper area x 1 min, then repeat – recline/sit up/ pat-pat-pat. Do that three times, and the third time may produce a burp upon sitting up!
Expectations
- If that burp does not appear within about 3 minutes… then we manage expectations.
- Not all babies are designed to burp well. What doesn’t come out of the attic will come out the basement. So, it is not essential to burp with every feeding.
- It is OK to move on.
Watch this quick video of Laura Hunter, MOC Co-Founder, demonstrating how to burp a baby with some of our favorite baby burping techniques discussed above.
Moms on Call provides simple, sensible parenting resources to sleep, feed, laugh and love birth through toddlerhood. You can find tips like this and more in our books and Online Video Courses for 0-6 months where we cover everything from feeding and sleeping to schedule transitions and typical days at each stage.
