Burping your little one might seem like a simple task, but oh, the sweet relief it brings!

Newborns and infants are more prone to swallowing air during feeding, whether from breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Burping helps release trapped air in a baby's stomach, reducing discomfort caused by gas bubbles.  Burping helps expel this swallowed air, promoting better digestion and reducing the likelihood of colic or gassiness. Burping can reduce the chances of gastroesophageal reflux (spitting up) in babies. By expelling air, it minimizes the likelihood of stomach contents moving back into the esophagus.

There is no right or wrong way to burp your baby. There’s also no air in the breast, so some breastfed babies may or may not give you a good burp after feeding. Find your rhythm with a gentle, rhythmic patting motion. Experiment with different positions – over the shoulder or sitting upright – to discover your baby's burping sweet spot. Every baby is unique, so don't be afraid to try different burping techniques. I prefer sitting them on your lap with the burp cloth over your hand because you will wear spit up less than when they’re are over the shoulder, plus you can see their face.

Some may prefer a back pat, while others might respond better to a gentle bounce. Patting young babies may trigger the startle reflex or if they’re over full increase the chance of spitting up, so sometimes just moving baby into different positions after feeding, including promoting side lying on their left side, can help aid in getting the air out without causing increased discomfort.

To watch me burping a baby in several positions click here To watch me burping a baby in several positions click here