Learn How to Burp Your Baby

A key part of your baby's feeding routine is burping him. Your baby may swallow lots of air while feeding, and burping can help remove some of that gassiness and ease his fussiness. It may also help prevent him from spitting up. Find out how to burp your baby, and pick up some tips on making burping more effective.

How to Burp Your Baby: Positions to Try

Here are three burping techniques that have stood the test of time. After trying each of them out, you’ll probably settle on one that works best for you and your baby:

1. Hold your baby upright against your chest with his chin on your shoulder, all the while supporting him with one hand as you gently pat his back with your other hand.

2. Place your baby on your lap with him sitting up, all the while supporting his head and chest with one hand while you softly pat his back with your other hand.

3. Lay your baby on your lap with his belly faced down, all the while supporting his head so it’s higher than his chest, and pat his back.

Tips for Burping Your Baby

Try these tips the next time you need to burp your baby:

• Use repeated, gentle pats on her back.

• Cup your hand slightly as you pat her, as this is gentler than using a flattened palm.

• Drape a towel or bib over your lap or shoulder to protect your clothing as you burp your baby, in case your baby spits up (sometimes called “wet burps”).

Now that you know how to burp your baby, and these tips help you do so effectively, here’s a helpful visual guide:

How Long Should You Burp Your Baby?

There is no specific length of time needed for burping your baby. The more important factor is how often you burp him. With that in mind, burp your baby frequently throughout feeds, even when it looks like he doesn’t need to be burped. Waiting until after a feeding to burp your baby may mean your little one has swallowed too much air and may be fussier, so it’s better to stop feeding every so often and try to burp your little one. Here are some tips for burping your baby during a feeding:

• If you’re bottle feeding (which can include formula feeding or offering expressed breast milk), you’ll want to burp him after every 60 to 90 milliliters of milk.

• If you’re breastfeeding, burp your baby each time he switches breasts. Some breastfed babies may not need to burp as often, as they may not swallow as much air.

• If your baby hasn’t burped after some time, go back to feeding. Not every baby burps every time you want him to burp.

If your baby shows any of the following signs, you may want to burp him more regularly—for example, after every milliliter of milk during bottle feeding or every five minutes during breastfeeding:

• He is gassy

• He spits up frequently

• He has Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

• He seems very fussy.

After a feeding is over, keep your baby in an upright position for 10 to 15 minutes. This can help prevent him from spitting up. You may need to burp him longer if he does spit up or has been diagnosed with GERD.

Other Instances When Burping Your Baby Might Be Beneficial

If your sleeping baby wakes suddenly and you suspect it may be because of gas, burping her might help relieve the pressure and help her fall back asleep. A colicky baby, who may cry for three or more hours per day, might have gas from all the air she’s swallowed during one of these crying spells. You may consider burping her to see if it helps comfort her.

We hope these tips can help you burp your baby during feeding time to ensure she’s more comfortable. Don’t forget to stock up on plenty of diapers, which you will surely need after all these feedings and burpings. Earn points for all your purchases by using the Pampers Club app and use all your points to get rewards like coupons, toys, and gift cards.

How We Wrote this Article

The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.