When you burp, your baby releases gas and feels more comfortable. Most babies who like to suckle at night usually fall asleep while feeding, but still have to be made to burp. So, it's important to find a position that allows your baby to burp properly without getting up. If you create the right environment and come up with a method for making your baby burp based on his feeding and sleeping patterns, you should have no trouble getting a sleeping baby to burp.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Part 1: Choosing the Right Burping Method
Step 1. Hold the baby and make him burp
This technique is great for babies who sleep on their stomachs or like to be cuddled when they sleep.
- Lift and hold the baby slowly so that he does not wake up.
- Let his head or chin rest on your shoulder, and support his bottom so it doesn't fall off when picked up.
- Place your other hand on the baby's back and gently pat it to help him burp.
- Once your baby is able to support his head and neck, you can hold him slightly away from your shoulders so that he burps. Position her tummy near your shoulder, and gently press her tummy with your shoulder. Make sure the baby is still breathing comfortably and support the bottom with one hand while placing the other hand on the baby's back. Keep pressing his stomach with your shoulders until he burps.
Step 2. Lay the baby down and make him burp
This method is great if you can already breastfeed your baby lying on his side, as all you have to do is pull him close and support his head and tummy in your lap.
- Place the baby on your lap, across in front of you.
- Position her belly on your feet, and gently press your feet against her stomach. Make sure the baby's body is straight so that the blood does not go to the head.
- Tilt the baby's head to one side so that he can breathe properly even when he is on his stomach.
- Use your hands to support his head by placing your thumb and forefinger on his jaw or chin, just below the ear. Do not place your hands on the baby's neck or near the throat because there is a risk of choking or interfering with his breathing.
- Wait for the baby to burp.
Step 3. Rest the baby on your body
This technique is best applied to babies who like to sleep on their stomach and usually sleep well because this position is usually easy to wake the baby up.
- First, lean back on a comfortable chair or sofa at an angle of 130 degrees. You can also use some pillows on the bed to lean on.
- Gently attach the baby to your body. Position her so her face is facing downwards. His head should be on your chest and his stomach on your stomach.
- Support the bottom with one hand and place the other hand on the baby's back to pat it gently.
- Keep patting your baby on the back until he burps.
Method 2 of 3: Part 2: Creating the Ideal Burping Environment
Step 1. Feed the baby in a quiet room or area free of distractions to reduce burping
Most babies tend to swallow air when disturbed by loud noises during feeding, and that can introduce more gas and have to burp more often.
Step 2. Don't panic if your baby spits up milk while burping
This is a common part of burping and occurs because the air in the baby's stomach is usually trapped in the milk he is drinking. So, when the air comes out, the milk also comes out. You may notice milk also coming out of his nose. Milky discharge from the mouth and nose is normal for most babies when burping. So, don't worry if this happens.
- It can also occur due to reflux. Reflux occurs when milk and stomach acid flow back from the baby's stomach and out in his mouth causing him to vomit. If the baby continues to produce a lot of milk, you may want to try an upright burping position by holding or leaning the baby to prevent the milk from leaking out of the mouth.
- Babies should stop vomiting milk when they reach 12 to 24 months of age.
Step 3. Place a clean cloth on your shoulder or chest while making the baby burp
This is to prevent baby vomit from staining your clothes. You can also use the clean cloth to wipe the baby's mouth and nose.
Step 4. Do not force the baby to burp if he seems comfortable after feeding
It's okay if your baby doesn't burp after every feeding as long as he looks comfortable and doesn't have gas in his stomach. Your baby may burp at the next feeding or burp more, and that's fine.
When trying to make a baby burp, always pat the baby on the back gently, as a hard pat doesn't encourage the baby to burp faster or easier
Method 3 of 3: Part 3: Understanding Baby Burping Habits
Step 1. Pay attention to whether the baby squirms or fusses when feeding
Since most babies can't tell when they want to burp, you'll need to recognize their body language to tell if their stomach is full of gas and should burp. Most babies who need to burp usually squirm during feedings and are fussy, and look uncomfortable.
- Burping is very important for a baby because he has to expel gas in the body from drinking milk. So you should encourage him to burp when he falls asleep during feedings.
- Most babies burp on their own around two months of age and stop burping around four to six months of age. So you don't have to make him burp after that.
Step 2. Monitor baby's burping after he feeds
Pay attention to how often she has to burp after each feed. If he doesn't burp much during the day, chances are you don't need to burp him at night.
Most babies who breastfeed at night do not need to be burped because they are less restless while feeding and consequently do not swallow as much air
Step 3. Remember that some babies may burp more often
This may be due to the way she is breastfed. Bottle-fed babies swallow more air than babies who feed directly from the mother's breast, and as a result have more gas.
- In general, most babies who feed from the mother's breast should be made to burp when you change breasts and after the feeding session is over. Bottle-fed babies generally have to burp every 50 to 80 ml of milk they drink.
- If you are feeding your baby from a bottle, look for a special bottle that reduces the amount of air your baby sucks in to reduce the amount of air trapped in his tummy.
