A newborn requires some extra special care, and one of these is burping the baby after feeding1. Many first-time moms have questions about how to burp their baby and what is the best way to do it. Another frequent concern among moms is when the little one is breastfeeding and falls asleep without burping—what should you do at that moment? Should I wake the baby to make sure they burp? What is the best position for the baby at this time? The important thing is to remain calm and pay attention to the signals your baby gives you.
Does a Breastfed Baby Need to Burp?
Babies who are breastfed tend to control the flow of milk better and swallow less air, therefore suffering less from gas compared to bottle-fed babies. However, when the mother produces a lot of breast milk and the baby cannot control the milk flow and ends up swallowing air at the same time as milk, it becomes necessary to help them burp. That is why it is always recommended to help your baby burp after every feeding, especially when the baby shows discomfort during breastfeeding, as this is the time to help them burp. By four months, the baby is usually better able to control the milk flow and swallows less air, so the need to burp after every feed decreases. By six months, the baby can usually sit up unaided, and burping becomes a more natural process. 
Watch Out for Baby’s Signals
While breastfeeding, a baby may show several warning signs before burping, which can happen when certain steps during nursing are not done properly. Here are some tips that may help: If the baby starts grimacing, squirming, or pulling away from the breast, even though it’s feeding time and they’re obviously hungry. Ideally, you should hold the baby upright at the breast, keeping their head more elevated, to help the baby swallow the milk better and avoid ingesting air. If the newborn has trouble latching onto the areola correctly, this can lead to more air intake during feeds; in this case, making sure the baby’s mouth is properly positioned at the breast is important2.
What if the Baby Shows No Sign of Needing to Burp?
Don’t worry if your baby doesn’t burp—just keep them upright for a while before lying them down. This applies as long as your baby doesn’t have any other issues like gastric reflux; in that case, it’s best to consult your pediatrician for proper guidance.
The Correct Position to Burp Your Baby
There is no specific rule for how this process should happen, as every baby is different. At first, it might seem difficult, but with time it gets easier and the process becomes more natural, until the baby can do it on their own. Many questions arise about how to burp your baby, and there are a few positions that can help make this process easier. But remember, each child is unique—so trust your intuition when helping your baby burp. There are three positions most commonly used for burping: over the shoulder, sitting up, and lying tummy down. Over the shoulder, hold your baby upright against your chest, supporting them with your arm, and keep their arms and hands vertical. With one hand, gently pat the baby’s back until they burp. Another helpful position is to sit the baby on your lap facing away from you, leaning their torso slightly forward. Support one hand on their shoulder and hold their chin with the other hand. Then gently pat their back. A very simple position is to place your baby tummy down on your lap, supporting them with one hand, and gently pat their back with the other.
Is It Necessary to Burp the Baby in the Middle of Feeding?
Another common question is whether you need to pause feeding to make the baby burp. It should be done naturally, such as when switching the baby from one breast to the other, or when the baby stops nursing. Make sure the baby is satisfied with the feeding—if so, just use the best burping position. If you try to burp your baby and they don’t burp, don’t worry—this can happen and is a sign that all went well with breastfeeding. Just stay alert; if the baby shows discomfort or signs that they need to burp, then try again3. Some babies only release swallowed air when they hiccup—this is also normal, especially in newborns. Also remember, when a baby burps, there’s often a little milk with it, so always have a burp cloth handy to clean the baby’s mouth. See Also: Caring for Baby’s Ears, Flat Head, and Burping Photo: pxhere
