Parenting comes with a whole lot of tasks as a mother. There are a lot of things that we should know about our babies so we can make them feel comfortable at all times.
In addition to other parenting skills like knowing when to feed your baby, change their diapers, and give them a warm or cold bath, you need to master the skill of burping.
When your baby releases gas bubbles from their mouth, it is called a burp.
Sometimes, while babies burp, they release some contents from their stomachs, which is why you should possess a burp cloth you can use anytime for your baby’s burps.
Burping is normal for babies, especially after eating, due to gas intake during eating. This may lead to a lot of fussiness and discomfort and make them feel full even when they are not.
You must help your baby burp because they have an undeveloped digestive system.
There is no reason to stop burping your baby until they are older and their digestive system is mature enough.
If burping does not help release the excess gas and you still discover your baby is still experiencing discomfort, you may try other techniques like infant massage or making the baby lie on his/her stomach.
When Should You Burp Your Baby?
Babies are fed two ways: breastfeeding or bottle feeding, and you can burp your baby halfway between meals and after they are done eating.
When bottle-feeding your baby, ensure you pause and burp your baby before continuing to feed him. This will help reduce some air he may have taken in while feeding on the bottle and prevent fussiness.
You should also burp your baby when breastfeeding. As you switch him from one breast to another, try to burp him before you start feeding him again.
Your baby may refuse to feed again due to air intake, making him seem full. So, you need to burp him before switching from one breast to another.
Basic Positions for You to Burp Your Baby
- Over your shoulder: Firmly place your baby over your shoulder. Use one hand to support her bottom, and gently pat her back with your other hand.
- Sitting on your lap: Keep your laps closed together, and put your baby in a sitting position facing your right or left. Bend your baby forward slightly using one hand to support your baby firmly on the chest. Gently pat her on the back till she burps.
- Facedown: Keep your laps closed. Lie your baby with her tummy facing down. Ensure her tummy and head are well balanced on both laps to avoid her head dangling. Then gently rub her back till she burps.
- Walking: While standing or walking, hold your baby firmly in front of you with one hand on her bottom and the other hand lightly on her tummy. The pressure from your hand will help release any gas holding up in her stomach.
If your baby is always fussy and experience discomfort during and after meals, you should check the following factors
Air Intake
Babies who are bottle-fed will naturally take in more air while eating than those who are breastfed. Babies take in air if they feed fast, especially when hungry.
If the mother’s breast milk runs very fast, the baby tends to gulp air in an effort to keep up with the flow.
Try other breastfeeding positions and bottle feeders to reduce the high air intake.
Check Bottle Style
Different bottles with nipple sizes are available for appropriate ages. Babies who are bottle-fed are prone to higher air intake than those who are bread-fed.
So try your best to get the appropriate bottle with the right nipple size for your baby to avoid making the baby eat too fast and swallow air at the same time.
Baby Formula
Mothers mix their baby’s formula this way: Water in a feeder + baby’s formula + shake very well to mix = feed their baby. This step is obviously right and wrong at the same time.
Now, while shaking the feeder to mix up the formula, excess gas is introduced to the mixture, and feeding your baby straight away will cause discomfort.
After shaking, the best thing to do is allow the bottle to settle a bit before feeding your baby, or you can probably use a premixed formula.
Allergic Reactions
Babies get allergies, too, and they are intolerant to some of the foods we eat. As a breastfeeding mother, you must watch the things you eat to avoid causing your baby discomfort.
They may be sensitive to some of your meals, causing them to release lots of gas, just like you.
Mothers should note that babies are highly intolerant of dairy products and try reducing their intake.
Tips
- Gently rubbing or patting your baby’s back helps release excess gas intake
- Get a burp cloth to help protect your clothes and the baby’s
- When burping, concentrate more on the left side of your baby’s back.
- If you notice your baby is fussy during meals, try burping to release air
- Babies tend to consume the same food from their mothers through breast milk during breastfeeding. So check your diet to avoid causing your baby discomfort.
- Most babies fall asleep after feeding. If your baby falls asleep immediately after feeding, lay her on her stomach and gently pat her back.
- When babies burp, just a few stomach contents come out; if your baby ends up vomiting after eating, you need to see a doctor.
- If, after trying to make your baby burp, she doesn’t, then she doesn’t need to. But if you notice some discomfort, keep trying.
