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Burping in babies: A Guide to Baby Burping

 Burping in babies: A Guide to Baby Burping

 

A mother burping her baby
Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

Burping can be defined as the expulsion or release of the excess air from the stomach that has been swallowed by the baby while feeding.

Each time a baby is breastfed, it must follow the burping practice. Burping is one of the essential activity in babies. It helps the release of the air swallowed by the baby while sucking the milk.


How about getting a quick guide to baby burping? 

Alright! The interested mommies are at the right place to seek the best information for their babies. 

Burping aids in effectively reducing the proportion of gas or air trapped within the stomach. After burping the baby usually starts feeling light and relaxed.

 If burping is done too often or after instantly breastfeeding the baby, it may lead to problems such as colic, indigestion or presence of flatus in the stomach or intestines of baby contributing to baby crying, gassy feeling and discomfort. Baby may spit off the milk ingested, feed improperly as it’s tummy might feel full due to the presence of gas or flatus. The flatus is nothing but the air trapped inside during the sucking and swallowing process.

Burping is equally important for all the babies but it is highly recommended in premature babies or low birth weight as their sucking capacity is not as strong as the healthy full term babies. All the babies who are breastfed or bottle-fed must be burped following the feeding.

Steps to effective burping:

Photo by Tu Nguyen from Pexels

1) Feed the baby properly.

2) Following the breastfeeding, hold the baby in upright position against your chest.

3) Let the baby’s head rest on you. The chin must touch your shoulder and baby’s tummy touching your body.

4) Pat the back of the baby using cupped palm. This must be done in a gentle way. This facilitates the release the swallowed air.

5) Baby will expel air making some sound. This process is termed as burping.

 See also: Breast Cancer

Positions used for burping:

The above mentioned upright position is the most commonly practiced one in burping.

Some people may use different positions such as:

Putting baby on his belly or on mom’s chest keeping the head end elevated than the heart level.

Some mommies try sitting up their babies on their lap and supporting the chin and head with one hand and use another hand to pat their backs.

Timing of burping:

How often do you burp your baby? 

Baby needs burping after each feed. Do not hurry up. Slowly hold your baby up and then put the baby on your shoulder.  

Do you even burp your baby? 

Well, Don't worry. If not till now, start it right from now.  Learn about the timing of burping. 
Practice good parenting by letting your baby burp.  It is helpful in preventing some of the most common problems seen in babies like gas formation and constipation or discomfort in tummy. 

1) After every feed. It may be bottle or breastfeeding

2) Do burping for five to seven minutes.

3) Keep patience as your baby tries expelling air from the mouth.

4) After giving liquid medications or baby formulas in case the baby is sick or advised by the doctor. Burping following these becomes an important thing to do.

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