There will be signs baby needs to burp during and at the end of the feeding, so you don’t have to worry about that. These signs can be different from crying and mild nervousness to ceasing feeding, which can be similar to teething. However, the age of the baby is different in the case of teething.
You need to understand those signs that your infant is giving you, in order to help her or him to be obedient because it is an important part of the baby feeding process.
Burping occurs due to the baby’s ability to swallow milk. The baby may feel abdominal pain, have cramps or feel unease and stop feeding. One of the most popular signs is ceasing feeding even though the baby didn’t eat enough. If the child stops in the middle of feeding, this isn’t a sign that the baby is finished with his/her meal, but rather a sign that it needs to burp.
When it burps, he/she will continue to breastfeed or suck the bottle with relief. If your baby starts to make grimaces and unpleasant facial expressions during feeding, it is a sign that it should burp again.
Pushing milk out of the mouth and spitting it during feeding is also a sign of belching. Squinting and restlessness during feeding indicate that your baby has swallowed air, which can be heard while the infant is greedily swallowing its favorite milk.
Never put your baby to sleep in the crib right after feeding. It will probably wake up crying or will not be able to fall asleep at all. A child must burp first and then rest. If your baby is on its back during feeding, it will swallow more air which will cause belching.
Therefore, if possible, the baby should be kept in a semi-sitting position or upright, then it will certainly swallow less air thus making it easier to breathe.
How do I know if my baby needs to burp?
Is your baby grunting? If yes, then it needs to burp. A “mulch” noise is the sound of a baby experiencing trapped air and it needs to be released by a release of gas from the diaphragm after sucking in air from the chest.
Your baby grimaces, shrinks its knees, starts crying in the middle of feeding, starts fidgeting, simply shows restlessness and discomfort, which is a sure sign that it needs to burp.
To tell if your baby is grumbling or not, put a hand on its tummy. Mothers should listen to what their babies are telling them! This also tells you if your little one has gas bubbles rather than food sitting at the bottom of his/her intestines somewhere, which can be uncomfortable for mom as well as the baby because too much pressure builds up there.
When the pressure is released and your baby has milk in its stomach instead of air, feel free to continue feeding. Every baby is different so even those signs baby needs to burp can be different. It can happen that the baby spits or vomits some milk at the moment of belching too.
Don’t let that scare you, it’s completely normal. After burping, you can continue feeding the baby. It is usually necessary to make the baby burp during feeding and at the end of a feeding.
What if the baby doesn’t burp and falls asleep?
After the baby is born it will need only two basic things. Food and sleep. If your baby falls asleep right after feeding, that’s not a good sign. There is a big possibility for the baby to wake up due to stomach pain or discomfort caused by the air in the stomach.
During feeding, your baby greedily swallows milk and so a lot of air reaches its stomach. Also, the baby may vomit during sleep and thus create chaos in the bed. In this situation, babies get scared and end up crying.
That is why it is necessary to hold the baby upright immediately after feeding, holding it with one hand while its head is on your shoulder. On the other hand, gently massage the baby’s back with a rhythmic and circular motion.
The baby will burp quickly and then you can put it to bed to sleep. It is also a good idea to place a towel or diaper on the shoulder where the baby’s head is so that mom or dad does not get wet.
When your baby burps, he/she will always throw up a little milk, which the air pushes out, and that’s a good thing. You can also put the baby on its stomach after feeding, and while the baby is lying in your lap, you can gently massage its back. Another technique is to put the baby on the bed and slightly raise its legs and rhythmically push forward and backward as if riding a bicycle.
All of these techniques will cause successful belching and make it easier for your baby to digest. Remember to always have a diaper or towel on hand because your sweetheart loves to make a fountain.
How long should you spend trying to burp a baby?
Every baby is different, sometimes it takes a minute or two to burp, some babies will burp while you try to straighten up, and you will stay wet and stunned. However, some take up to half an hour and more depending on the baby’s age. Newborns usually need more time while three months old babies need up to five minutes or less.
But we would say that 3-4 minutes should be enough for most babies who are over 12 months old. It is different for every baby, so there are no rules, but these data are average. Just be persistent, gently massage the baby and expect the result in the form of a nice big and sometimes noisy burp.
If your baby is often stiff and nervous after feeding, burps heavily, and needs a lot of time, consult a pediatrician for additional help. Sometimes a medicine or supplement is needed to make it easier for the baby to digest and burp easier. Never give baby products on your own without consulting a specialist.
Summary
Parents should be aware that every baby, even though it’s not able to talk just yet, can give you some signals. Therefore, there are signs the baby needs to burp, and parents should follow them. It’s okay if you don’t recognize it right away because you will understand them before you know it.
Babies will move a lot, cry, and even cease feeding in order to belch. These can clearly be the signs baby needs to burp. However, parents should be aware that they shouldn’t put the baby to sleep right after the feeding.
Hold your baby with one arm on your hand, while its head is on your shoulder. Rub gently the baby’s back and wait until the burp comes. Some babies need only a few minutes until they do it while others need much more. So, be patient and listen to what your baby is signaling you.
