Burping infants how long

Reviewed By Melinda L. Winterscheid, M. When babies are feeding, they take in air, which can build up and make them uncomfortable, causing you to find yourself with a fussy, squirmy child. How much a baby needs to burp will vary from baby to baby. If you're burping a newborn after breastfeeding, the baby will typically burp less because they swallow less air. Most babies will outgrow the need to be burped by months of age.

You can often tell that a baby needs to be burped if he or she is squirmy or pulling away while being fed. This being said, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents try to burp their baby:.

Pausing to burp frequently slows feeding and reduces air intake. The best method for burping will generally differ for babies and parents — use the method that works best for you.

There are three popular methods for burping newborns and babies. The main difference is how the baby is held. Burping is mostly a comfort issue for your newborn or your baby. A randomized controlled trial compared 71 mother-baby pairs. One group regularly burped their babies, while the other did not. There was no difference between the groups in how frequently the babies cried.

This suggests burping might not affect how well a baby feels, and will probably not reduce crying. Additionally, the burped babies actually spit up more — eight times per week, on average, compared to an average of 3. The study is preliminary, and researchers have not tested its findings with a larger group. However, many pediatricians now tell parents that burping is optional.

Even if burping does sometimes reduce gas, there is no evidence that babies must burp after each meal. Not burping a baby will not harm them. Parents who want to burp their baby can experiment with different methods to find which is most effective and comfortable. They can try one of the following positions :. If a baby has a history of spitting up or reflux , keep them upright for 15 to 30 minutes after feeding. Parents who want to burp their babies or who find that burping eases fussiness should regularly burp during and after meals.

The baby may also need to burp if they begin pulling away from the breast, become stiff, or fuss while feeding. Burp the baby after they finish nursing. Try burping the baby every time they drink 2 to 3 ounces, or if the baby becomes fussy and stops eating. In most cases, a baby develops their own habits. Once a parent knows these habits, they should burp for the usual length of time it takes to get a burp.

If the baby does not burp and does not seem upset, there is no need to continue attempting to burp them. Every baby is different. In most cases, parents should consider burping the baby after each meal, or if the baby seems fussy or gassy. Consider burping :. In This Article. Decoding Crying. Continue Reading Below. Read This Next. How to Get Rid of Newborn Hiccups. How to Soothe Colic in Babies. Burping a Sleeping Baby. View Sources. Baby Feeding. First Year. First Year Groups.

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