Becoming a new parent is quite an exciting thing but at the same time requires you to master certain skills right from day one. Apart from changing diapers which are quite easy, you need to learn the art of feeding and burping your baby right after that. Sounds easy, but no so for everyone.
It’s important to know and understand why we need to burp a baby soon after feeding. To put it in simple words, burp is the gas that gets trapped in the gastrointestinal system that has to be released. Babies, especially newborns tend to gulp fast when they feed and therefore bring in extra air into their tummies. If this gas is not released, your baby feels full in the stomach and that can be quite discomforting. And as little ones feel uneasy, they begin to cry. And because they cry for almost everything, it becomes difficult to understand why they are crying. Breastfed babies tend to swallow less air when compared to those that are bottle-fed or those whose moms produce an abundance of milk. Therefore, it is OK even if babies that are breastfed are not made to burp soon after a feed.
Nevertheless, to be on the safer side, most doctors recommend that you burp your baby as often as you can, particularly after every feed even if the baby doesn’t show any discomfort or there is no release of gas during the process.
When it comes to burping there are three positions followed commonly:
There is another position though not commonly followed.
Talk/ sing softly while you burp your baby; it helps them to relax faster. If your baby hasn’t burped despite all your efforts, don’t worry. You can gently massage her tummy, in a circular clockwise motion. This helps soothe and relax easily. Even after all this, if your baby hasn’t burped, do not worry. Maybe your baby is not uncomfortable and doesn’t need to be burped at all.
Usually, it is not necessary to burp the baby after they feed in the night. That’s because they swallow less air and are more relaxed when they feed at this time. However, if you are very particular and want to be on the safer side, you could slowly prop the baby up (you don’t need to get up), pat him/her gently on the back until you’ve heard them burp and bring him/her back to the sleeping position.
Let’s get some tips first:
As for the tricks, it completely depends on you and the baby. Most moms use any of the burping methods that have already been discussed. But with some babies, burping is never easy. In such cases you could try any of the following:
If nothing works and you are worried, you can consult your pediatrician during the next visit.
Burping sounds simple, yet sometimes it can get quite tedious. For some new moms, this might be the next difficult thing after feeding, while for others it might happen in a breeze. Like anything new, it requires some practice and patience. Try different techniques to decide what suits your baby. In no time, it will happen easily. Don’t fret over it. Relax and enjoy this phase while it lasts.
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