How to Burp a Baby and Why You Should Do It

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Have you ever wondered why your baby seems uncomfortable after eating or starts crying for no clear reason? Learning how to burp a baby is one of the most important skills every new parent needs to know. This simple action can make the difference between a happy, content baby and a fussy, uncomfortable one.

Many new parents feel worried when their baby cries after feeding time. The good news is that most of the time, trapped air in the baby's stomach causes this discomfort. When babies eat, they often swallow air along with milk, which can make them feel bloated and upset.

In this article, we will talk about how to burp a baby with three methods and why you should do it. We will also talk about when to burp your baby and what you should do when it doesn't work out. We gathered the guide from various sources, Monday (19/1/2026).

There are three main ways to burp a baby that work well for most parents. Each method is safe and effective, so you can try all of them to see which one your baby likes best.

1. Over-the-Shoulder Position: Hold your baby upright against your chest with their chin resting on your shoulder. Support your baby's head and neck with one hand while gently patting or rubbing their back with your other hand. Cup your hand slightly when patting because this feels more comfortable for your baby than using a flat palm. You can also try walking around slowly while doing this, as the gentle movement often helps babies release trapped air.

2. Sitting on Your Lap: Face your baby away from you and place one hand flat against their chest to support them. Make sure you support their chin and jaw area, but never put pressure on their throat. Lean your baby forward just a little bit and use your free hand to gently pat or rub their back. This position works well because it puts gentle pressure on the baby's stomach.

3. Across Your Lap Face Down: Support your baby's chin with one hand while making sure their head stays higher than their chest. Use your other hand to gently pat or rub their back. This position can be very effective because gravity helps the air bubbles move up and out of the stomach.

Remember to always keep a cloth or burp cloth nearby when you try any of these positions. Babies often bring up a small amount of milk when they burp, and this is completely normal. The cloth will protect your clothes and make cleanup easier.

You don't need to spend a long time trying to get a burp. Usually, two to three minutes of gentle patting should be enough. If your baby doesn't burp right away, you can try changing positions or take a short break before trying again.

Why do babies need to be burped? When babies drink milk from a bottle or breast, they naturally swallow some air along with the milk. This air gets trapped in their stomach and creates uncomfortable gas bubbles.

These trapped air bubbles can cause several problems for your baby. First, they make your baby feel full even when they haven't eaten enough milk. This can lead to poor feeding and slow weight gain. Second, the gas bubbles cause stomach pain and discomfort, which makes babies cry and become fussy.

Burping helps release these air bubbles before they cause problems. When you burp your baby properly, you help them feel more comfortable and relaxed after eating. This also helps prevent spitting up, which happens when trapped air pushes milk back up through the baby's mouth.

Babies who are not burped regularly may become uncomfortable and fussy. The trapped gas can make babies cry and feel upset after eating. Regular burping prevents most of these issues and helps your baby feel better after meals.

Some babies swallow more air than others, especially if they eat very quickly. This is why some babies need more frequent burping than others.

When is the right time to burp your baby? Timing is just as important as knowing how to do it properly. There are no strict rules about timing, but there are clear signs that tell you when your baby needs help releasing trapped air.

The most obvious time to burp your baby is when they show signs of discomfort during or after feeding. Look for signs like crying, arching their back, pulling their legs up toward their stomach, or clenching their fists. These behaviors usually mean your baby has trapped gas that needs to come out.

For bottle-fed babies, try burping every two to three ounces of milk. This means stopping the feeding session, burping your baby, and then continuing with the bottle. If your baby tends to be gassy, spits a lot, or seems fussy during feeding, you might need to burp them every ounce of milk they drink.

For breastfed babies, burp them each time you switch from one breast to the other. If your baby tends to be gassy, spits a lot, or seems fussy during feeding, try burping every five minutes during breastfeeding.

Always burp your baby at the end of every feeding session, even if they seem comfortable. This final burp helps make sure all trapped air comes out before you put your baby down to sleep. After burping, keep your baby upright for 10 to 15 minutes to help prevent spitting up.

Some babies wake up from sleep because of gas pain. If your baby wakes up crying and seems uncomfortable, try picking them up and burping them. This often helps them go back to sleep more easily.

Sometimes normal burping techniques don't work, and your baby continues to show signs of trapped gas. When this happens, there are other methods you can try to help your baby feel better.

If your baby won't burp after trying the three main positions, lay them on their back and gently massage their stomach. You can also try moving your baby's legs back and forth like they are riding a bicycle. This movement helps release trapped gas.

If your baby continues to have gas problems despite trying these methods, talk to your pediatrician or health visitor. They can check if there are any underlying issues causing the excessive gas.