Burping Your Baby: The Tiny Tactic That Makes A Big Difference
If you’ve ever fed your baby and thought, “Surely I don’t realllllly need to burp you,” you do. Burping is the boring, unglamorous, but super effective secret to calmer feeds, fewer night wakings, and generally a more content baby. Here’s your no-faff guide—what it is, why it matters, when to do it, and how long to try (without spending your entire life patting tiny backs).
Why burping matters (aka: air in = air out)
During feeds, babies often swallow air—more so if they’re guzzling fast, popping on and off, or crying before/mid-feed. Trapped air can:
Make them feel full before they’ve had enough milk (hello, snacky feeds).
Cause wind pain, fussing, back-arching, hiccups, and spit-up.
Disrupt sleep: that 20-minute nap “ping!” is often a bubble asking for an exit.
Bottom line: less trapped air = comfier tummy, better feeds, happier sleep.
When to burp (breast & bottle)
Breastfed babies
Mid-feed: pause to burp between sides or whenever baby fusses, gulps, or pulls off.
Fast letdown? Try a burp after that first minute, then relatch.
After the feed: Burp for 5-10mins
Bottle-fed babies
Every 30–60 ml (1–2 oz) is a solid rhythm.
If baby is collapsing the teat, clicking, or gulping loudly, pause and burp sooner.
Check nipple flow: too fast = more air + refluxy vibes; too slow = hard work = more air.
Overtired/evening cluster feeds
Burp little and often. Short pauses reduce gas build-up and help them settle when the feedathon ends.
How long should you try?
Newborns (0–8 weeks): 3–5 minutes is usually enough per burp break. If nothing happens, don’t force it—resume feeding and try again.
Night feeds: keep it brief—1–2 minutes is usually fine unless they’re fussy.
After the feed: a good 5- 10 minutes
3–6 months: many babies need less burping as their core strength and feeding efficiency improve. Follow their cues.
Pro tip: No burp after a few tries? Permission to stop. Over-burping can wake a sleepy baby more than the bubble would.
How to burp your baby
I love this video by Dr Mike Marinus with clear, practical examples on how to burp your baby so I’ll let him do the demo for me
Little upgrades:
A few knee-to-tummy “bicycles” before/after a feed can move stubborn bubbles.
Try burping in a different room or standing/swaying if baby’s distracted or wriggly.
White noise can calm a tense baby long enough for the burp to surface.
Signs your baby might need a burp (right now)
Gulping/clicking at the breast or bottle
Squirming, arching, “I’m done!” theatrics mid-feed
Hiccups, wet burps, milk dribbles
The infamous 20-minute nap wake looking uncomfortable
Common burping myths (and what actually helps)
“Breastfed babies don’t swallow air.” They do—especially with fast letdown, shallow latch, or when fussy.
“Never wake a sleeping baby to burp.” If they’re out cold and comfy, let them be. If they’re squirmy/spitty, a quick upright hold can save you a wake-up later.
“Harder pats = better burps.” Nah. Angle + gentle pressure matter more than force.
Troubleshooting
Loads of spit-up? Smaller, more frequent burp pauses, upright after feeds, and check bottle flow/position.
No burp ever? Some babies simply don’t burp often. If they’re comfy and feeding well, you’re fine.
Endless wind + distress? Try paced bottle feeding, review latch, and consider a different teat flow. Persistent pain? Chat to your health professional.