One of the most invaluable things I learned from having a baby nurse is proper burping techniques. They’re seriously experts!
Here’s a video of it in action. Of course Olive let out a big burp right after I stopped filming.
I had no idea how to burp a baby other than over my shoulder, which is what you always see in the movies. These are some burping tips I’ve learned from watching a baby nurse in action.
– The preferred burping position of most baby nurses is the over the lap position as seen above. Seat your baby off the side of your lap, support their head by cupping your thumb and index finger under their face, and pat their back. You can put your remaining fingers under their armpit to provide them with more support. It definitely takes a little practice to get comfortable with this position, but I think it’s much more effective than the over the shoulder position.
– The over the shoulder position makes the baby extra comfy and sleepy, which may make it harder for you to get a burp.
– Rub the baby’s back in an upward stroke to move the gas up.
– Switch the baby’s position if you can’t get the burp after a couple of minutes.
– You can pat your baby’s back much harder than you think. The nurses at the hospital practically beat Charlie!
– Breastfed babies tend to burp less than bottle fed babies.
– Hold your baby at an upright angle when bottle feeding to reduce gas.
– Burp your baby every 2 ounces or so, or when you switch breasts. If your baby starts fussing during a feeding, it may be because they need to burp.
– Baby nurses never stop until they get the burp. Sometimes it takes them up to 15 minutes, but they don’t quit. They believe you’ll have to burp the baby later anyway if you don’t get it out the first time, and babies sleep better if you get a burp out of them before putting them down.
I don’t always get the burp 100% of the time, but I do try to get it almost every time.
I was so glad when Charlie could finally burp himself, I think around the 6 month mark. (Most babies no longer need to be burped between 4-9 months of age.) I still continued to burp Charlie, but didn’t really worry if I couldn’t get the burp since his digestive system was much more developed at that point.
How diligent are you about burping your baby?
kiwi / 500 posts
Kylie was soo hard to burp from the very beginning. But my mother was such an expert at burping, she could get her to burp 90% of the time and she was able to do it in a very short time. I was probably able to burp her 50% of the time, pretty hit or miss. It was the death of me because her ped was always saying she sounded very gassy.
My mom also prefers the sit on the lap, hand supporting chin technique as well. It was the position I was most comfortable with because of her. At about 4 mths, she was able to burp herself and I didn’t make it a part of our routine anymore.
Side note: Look at how adorable Charlie was as a newborn!!! Uhhh, I die!
GOLD / wonderful coffee bean / 18478 posts
I burped my LO the same way, after every 2 oz. Luckily my LO was very easy to burp and it usually only took a few pats. However, it was still very nice when she no longer needed to be burped. So weird to think back to those days since they have definitely faded from my memory by now!
I remember that pic of Charlie from when you first posted it! Or a similar pic? Look at that itty bitty Charlie … wow!
nectarine / 2458 posts
Thanks for this – I’m sure it’ll be really useful once Navy_baby gets here!
coffee bean / 29 posts
HA. I was expecing baby olive to let out a massive trucker burp at the end of the video
honeydew / 7917 posts
I was too afraid to burp my LO over the shoulder since he had very little neck control. I used the over the lap position after having the nurses teach me at the hospital. I’ll have to remember the rubbing up the back tip the next time I get a chance to burp an infant. Sounds very effective.
persimmon / 1255 posts
I.was shocked.how hard.the nurses.were burping my LO too! I was diligent the first few months but gradually eased up at around 4 months and then stopped completely at about 6 months.
honeydew / 7968 posts
thanks! i always like video demonstrations better, as i’m a very visual person.
pear / 1852 posts
I look forward to burping my own. When I used to babysit it was over my shoulder, and when we visit our nephews, that’s how too. I used to ROCK at burping, I hope I still have the skill.
GOLD / wonderful grape / 20289 posts
We’re very lucky, my lo is an awesome burper. Most of the time it comes out before I can even lift her up. Takes after her daddy
pomegranate / 3053 posts
That is a very effective way of burping. The nurses at the hospital actually taught it to me that way and I was always able to burp my son. And, yeah, I felt like I was beating my son as well! I don’t even pat adults that hard! I’m like you…burped for a long time too! I think past 8 months. Haha! And then loved it when he was able to burp himself…especially those really manly ones!
apple seed / 1 posts
This is exactly how we burp Isla! My husband actually has a better touch with this than I do. I can do it half the time and he can do it almost every time. You can tell when he is home because our child is not gassy and fussy.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
That video is an amazing visual tutorial
Bookmarking this right now.
cherry / 190 posts
I used to burp Charlie like this, but lately after a feeding (I almost always feed her in a reclined position) all I do is sit her up on her butt and “burrrrrrp!” It’s so cute. We rarely have to do the pat anymore
cherry / 133 posts
This is definitely ver effective! The video helps a lot
grapefruit / 4819 posts
I’ll definitely have to remember this one! I was quite a fussy baby with a lot of gas issues I guess so I am petrified that our baby is going to be the same way. *Must bookmark this for later*
guest
You needed to hire a baby nurse to show you how to burp? I am a first time mom and I kind of knew from… at least tv… that you just pat them on the back or lay them over your lap and rub their back. Sorry, but this seems so out of touch to most moms- baby nurses… Really?
GOLD / pomelo / 5167 posts
Mavrick was a champ at burping, and we used the same technique as you. It’s the one that worked the best.
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
We whaled on RJ’s back for up to 15 minutes as well. Haha. Gas was a big problem for him so we also did not stop until the burp came out. The grandparents would be horrified at how hard we were hitting him, but he never cried or seemed to mind. To this day he actually likes it when we pound on his back. I think it reminds him of a soothing feeling from babyhood. Haha.
GOLD / pomelo / 5167 posts
@Tara – I think a baby nurse is just a help in a way. I never heard of it before… and honestly my mom was 2 mins away so you can technically say she was my baby nurse (pro bono)
kiwi / 718 posts
I’ve been lucky in the past couple of years to gain some girlfriends who are maternity ward nurses & assist with babies up to 3 days old & they’ve told me about a bunch of these techniques. before I met them, though, I had not idea either! I thought it was just over the shoulder & hope if they spit up it doesn’t go all down your back. thank you for the list! there were some things on there that I hadn’t heard of either, but will definitely be trying if baby v has issues
guest
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