How to Burp a Newborn That Won’t Burp [9 Positions to Try]

Got a newborn that just won’t burp? Here are some ideas to try.

Burping is an essential part of your baby’s feeding routine. As babies nurse or drink bottles, they tend to swallow almost as much air as milk, especially in the early days.

The gas bubbles that are created by drinking are painful, uncomfortable and can even contribute to increased spitting up.

Burping helps to solve these issues, but unfortunately it isn’t always easy! If you’re struggling to help your baby get more comfortable through burping, we’re here to help! We’ve compiled all of the top burping techniques that will help relieve your baby.

Read on to find out the best tips and tricks on how to burp a newborn that won’t burp.

Will my baby be ok if he doesn’t burp?

Let’s start with some reassurance. If you try all of these burping tricks and your baby still won’t burp…don’t panic! It could be that your baby didn’t swallow that much air and doesn’t need to burp.

Or, if after feeding they are squirmy and uncomfortable (but still not burping), the bubbles will get out of their system… but just out the other end in the form of gas.

You can also wait and try burping later and finally get that long-awaited burp.

Nothing terrible will happen to your baby if they can’t burp. They will just be uncomfortable (possibly) but I promise that the gas bubbles will eventually be dispelled.

When Should I Burp my Baby?

When to burp your baby will depend a lot on the individual baby and how efficiently they drink. Some babies do best when they are burped both mid-way and at the end of a feeding.

If you’re nursing, this can be done easily by burping after you nurse on one side. Bottle feeders can burp baby when the bottle is half-way empty (or full, you optimist!).

Some babies do fine waiting to be burped at the end of their feeding, when they are full and sleepy. And some babies need to be burped even more often than the middle and end of feeding. Fussing and squirming is a good indicator of an uncomfortable gas bubble.

Deciding when to burp your baby will be a bit of an experiment until you figure out which timing works best for your little one.

When Can I Stop Burping my Baby?

It might be hard to imagine, but one day your baby won’t need to be burped! As babies get older, two things happen that making burping unnecessary:

Babies start to move their bodies independently: The same physical skills that help your baby sit up and crawl also allow them to position their body to push burps out. Just like how adults don’t need to be patted on the back to burp, your baby will physically be able to move around and get the relief that comes from getting those bubbles out.
Digestion and Diet Changes: The other changes that might make your baby less likely to need burping have to do with digestion. As babies grow, they become better at sucking and their stomachs get used to milk. Improved digestion along with a switch to eating some solid foods around 6 months will mean less air sucking and fewer burps.

Why do Babies Need to Be Burped?

Babies are born with the instinct to suck, but that doesn’t mean they are very skilled at it. As they drink milk from bottle or breast they will also swallow tiny air bubbles. These bubbles can get trapped in their stomachs and intestines causing painful gas.

Since babies are new to this whole “body” gig, they aren’t able to move around and expel the gas in their stomachs on their own. A loving grown-up with some burping skills will manually move the gas bubbles from the lower digestive system until they come out as a burp (usually!).

9 Burping Techniques To Try For Your Newborn Who Won’t Burp

Let’s get into some specific techniques that will help encourage even the toughest burp to come out. You might find that one of these burping techniques works best for the anatomy of your little one.

However, with some babies, you might find yourself using several of these burping positions every time they feed.

For best burping results, cup your hand and pat your baby gently, but firmly. Some babies will also burp when you rub their back in a circle. I always liked to do a combination of rub-rub, pat-pat.

Over the Shoulder: This is the classic burping position. Stand or sit upright and cover your shoulder with a burp cloth. Position baby tummy down on your chest, with his or her head on your shoulder and pat/rub.
Over the Lap: Place a burp cloth on your lap. Lay baby face down with their stomach across your thigh and head extending off of your lap ensuring their head is angled above their stomach. Use your open hand to gently hold baby’s face under their chin, supporting their head and neck and pat/rub.
Over the Arm: This position can be so helpful for babies with stubborn gas, but it is tricky to get the hang of at first. The heel of your hand will be on baby’s tummy with your fingers holding in between their legs. Baby’s head will rest on your arm and their hands will hang down while you burp them. An over the arm burping position helps so much with gas pain!
Over the Knee: Sit your baby up on your lap, supporting their chin and chest with an opened hand. The heel of your hand should be on their chest and your thumb and first finger should be on either side of their face. Lean baby slightly forward and pat or rub their back. Babies will sometimes startle backwards, so make sure you are ready to support them with the hand that is burping.
Knee to Chest: Lay baby down on their back on a safe surface. Holding onto baby’s lower legs, gently and repeatedly press their knees up to their chest.
Bicycles: With baby laying on their back on a safe surface, hold their lower legs and gently move their legs in a bicycle riding motion.
Over the Hand: Sit baby up on a safe surface like a changing table or in their crib. Supporting your baby’s head and neck with a gentle open hand hold in front and a hand on their back, slowly lean baby forward. Lean baby backwards and forward several times, allowing gravity and the movements to push out gas bubbles.
Bouncing: Adding gentle bouncing to an over-the-shoulder technique can sometimes help work out bubbles more quickly.
Massaging: This burping technique helps promote digestion but should NOT be done directly after feeding. At night, when your baby is calm, lie them down on a safe surface. Using very gentle pressure, make sweeping movements with open hands from your baby’s ribcage down to their pelvic area. Even if this doesn’t help with gas bubbles, it can feel very relaxing to baby!

Burping Tips for Difficult Burpers

The more babies you burp, the more tricks you get in your toolbelt. Here are burping tips from parents-in-the-know that will help make this task easier:

Change Positions: Gas bubbles are stubborn little things! Be willing to switch positions if your baby is fussy and relief isn’t coming from your go-to burping technique – sometimes a change in motion and position is just the ticket to get a burp out.
Be Firm: Babies are tiny, but to get a stubborn burp out you’ll need to pat fairly firmly.
Be Prepared: Have burp cloths near every spot that you typically burp your baby. After you wash burp cloths, put a few in your main living space, a couple in your diaper bag and some next to the chair where you nurse or feed baby.
Know when to stop: Sometimes parents can get caught up in getting all the burps out. But an important part of burping is knowing when to stop. If your baby isn’t fussing after you’ve gotten one or two burps out, you can stop burping and move along to the next activity.
Call in a back-up burper: Burping is an amazing time for a spouse or family member to help! Although it has the potential to get messy, having someone else burp your baby can give you time for a nap, a shower or a minute to yourself.

Burping can be a bit intimidating, but using these techniques and tips you’ll be getting those stubborn baby burps out in no time.