Burping & Digestion Support
There are generally two camps when it comes to information around burping your newborn… burp always or never. I prefer a more flexible approach to offer digestive support depending on your baby’s cues. While it is true that babies are very capable of bringing up wind on their own, even during feeding at the breast. There are times when offering a break to allow for a burp may support a fuller feed. I often find supporting digestion in this way to be most helpful for babies approximately four weeks and under.
When To Burp
Times your baby may need to be offered a break to burp can look like;
- Fussy bobbing on and off the nipple, your baby wants to latch but won’t stay attached
- Fast, noisy sucking, you may even hear clicking noises (with no nipple pain) and/ or get the sense your baby is struggling to keep up with your flow
- Your baby is ready to change breasts
- Sucking really slows down during breastfeeding and you feel your baby still has more to drink
- Your baby is about to lay down for a nappy change or tummy time
During Breastfeeding
Sit your baby on your lap (think their ‘sit bones’ on your thigh) with a straight back, leaning slightly forward. Your thumb and finger hold your baby’s jaw, while their ribs rest on your palm. Be mindful to have your baby’s hips, spine and head in alignment to allow air (if any) to travel directly upwards. Pat and or rub up the spine (I don’t find rubbing down helpful to digestion) gently yet firmly to help vibrate and move any wind up (if any). If you are mid-breastfeed or have removed your baby from the breast due to faster milk flow, keep the burp break very short, and return your baby to the breast immediately if they aren’t happy to break and are eager to keep feeding.
After Breastfeeding & Overnight
Your approach and technique will vary with your baby’s needs, and the time of day is always important to consider. Rest your baby over your shoulder so they can snuggle, relax and drift to sleep. Upright time post-feed greatly supports digestion, as babies may be very prone to spilling milk after a feed. You want to be careful to not override their natural sleep reflexes that occur after a feed, and don’t need to do any vigorous or firm patting at this time. If they don’t burp, there is no need to maintain this position until they do, simple settle your baby to sleep when they seem ready.
Bottle Feeding
I always recommend the Paced Bottle Feeding Method which allows your baby to suck when they are ready, and take a break when they need to. This in turn reduces uncoordinated swallows caused by fast flow, and therefore wind accumulation. If your baby is having a larger volume, say over 50ml, you can offer a burp break about halfway. Offer a burp break sooner if you feel they need it, are showing any signs of drinking too fast, or are seeming tired and not sucking and swallowing well. Because bottle feeding isn’t natural, the chances of wind building up are naturally going to be higher, so your baby benefits from a burp break with the bottle, but not so much during breastfeeding.
The Why
Your baby may not need to burp however, may benefit from the break in drinking, particularly when milk flow is very fast. It’s not just about getting out a burp, it’s also allowing your baby to have a break, catch their breath, look around and have a stretch during a feed. It can also be a great way to introduce some age-appropriate play as your baby develops week by week. As adults, we don’t eat constantly until our food is done (well we shouldn’t!), and for newborn babies, their feeding process isn’t linear either. By offering breaks, you are allowing your baby to rest/digest a bit between each course of milk – approaching each feeding from the breast like an unrestricted degustation.
If you are struggling to support your baby’s digestion, book in for an in-home or virtual consultation with me where we can work through all possibilities, and create a tailored guide to keep your baby as comfortable as possible.