Burping Your Baby

A person holds a baby dressed in a white and gray geometric outfit. The person has a hand tattoo, wears a wristwatch, and is partially smiling.

Babies often swallow air while feeding, which can make them uncomfortable. This happens with breastfed/chestfed and bottle-fed babies. Burping helps get rid of air that the baby has swallowed. Burp your baby: 

  • Part-way through the feed and then again after feeding. 
  • When they seem uncomfortable. 
  • When breastfeeding/chestfeeding when/if you switch sides during feeding. 
  • More often if the baby has problems with gas or spitting up. 

Signs that your baby may need to burp: 

  • arches the back 
  • gets fussy or cranky 
  • pulls away from the bottle 
  • slows or stops sucking 

Did you know?

Crying babies swallow a lot of air which can cause discomfort and spitting up. Watch your baby for hunger cues and feed before they are hungry to prevent crying.  

To Burp a Baby

  • Place the baby in an upright position. See the pictures below for good burping positions. 
  • Gently rub or pat baby’s back with a cupped hand. The baby will not always burp each time you do this. Wait a few minutes and try again. 
  • Sometimes formula or breastmilk/chest milk comes up with the air when the baby burps. A clean face cloth, cloth diaper or bib can help keep you and the baby clean during burping. 

To help the baby swallow less air during bottle feedings: 

  • Make sure the formula is not too hot or too cold. 
  • Sit the baby upright in your arms when feeding. 
  • See our page Bottle-Feeding 101 for tips on bottle-feeding. 

Most babies burp on their own after two months of age. 

Try These Positions to Burp Your Baby

Hold your baby upright over your shoulder 

an adult holding a baby upright on their shoulder while burping them.

Place your baby on their stomach across your lap. 

An adult holding a baby on their lap, with one hand supporting their jaw and the other hand on their back.

Hold your baby in a sitting position on your lap. Your baby should be leaning slightly forward with your hand supporting the jaw.

an adult holding a baby across their lap with the baby on their stomach.)