Miya Pearson
It is important to burp your newborn after every feeding to prevent them from experiencing pain and discomfort from built-up gas in their bellies. If your baby falls asleep during feeding, you should still try to burp them before putting them down to sleep. This can be done by placing the baby against your shoulder, on your lap, or across your arm.
Should I burp my sleeping newborn?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Importance of burping a sleeping newborn | It is important to burp a sleeping newborn to prevent them from waking up in pain with built-up gas in their bellies. |
| Burping positions | Over the shoulder, on the lap, sitting up, across the arm, upright on the knee, or laying across the lap |
| Techniques | Patting or rubbing the baby's back, applying upward pressure along the baby's back, or running your hand up the baby's back |
| Timing | Try burping for a few minutes before placing them back down to sleep. If the baby hasn't burped after 3-5 minutes of trying, it's okay to continue their feeding and try again later. |
| Diaper changing | Consider changing the diaper before feeding to avoid waking them up if they fall asleep while eating. |
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What You'll Learn
Why burp a sleeping newborn?
Burping a baby is important, day or night. Babies often fall asleep while feeding, and you may need to find a way to burp them while they’re still asleep. Even if your baby falls asleep, try burping them for a few minutes before placing them back down to sleep. Without a proper burp, your baby may wake up in pain with trapped gas in their belly, or they may spit up.
Burping positions
The following are some of the burping positions that can be used to burp a sleeping baby:
- Over the shoulder: Lay your infant against your shoulder and hold their bottom snugly as you pat or rub their back.
- On your lap: Place your baby so they’re sitting in your lap. Support their head by using the “C” hold under their chin. Using your other hand, gently but firmly pat their back.
- Laying across your lap: Lay your baby face down with their belly across your legs. Pat their back until you hear the burp.
- Across your arm: This technique is great for a newborn or small baby since their whole body will fit nicely along your forearm.
Tips
- You might want to move slower than you would with a baby who is awake to help them stay asleep.
- When burping a sleeping baby, pay extra attention to supporting their head.
- Rubbing clockwise and patting can help to burp your baby.
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Burping positions for a sleeping newborn
It is important to burp your newborn after feeding to prevent them from waking up in pain due to trapped gas. Here are some effective burping positions for a sleeping newborn:
Over the Shoulder
This position is often the easiest when you want to burp a sleeping baby without waking them up. Lay your newborn against your shoulder and hold their bottom snugly as you pat or rub their back. You can also have their chin resting on your shoulder, supporting the head and shoulder area with one hand, and gently rub and pat their back with the other. Sitting in a rocking chair and gently rocking with your baby in this position may also help.
On Your Lap
Place your baby face-down across your lap. Supporting their chin (without putting any pressure on the throat area), use your free hand to gently rub or pat their back. This position may cause your baby to spit up more than usual.
Sitting Up
Prop your baby's head upright in a seated position on your lap and tilt them forward slightly as you pat their back. You can also hold them sitting up across your knee, supporting their chest and head with one hand by cradling their chin in the palm of your hand. Rest the heel of your hand on their chest, but be careful not to grip their throat. Use your other hand to pat their back.
Across Your Arm
This position may seem awkward, especially for new parents, but it is a great technique for a newborn or small baby. Hold your baby across your forearm so that their whole body is supported along your arm.
Remember, burping a sleeping baby is similar to burping a baby who is awake. You might just want to move a little slower to help them stay asleep. If your baby doesn't burp after a few minutes, change their position and try again for a few minutes before feeding again.
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Tips and tricks to burp a sleeping newborn
It is important to burp a newborn after every feeding, even if they have fallen asleep, to prevent them from waking up in pain due to trapped gas. Here are some tips and tricks to burp your sleeping newborn:
- Burping a sleeping baby is similar to burping a baby who is awake. You might want to move a little slower to help them stay asleep.
- The baby should be in a slightly upright position so you can put pressure on their tummy. You can sit them upright on your lap and tilt them forward a bit as you pat their back.
- You can also lay your infant against your shoulder and hold their bottom snugly as you pat or rub their back. This position is often the easiest when you want to burp a sleeping baby without waking them up.
- If your baby is small, you can lay them across your forearm. Their whole body will fit nicely along your forearm.
- If you are feeding your baby in a semi-upright position, you can gently move them all the way upright and onto your shoulder. The pressure from your shoulder will help release gas.
- If your baby does not poop right after eating, you may want to change their diaper before feeding them at night so you don't have to wake them up if they fall back to sleep while eating.
- Burp your baby in between feedings or before they finish their bottle. This will help your baby make room for more milk and prevent them from spitting up.
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What to do if your newborn won't burp
If your baby won't burp, you might want to try burping them in a different position. For example, you could lay your baby face down across your lap and pat or rub their back. You can also try the 'over the shoulder' position, where you lay your infant against your shoulder and hold their bottom snugly as you pat or rub their back. If your baby won't burp with patting, try applying upward pressure along their back.
If your baby still won't burp, it's okay to stop trying as long as they seem comfortable. However, if your baby shows signs of gas pains, such as fussing, crying out, or bringing their knees to their chest, or if they frequently spit up, keep trying for a few more minutes to get that burp out. You could also try burping them for a few minutes before placing them back down to sleep, as otherwise, they may wake up in pain with trapped gas.
If your baby has a lot of gas or spit-up, you should talk to your doctor about reflux. Gas drops and gripe water are readily available at pharmacies, but ask your doctor before using them as they may contain dangerous ingredients.
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When to burp a newborn
It is important to burp a newborn after every feeding, even if they have fallen asleep, as they may wake up later with pain from built-up gas in their bellies. If your baby has fallen asleep during a feed, you should try to burp them for a few minutes before placing them back down to sleep. This is because, without a proper burp, your baby may be uncomfortable and more prone to waking up or spitting up.
There are several ways to burp a sleeping baby without waking them up. One way is to lay your baby against your shoulder and hold their bottom as you pat or rub their back. You can also lay your baby face-down across your lap, but they may spit up more than usual in this position. Another option is to prop their head upright in a seated position on your lap and tilt them forward slightly as you pat their back. For newborns or small babies, you can also lay them across your forearm, as their whole body will fit nicely along your arm.
When burping a sleeping baby, you might want to move slower to help them stay asleep. It is also important to pay extra attention to supporting their head. While burping a sleeping baby is basically the same as burping a baby who is awake, some positions are easier to manoeuvre with a sleeping baby. For example, you can sit the baby upright on your knee while supporting their head by cradling their chin. This position uses gravity and the baby's own weight to get air up and out, but it is more likely to wake the baby.
If your baby does not burp after 3-5 minutes of trying, it is okay to continue their feeding and try again when the feeding is done, or a few minutes later. Even if you do not hear a loud burp, the process of trying to get the burp out is often enough to relieve gas or discomfort for the baby.
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Frequently asked questions
Your newborn may have built-up gas in their belly, which can cause them to wake up in pain. Burping your baby can help to prevent this.
You can try the over-the-shoulder position, where you lay your baby against your shoulder and hold their bottom while patting or rubbing their back. You can also lay them face-down across your lap and pat their back, or sit them up on your lap with their head supported and tilt them forward.
Yes, it's important to be gentle and slow when burping a sleeping baby to avoid waking them up. Pay extra attention to supporting their head and you may want to use a swaddle to keep them upright.
If your baby doesn't burp after a few minutes of trying, it's okay to continue their feeding and try again later. Sometimes, the process of trying to get the burp out is enough to relieve gas or discomfort.
