The Importance of Burping for Babies

Basically, belching in infants is normal and is nothing to worry about. Even belching is good for the baby to remove excess gas from the stomach. When we breathe, the air we breathe contains gases, such as nitrogen and oxygen. Likewise when eating or drinking, your mouth does not only include food and water, but also gas. Excess gas in the stomach will then rise into the esophagus and out of the mouth as belching.

Burping Important for Babies

Burping may be a simple condition for adults, but burping is an important thing to do in infants. When the baby drinks, air bubbles in the drink will enter and collect in the stomach. Making a baby burp will prevent the baby's stomach from feeling bloated. In addition, belching can also relieve babies who are experiencing colic and excess stomach acid. Babies who consume milk from a bottle need to burp more often than those who feed directly into the breast. This is because more air bubbles are found in bottled milk than if suckling from the breast. The following things can be done to reduce this risk:

• You can choose an anti-Catholic labeled milk bottle that is designed to reduce the air content in milk and bottles.
• Make sure the pacifier in the right size bottle matches the baby's mouth.
• Position the baby sitting while drinking and eating, to reduce the amount of air that is swallowed.

You can make it burp whenever the baby looks uncomfortable or cries, especially after eating. If the baby is suckling, you can make it burp when switching from one breast to another. If the baby drinks from a bottle, you can gently pat his back to trigger burping after he drinks half a bottle or after it is finished.

How to make a baby burp

Generally, babies who burp will release a little fluid along with air. Therefore, prepare an apron or small towel before doing this process. There are various ways to make a baby burp, including:

• Put the baby on the chest

This method is appropriate for newborns, before they can support their own head. Try putting the baby on your chest, with your chin on your shoulder. Then, prop your head and shoulders with your hands. Finally, lightly pat his back.

• Sit on your lap

This method is generally done when the baby is in a sitting position on your lap. Use one of your hands to support the baby's body. Place one of the palms to support the chest, while your fingers support the jaw and chin. But do not let your hands strangle his neck or throat. Let the baby lean against one of your hands while the other hand rubs or pats her back gently.

• Prone on your lap

For starters, position the baby on his stomach across your lap. Support your chin and jaw with one of your hands. Position the baby's head slightly higher than his body. Tap or gently stroke the back with your other hand.

If in the ways above, after a few minutes your baby is not burping, then he really does not want to burp. But if he looks uncomfortable, try to switch positions. If that doesn't work, you can try using other methods to relax him, like bathing him with warm water, or massaging his stomach to help expel air from the stomach. Abdominal massage is done in a circular motion slowly and clockwise. Talking or singing while patting her back can make babies feel relaxed and easier to burp. But there are times when despite undergoing various ways, the air in the baby's digestive tract can not be removed. In this condition, you can consult a pediatrician. As you age, belching in babies will naturally occur without having to be helped. Generally from 4-6 months of age, babies are able to sip milk or milk more effectively without swallowing a lot of air. At this age, babies can also burp themselves after eating. After your toddler can begin to understand what you are saying, ask him to burp politely. Although belching is a good and natural thing, the sound can be disruptive to other people's comfort. It would be more polite and better to belch by closing your mouth and in a low voice. Burping in infants is not a dangerous thing, just when babies burp less often can cause babies to vomit, fuss, and bloating. But beware if burping in infants is followed by other complaints such as fever, diarrhea, blood in the stool, and the baby vomits in large quantities after eating. If the baby experiences these symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.