When to burp her, three ways to hold her, and what to try when trapped wind will not come up.
In short
- Burp her during or after feeds.
- Keep her back straight and rub gently.
- A couple of minutes is usually enough.
When to burp
When she swallows, air can get trapped in her tummy and hurt. Some babies burp easily. Others need help.
There is no fixed rule. If she seems uncomfortable during a feed, take a short break to burp her. If she seems fine, wait until the end.
She may bring up a little milk when she burps. This is normal. Keep a cloth to hand.
Three ways to hold her
- Over your shoulder. Rest her chin on your shoulder and support her head with one hand. Rub or pat her back. Walking around can help.
- Sitting on your lap. Sit her facing away from you. Support her chest and chin with one hand, without pressing on her throat. Lean her forward a little and rub or pat her back.
- Lying across your lap. Lay her face down across your knees. Support her chin, not her throat, and rub or pat her back.
If the wind will not come up
Signs of trapped wind are crying, arching her back, pulling her legs up to her tummy, and clenched fists.
Lie her on her back and gently massage her tummy. Then move her legs slowly, as if she is riding a bicycle.
If she has a bottle, keep it almost flat, just slightly tipped. She swallows less air that way.
Sources
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