Burping, regurgitation, hiccups and gas in newborns
Burping
All babies swallow varying amounts of air as they drink. If your baby is calm during and after feeding, they probably don’t need to burp.
But if your baby seems to be in a bad mood or squirms while drinking, the first thing to try to calm them down is to burp them. One or two burps are usually enough, but more may be required for babies that drink quickly or from a bottle.
How to burp your baby
Here’s how to burp your baby:
- Hold your baby in an upright position against your shoulder or sit them down on your lap.
- Gently rub or tap their back for a few minutes.
After they burp, check to see if they are still hungry.
Don’t insist if your baby won’t burp: some babies don’t. Let them be if they are asleep. They will wake up if they need to burp.
Regurgitation
After nursing or feeding, babies may regurgitate, or “spit up,” some or all of the milk they have drunk. Regurgitation is effortless, and is normal for babies.
Regurgitation happens because the muscle that prevents milk from flowing back from the stomach to the mouth has not fully developed.
Some babies regurgitate more than others. They may regurgitate right after feeding or a little later. Sometimes, you may feel like your baby has regurgitated almost everything they drank. But even though it may seem like a lot, most regurgitations only contain a small amount of milk.
Regurgitation tends to diminish at around 6 months and usually stops around one year.
Regurgitation can be difficult to distinguish from vomiting, especially in a baby (see Vomiting).
As long as your baby is in good spirits and gaining weight, there’s no reason to be concerned. Most of the time, regurgitation is harmless.
It is best to see a doctor if your baby
- Seems to be in pain
- Projectile vomits several times a day
- Wets their diapers less than before
- Isn’t gaining enough weight
Hiccups
It’s normal for your baby to get the hiccups, especially after drinking. Hiccups don’t seem to bother babies. They will stop by themselves after a few minutes.
Gas
Gas is perfectly normal and isn’t caused by milk!
Newborns’ intestines start digesting milk right away after the first feedings. This new sensation may make babies uncomfortable for the first few days. They may squirm or cry and often have lots of gas. They may need to be calmed and comforted in their parents’ warm arms.
Even as they get older, most infants will continue to have a lot of gas. Some babies burp less and expel air this way instead. If gas is making your baby uncomfortable, try to soothe them in your arms, shifting their position or moving their legs.