How to Burp Your Baby
* Don't try to burp her when she is avidly feeding. That is likely to upset her and make her cry and cause her to swallow even more air. Pick a time when she slows down or is taking a break on her own.
* Use the burping position she appears most comfortable with. There are three basic positions in which to gently pat and rub her back:
- over your shoulder
- sitting on your lap, facing out
- lying face down on your lap
Note for Bottle Feeding
To avoid air swallowing during bottle feeding, make sure that as the bottle has more air and less milk, the air is always at the bottom of the bottle, not at the nipple area, so the air doesn't get swallowed.
Persistent Gassiness
Less commonly, gassiness may signify a mild digestive problem. If this is the case:
* Check with your pediatric provider about switching formulas.
* Avoid certain foods like cow's milk products, certain veggies, and caffeine-containing foods and liquids if you are breastfeeding.
* Try an anti-gas medicine (although their effectiveness has not been proven).
* Try infant massage between meals.
o Place your infant facing you on your lap. Move her legs around like a bicycle.
o Rub warm oil on her belly and gently massage.
When to Worry:
If your baby's irritability is severe and chronic, you should suspect something other than gas as the culprit. And if your infant is not growing well, the gas may be an indication of a significant digestive problem. Call your child's doctor to discuss any concerns you may have.
