I was intrigued the other day by a post - actually by a fellow newborn care specialist - asking for help with a baby who's very difficult to burp.

My question to her was...is the baby showing she NEEDS to burp? Is she in discomfort during or after feeds so you're sensing she needs to burp? 

But the baby wasn't demonstrating any discomfort at all...

And here's my point.

Babies don't always have to burp!

A burp is the upwards release of gas/air that has been taken in during a feed....

If there isn't any trapped air needing to escape, there isn't going to be a burp 

Or, if there IS some air, it's not always "trapped" and can very easily escape just by adjusting your baby's position and avoiding laying them down for a period after feeding (remember: we are carry mammals with babies designed to be held!) This could be:

• At an upright angle with pressure on their tummy (either over or towards your right shoulder - angled to their left otherwise known as Wonky Winding thanks to @lyndsey_hookway.

• Holding them upright generally, even seated against your knees facing you.

• Upright in a sling or carrier so they can sleep or travel without being laid immediately flat on their back after a feed!

• Adjusting your breast or bottle-feeding positions to be more upright and seated. This can make it easier for air to naturally escape unassisted while feeding, versus when baby is being fed more horizontally.

Lots of patting is often going to create more problems than it solves, risking breaking up any air Bubbles that ARE present into MORE Bubbles that all then need to find an escape.