Do you burp a breastfed baby?

Question

this may sound crazy but in all of my reading i can't remember any of the books talking about burping a solely breastfed baby. so... do you? it seems like you wouldn't need to since there's no air in the b*****s to be gulped but let me know your own personal experiences please.

thanks!

Answer 1

I burp my baby after he finishes the first side and he burps each time and then he switches to the next side.  

Answer 2

Yes you should.  I did with my son, and I breastfed him for 8 months.  It really helped sooth him and I couldn't imagine what it would be like if I hadn't.  Just like when you get a tummy full, it would be good to be burped and then just relax right?  Good Luck and Congrats

Answer 3

a friend of mine had a solely breastfeed baby and yes you have to burp them unless you want spit up on more than normal...

and trust me he really spit up if he wasn't burped enough

Answer 4

yup. you burp all fed babies. they can still swallow air while sucking and burping just helps things along so they dont get gas pains. No harm in burping a breast fed baby.

Answer 5

Nope I don't.  I keep them upright for 5-15 minutes and they either burp or they don't.

My first disliked being burped so much that he would tense so much he couldn't burp.  But if I just kept him on my shoulder for a bit he'd be fine.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/basics/...

In fact, each time you put him back on the breast he nurses for a little bit and then goes to sleep. As you take him off and put him back to bed – he cries again... and starts rooting around, looking for you. This goes on – seemingly for hours. A lot of moms are convinced it is because their milk isn't “in” yet, and the baby is starving. However, it isn't that, but the baby's sudden awakening to the fact that the most comforting and comfortable place for him to be is at the breast. It's the closest to “home” he can get. It seems that this is pretty universal among babies – lactation consultants all over the world have noticed the same thing.

So, what do you do? When he drifts off to sleep at the breast after a good feed, break the suction and slide your nipple gently out of his mouth. Don't move him except to pillow his head more comfortably on your breast. Don't try and burp him – just snuggle with him until he falls into a deep sleep where he won't be disturbed by being moved. Babies go into a light sleep state (REM) first, and then cycle in and out of REM and deep sleep about every ½ hour or so. If he starts to root and act as though he wants to go back to breast, that's fine...this is his way of settling and comforting.

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/gas...

ome causes of gas in babies

    * Many young babies have a certain amount of gas and seem to strain as it is passed or as a bowel movement occurs simply because of the immaturity of their digestive system. This doesn't always indicate a problem. Most babies' bodies manage gas more easily with growth, maturity, and greater activity. As long as your baby is not overly bothered by the gas or has no other symptoms of food sensitivity or other problems, then "tincture of time" is likely the best solution.

    * Too much milk too fast, so that baby gulps and chokes and takes in too much air along with the milk. See forceful let-down.

    * Anything that causes baby to take in too much air may result in a gassy baby (what goes in must come out!):

          o Crying - Babies swallow air when they are crying, so crying is more likely to be the cause of gas, rather than the result of gas. Respond to baby's feeding cues promptly.

          o Bottlefeeding - Babies usually swallow more air when drinking from a bottle. When using bottles, use the slowest-flow nipples so baby doesn't get overwhelmed with the milk flow. To reduce air swallowing, keep baby at about a 45 degree angle (rather than lying down), make sure baby has a good seal on the base of the nipple, and keep the bottle tilted so the neck & nipple are filled with milk. There are also varieties of bottles that aim to reduce air swallowing. Don't let baby suck on an empty bottle. Burp baby more often if he seems to be swallowing too much air.

    * Overabundant milk supply. See Too Much Milk?

    * Thrush can cause gassiness in babies.

    * Babies who skip several days between stools tend to be gassier. Older breastfed babies (after the first 6-8 weeks) can go several days without a stool. Ten days or more is not uncommon! The long periods between stools in a baby who is obviously thriving is not a cause for concern if the baby's abdomen remains soft, baby is content and alert, and the stool is soft and profuse if several days have gone by.

    * Sensitivity to something in mother's diet, including any vitamin/iron supplements, etc. See Dairy and other Food Sensitivities in Breastfed Babies. If this is the reason, you will most likely notice other symptoms, such as excessive spitting up or vomiting, colic, diarrhea, rash, persistent congestion or runny nose.

    * Anything that baby is eating/drinking other than mother's milk, including vitamins, formula, teas, medications or herbs, solids, juice. Any substance (other than breastmilk) has a much greater potential to increase gassiness rather than reduce it.

    * Formula feeding tends to cause more gas and digestive upset for most babies because it is not specific to the human baby. Formula-fed babies overall tend to spit up more, be constipated more, have more gas, be more colicky, have more intestinal illnesses, etc. Remember, too, that supplementation most always undermines your milk supply and may result in premature weaning.

Answer 6

I try to burp my baby everytime. Usually he will burp.  

Answer 7

I'm going to breastfeed too, and I never read that, but I go think you still need to just in case, fussy baby = a no no.

Answer 8

well you don't really "need" to, but i always gave them a light pat anyways...you'd be surprised the big burps a BF baby can produce! lol

Answer 9

Of course! Breastfed babies get gassy too!!

Always burp a baby after eating, breastfed or bottle fed

Answer 10

yes!  

Answer 11

I burp my BF baby...she had terrible gas so she has to be burped after each feeding.

Answer 12

When I was breastfeeding I did just because I heard you're suppose to burp your baby after every feeding.

Answer 13

I think you're supposed to, I personally burped my breast fed baby until he was old enough to sit up and burp himself easily. Even breastfed babies get air when they are eating!

Answer 14

yes . im breastfeeding my son and he gets loads of wind. They say breastfed babies dont get alot of wind be belive me they do!

Answer 15

yes hun all babies if breast fed or bottle fed need to be winded afterwards  

Answer 16

Yep, burp when they finish the breast.  Most times my baby does bring up wind but not always.

Answer 17

Yes off course.  I burped her every time she was fed. Gas might not go in her while she is feeding but when she is latching on she will swallow some air.  You have to burp after every feeding. either formula or breast.

Answer 18

Yes you do. They still swallow air when they gulp. My son lets out huge burps after he eats. Normally you will want to burp between b*****s and then again after. Some babies swallow a lot of air when the milk lets down though so stopping a feeding and burping shortly after let down is sometimes needed.