Feeding or bottle-feeding time is a stimulating and exciting experience, but it can also be quite embarrassing for young parents. Burping and spitting up are two of the most common symptoms. Although they’re nothing to worry about, they do require a certain amount of parenting skill. Here’s everything you need to know about the subject.
1 – Why do babies burp?
Physiologically, burping is simply a mechanical way for your little one to expel the excess air ingested during feeding or bottle-feeding and trapped in the gastrointestinal tract. Whether your little one is breast-fed or bottle-fed, this mechanism is perfectly natural, given that his digestive system is still maturing.
So be delighted when you hear the sound of your little one burping, because it means he’s relieved himself.
A – IS BURPING A SYSTEMATIC AND COMPULSORY NEED IN BABIES?
The occurrence of burping depends on several factors:
Firstly, one of the advantages of breastfeeding is that the baby’s mouth moulds perfectly to the shape of the breast, which considerably reduces the amount of air swallowed by your baby. Sometimes, babies don’t even feel the need to belch. On the other hand, the much larger diameter of the teat makes it easier for excess air to pass through.
The speed with which your toddler absorbs the milk is also important. The faster he drinks, the more he burps.
The frequency of burping varies from one baby to another. Generally, babies burp after eating. However, others express their need for a break by crying and squirming.
B – HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT IT?
Among the most effective techniques, specialists advise raising your baby upright, holding him close to you so that his head rests on your shoulder, and gently patting his back.
If, after 20 minutes, your baby’s discomfort persists, try a different position: sit him on your lap, make sure his torso is straight, rest one hand against his back and the other on his chin, and stroke your little one.
If you still can’t get your baby to burp, place him flat on his stomach, lay him on your lap and make sure his body is well supported. A gentle back massage will do the trick.
2 – Should I be worried about spit-up?
Very often, after feeding, your baby spits up milk mixed with saliva. This is directly linked to the immaturity of his digestive system: in adults, the upper orifice of the stomach is fitted with a small valve called the cardia, which prevents the liquid from rising once in the stomach. In contrast, an infant’s cardia is still open and allows milk to pass into the oesophagus.
Our grandmothers wouldn’t have thought it was a big deal and would have simply put on a little bib, but you need to bear in mind that they can have undesirable effects and threaten your little one’s comfort: very frequent, abundant spit-up, accompanied by signs of malaise and weight loss require medical advice to rule out the possibility of an anatomical anomaly: stenosis.
A few tips if baby regurgitates a lot:
Keep your baby upright after drinking.
Break up meals: take three or four breaks. This will allow him to burp and expel the air.
Avoid putting pressure on his tummy: don’t squeeze his nappy too tightly and don’t massage or cuddle him too hard after eating.
Baby carriers can be useful for keeping your child in the right position.
