The Art of Baby Burping

If Your Newborn Spits up During a Burp

One thing that I learned and experienced when I became a mother is that all babies will spit up. Spitting up is a common occurrence during a burp and does not necessarily mean that your baby is vomiting. "It is very common for infants to spit up a mouthful or two of formula or breastmilk when they burp because it is sitting on top of the gas bubble," states Gottesman. "As the gas bubble breaks, it pushes up those small amounts of milk. Also, the muscle at the entrance of the stomach that holds the feeding in the stomach is weaker than it will be in later life, making it easier for infants to regurgitate portions of their feedings."

Rance agrees. "Most often the spitting up will stop by the time the baby begins to sit upright or when they reach six months of age. Often, a healthy baby can spit up a tablespoon or two with each feeding. To decrease the amount of spitting up, try placing the baby in an upright position for 20 to 30 minutes after the feeding."

If your newborn tends to be spitting up more frequently during each feeding session, seek consultation with your child's pediatrician or professional caregiver. Gottesman also suggests taking a sample of the spit-up with you during your appointment. "If parents are concerned about whether the amount their baby spits up is normal, they should place a burp cloth from a recent feeding in a Ziploc baggie and take it with them to their health visit so that the health professional can see exactly the amount about which they are concerned."

Sit Back, Relax, Enjoy, and Observe Your Newborn

"Most infants tell you that they need to burp, and mothers usually learn to recognize these signs very quickly," says Dr. Shy. "A small frown, wiggling, faster eating are a few common ones."

"Enjoy your newborn, since there is no 'one right way' to go about burping a baby. New parents need to feel the liberty to try multiple combinations of feeding and burping positions," says Rance. "Newborn babies will communicate their needs to you through the type of cries they make, so keen observation and trusting your instincts are the key."