Reviewed by The Mom Store editorial team, October 2026. See our editorial policy.
To burp a baby, hold them upright or sitting with their head supported, and gently pat or rub their upper back for a few minutes. Do this during the feed as well as at the end. If no burp comes, that is fine: not every baby burps every time.
Babies swallow air while they feed, and wind is one of the common reasons they cry. Burping gives the air a chance to come up, and the pause also slows down a baby who is gulping.
Three positions to try
These are the positions described in the American Academy of Pediatrics advice on burping, hiccups and spit up. Use whichever feels steady to you. Keep a cloth or cotton napkin under your baby's chin, because a little milk often comes up with the air.
Over your shoulder
Hold your baby upright with their head resting on your shoulder. Support their bottom and back with one hand and pat gently with the other.
Sitting on your lap
Sit your baby on your lap. Support their chest and head with one hand, cupping the chin without pressing on the throat, and pat their back with the other hand.
Face down across your lap
Lay your baby across your knees with their back up, keeping their head higher than their chest and turned so the nose and mouth are clear. Pat or rub their back in slow circles.
Pat firmly enough to feel it but always gently. However tired or frustrated you feel, never shake a baby. The NHS page on soothing a crying baby explains that shaking moves the head violently and can cause brain damage. If you are exhausted at night, hand over to another adult in the house, or put your baby down on their back in their cot while you take a few minutes to calm down.
When to burp
- Bottle fed babies: the AAP suggests burping after every 60 to 90 ml (2 to 3 ounces).
- Breastfed babies: burp when you switch breasts. Some breastfed babies swallow very little air and may hardly need burping.
- After the feed: keep your baby upright for 10 to 15 minutes, which can help with spit up.
If a few minutes of patting brings nothing, carry on feeding or let your baby settle. With bottles, the NHS bottle feeding advice suggests tilting the bottle so the teat stays full of milk, and checking that the teat hole is not too big. Replacement bottles and teats are in our feeding bottles and accessories collection.
Spit up and hiccups
Bringing up a little milk during or after feeds is very common. The NHS page on reflux in babies says it usually starts before 8 weeks and gets better by the time a baby is 1. It suggests holding your baby upright during feeds and for as long as possible afterwards, burping regularly during feeds, and always laying your baby flat on their back to sleep. Do not raise the head of the cot or prop the mattress.
Hiccups are common too and usually bother parents more than babies. If they start during a feed, change your baby's position or try a burp, then carry on feeding once they stop. Feeding your baby while they are calm, before they are very hungry, can help.
When to call your doctor
See your paediatrician if reflux is not improving, starts for the first time after 6 months, continues after your baby's first birthday, or your baby is not gaining weight. The NHS advises getting urgent medical help if your baby:
- has green or yellow vomit, or blood in the vomit or poo
- has projectile vomiting, or keeps vomiting and cannot keep fluids down
- has a swollen or tender tummy
- has a very high temperature
- refuses to feed, cries without stopping, or shows signs of dehydration such as no wet nappy in 8 hours
- has difficulty breathing, is floppy or unresponsive, or has blue, grey or pale skin or lips (go to emergency care immediately)
This article is general information and does not replace advice from your doctor.
