Step by step
- Over the shoulder: the baby upright, chin on your shoulder, one hand gently rubbing or patting their back.
- Sitting on your lap: one hand supports the chest and chin, without pressing on the throat, the other pats the back.
- Face down across your lap: the head a little higher than the tummy, with gentle pats.
- You can pause for a burp halfway through a feed, and again at the end.
- No burp after a few minutes? That’s perfectly fine. Not every feed ends with one.
Good to know
- A little milk coming up with a burp is common. Forceful vomiting, green or bloody vomit, or a baby who is not gaining weight: see a doctor.
Sources: NHS, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). This is general information, not a replacement for a doctor, a well-baby nurse or a lactation consultant. You know your baby best, and when something worries you, it is always fine to ask.