How to Burp a Baby: 4 Helpful Checks and the Dr. Paul Video

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Learning how to burp a baby should not turn into a search for a technique you must make work. A gentle attempt can be useful, but an unsuccessful burp does not mean you should keep trying harder or ignore a baby who seems unwell.

Here you will find the original Dr. Paul video plus four practical checks: choose a feeding break, support your baby, keep attempts brief and know when to get help. Read the care guidance before copying a position. The final check explains when to stop treating discomfort as a burping problem.

Watch the original how to burp a baby video

The original paulthomasmd video introduces a burping demonstration; the imported description names DeeDee Hoover. This guide is separate editorial context, not a transcript or verification that a special technique works when others do not. Ask your baby’s clinician to show you a suitable position if you are unsure.

1. Choose a feeding break

The NHS bottle-feeding guide suggests a brief burping break if your baby seems uncomfortable during a feed, or waiting until afterward if they seem comfortable. There is no single rule for the timing.

Notice what is happening rather than measuring your success by a sound. Is your baby feeding comfortably? Are you finding a particular position difficult to manage? Those observations can help a feeding professional understand what you need help with.

2. Support your baby gently

NHS guidance emphasizes supporting the head and neck, keeping the back and tummy reasonably straight and gently rubbing or patting the back. One option is over your shoulder while supporting the head and shoulder area. If using a seated lap position, support the chest, chin and jaw without pressing on the throat.

Read the linked instructions and ask for a demonstration if the position is unclear. Do not improvise vigorous movement or pressure to force a result. Put the bottle down before changing how you hold your baby so your attention stays on supporting them.

A practical cloth for supervised cleanup

Yoofoss Muslin Burp Cloths, White, 10 Pack, 20 by 10 inches: The verified pack contains ten cotton muslin cloths, each 20 by 10 inches. Keep one nearby for supervised spit-up cleanup. Check the fabric after washing. A cloth does not treat gas or reflux, and it should stay out of the infant sleep space.

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3. Keep the attempt brief

The NHS says a couple of minutes should be enough rather than a long winding session. If attempts do not help and discomfort continues, seek advice from a health visitor or your child’s clinician.

You can make the next conversation more useful by noting whether concerns happen during feeds, immediately afterward or at other times. Include anything else you have noticed rather than assuming all crying is trapped air.

Do not turn upright holding into an inclined sleep arrangement. AAP reflux sleep guidance recommends putting babies on their backs on a firm, flat sleep surface. Wedges and raised crib heads are not a solution.

4. Know when burping is not the next step

AAP guidance distinguishes small, easy spit-up from forceful vomiting. Call your pediatrician promptly if vomit shoots out forcefully after every feed or contains blood. Do not keep testing techniques instead of seeking care.

AAP also advises keeping feeds calm and limiting active play soon afterward. Repeated gulping or feeding difficulty deserves a review of feeding position and setup, rather than assuming an accessory will solve the problem.

How to burp a baby questions

Must I get a burp after every attempt?

No technique guarantees a burp. Keep the attempt gentle and brief, and get advice if discomfort continues rather than increasing pressure or effort.

Can a burp cloth or vented bottle treat reflux?

No. A cloth helps with cleanup, and a bottle is a feeding tool. Neither product replaces assessment of concerning symptoms or a clinician’s care plan.

Should I copy the video exactly?

Use the video as a demonstration to discuss with your clinician if needed. This page does not certify the technique or the presenter’s outcomes for your baby.

An optional bottle-feeding comparison

Dr. Brown’s Options+ Narrow Baby Bottles, 4 oz, 4 Pack: This verified set contains four 4 oz narrow bottles with an internal vent system. Follow the actual assembly, cleaning and nipple instructions. Compare it only if you need a bottle-feeding option; it is not necessary for breastfeeding and does not guarantee gas or colic relief.

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If your current bottles work comfortably, there may be no need to switch. Our paced bottle-feeding guide offers more context to discuss with a feeding professional. Choose one question to ask and one observation to record, rather than another technique to force.