Burping is a term used to describe belching. It is the body's method of releasing extra air from the upper digestive tract and most belching is brought on by swallowing too much air. This air most frequently builds up in the esophagus rather than ever reaching the stomach.

Burping is important for Infants especially that a lot of air is frequently swallowed by infants during feeding. The air moves to the stomach, where it produces air bubbles that fill the baby's abdomen. These air bubbles are probably going to make the child feel uneasy and give them the impression that they are already full even though they haven't eaten their food. Babies need to burp for many of reasons. Your child can get stomach discomfort from trapped gas if they don't burp to release it. Babies who don't burp frequently spit up, get gassier, have trouble sleeping, or feel full before they've done eating. Burping becomes an essential and regular activity in the first few months of life because newborns instinctively swallow air while they are nursing. They require parents and other caretakers to burp them until they are old enough to do so on their own, which is usually between the ages of 7-9 months, because the muscles in their bellies haven't fully grown yet.

The frequency of your baby's burping will depend on how frequently they eat. If you're a breastfeeding mother, you can burp your child when you transition from one breast to the other, you can try burping your baby before the switch if they seem unhappy or eager to quit eating. If you're using formula, you can burp your infant halfway through the bottle or every 2 to 3 ounces. Try burping sometimes during the meal if your infant seems uninterested in food or is acting a little grumpy. Babies won't need to be burped as frequently as they get older because they will ingest less air when eating. You could notice that your baby isn't burping as frequently as they formerly did as they become older. This often indicates that they are feeding while swallowing less air. Their digestive systems start to mature around months 7-9, so you'll start to hear those little burps come out on their own.

PDO I - Ayesa Gay A. Bejerano, RND

References:

Debunking old wives’ tales: Do babies need to burp after feeding?

https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/shows.php?shows=0_j8jqtr2m

Belching, gas and bloating: Tips for reducing them

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gas-and-gas-pains/in-depth/gas-and-gas-pains/art-20044739

How to burp your baby- and why it’s so important

https://babysparks.com/2021/04/27/how-to-burp-your-baby-and-why-its-so-important/

Why It’s so important to burp your Newborn

https://www.westchesterhealth.com/blog/why-its-so-important-to-burp-your-newborn/