To eliminate the swallowed air at the same time as the milk, baby feels the need to burp, so it is a normal and very common phenomenon. But sometimes the feedings are also accompanied by regurgitation that is painful for the child and unpleasant for the parents.

Whether the baby is breastfed or bottle fed, burping is a necessary and very common occurrence. They appear immediately after drinking, or sometimes in the middle of a meal, and correspond to a surplus of uncomfortable air that he must evacuate. Some say that by burping in the middle of a feed the baby makes “room” so that the baby can continue to drink afterwards.

Regurgitation is more like a mixture of milk and saliva coming up from the stomach after the child has drunk. Indeed, the stomach of the little one, and more precisely the ring which prevents food from going back up into the esophagus are still immature and do not yet play their role to perfection.

To facilitate digestion and evacuate this overflow of air, we place the baby in an upright position, leaning on our shoulder, or sitting on our knees with the torso straight, and we pat him very lightly on the back. Thus, he can relieve himself easily and burp effortlessly. To avoid staining yourself in the event of reflux, cover your shoulder with a diaper.

Sometimes the burp does not come out and parents are worried about this absence. However, it is not abnormal for the infant not to burp after his meal, especially if he is breastfed because he swallows less air with a breastfeed. Likewise, if he falls asleep before having done so, nothing prevents him from going to bed. If the burp ends up bothering him a few minutes later, he will become agitated and you will just have to straighten him for a few seconds to relieve him before putting him back to bed.

Regurgitations of the little one are generally frequent and without any repercussions for him. They do not interfere with its development and growth as it continues to gain weight and grow over the months. They can therefore appear from birth and their peak is around the 4th month with a large number of daily episodes. If this period is difficult for the parents, it nevertheless marks a turning point since it is generally from this precise moment that they will tend to disappear. In short, the more the child stands up, the more they decrease.

However, some children regurgitate more than others and this very often worries young parents. No need to worry early, if the baby is gaining weight and his behavior is not abnormal, all is well. On the other hand, in the event of vomiting in a young child, you must consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Regarding only regurgitation, here are some tips to limit accidents and spare the child’s changes:

• At the end of the feeding, straighten or recline the baby in a seat intended for him or carry him against you with a sling or a baby carrier adapted to his age, for about thirty minutes;
• Never press down on her stomach or over-tighten her diaper. Also choose comfortable clothing that does not exert any pressure on the waistband;
• To avoid excessive reflux, you can also try to split his meals by forcing him to take breaks during his feedings and allowing him to burp one or more times;
• Finally, last possibility: try to change pacifiers and milk (with the agreement and advice of an early childhood professional). By reducing the flow of the bottle with a different nipple or by switching to thicker milk, regurgitation may decrease.

If the baby’s regurgitations occur long after meals (or even wake the child up during his sleep), if they are very important (almost all of the bottle) and if they are accompanied by signs of pain in the infant, the best thing to do is to talk to your pediatrician as soon as possible. It may indeed be gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly known as GERD.

Small ailments common in babies, burping and regurgitation are quite normal. So to relieve the infant, patience and gentleness are the watchwords of everyday life.