Wondering What if Baby Doesn’t Burp and Falls Asleep?

What if the baby doesn’t burp and falls asleep?

Well, you’ll have to burp them first. When your baby falls asleep without burping, it can cause gas bubbles to get stuck inside their stomach.

Also, congestion becomes another issue when the baby has a stuffy nose. So, it’s common for the baby to wake up frequently within 20 minutes of falling asleep.

In this article, we have explored different methods for burping a baby during sleep. Read on to learn more.

Signs that Your Baby Needs to Burp

So, if your baby is waking up frequently or has discomfort sleeping, they may need to be burped. But how do you know if your baby needs to burp? Here are a few signs for your baby to burp –

• Excessive Crying
• Arched Back
• Clenched Fists
• Pull Their Legs up to the Belly

Babies go through this problem when they have wind trapped inside their tummy. So, when your baby falls asleep without burping, how do you burp them? There are different ways of burping a baby who just fell asleep.

Why is Burping Important?

Burping is critical because it helps a little baby release the extra air congested inside their stomach. This can cause discomfort, fussiness, and spitting when they are not treated and expelled. Here are some reasons why you must burp your little one –

• If the little baby swallows lots of air, you need to burp them.
• It’s best to burp them when they are hungry and eating too fast.
• Does the little baby feel some level of discomfort after eating? In that case, it’s important to burp them.
• Trapped wind in a baby’s stomach can cause burping issues and make the baby fussy and cry.
• It’s best to release the air from the baby’s stomach before it builds up and makes the baby throw up.

How to Burp a Baby while asleep?

Typically, your baby should burp on their own. They don’t need any assistance when their health condition is well. However, you may want to burp them when they fall asleep without burping.

You can follow three common methods for burping your little one. Three of these methods rely on the position you hold the baby in. You can burp them on your lap or while holding them on your shoulder. Or you can burp the baby when they are lying down.

Make sure to choose the comfortable method for your baby and you. Also, place a cloth, bib, or a cover around their shoulder and lap while burping. The bib keeps the baby clean in case it spits up while trying to burp.

Method 1: Shoulder

Here’s the most effective burping technique for a baby that’s sleeping. You can burp the baby when they are fast asleep without waking them up.

1. First, hold the baby in an upright position on your shoulder. Make sure to use one of your hands to support their buttocks. This way, their head will lean on your shoulder, and they will lean forward with their chest facing your shoulder.
2. Use the palm of your other hand to pat the babies back firmly. Make sure to focus on the place in between their shoulder blade for a better impact.
3. The pat should work. If it doesn’t, go ahead and use your hand to rub on the upper part of the shoulder in a circular motion.

This method should help you burp the baby. But if you need to wake them up to burp, gently swaddle or bounce them while following the three steps mentioned here.

Method 2: Chest Burping

What if the baby doesn’t burp and falls asleep? Here’s a more effective technique to burp your baby without waking them up. Instead of putting your baby on your shoulder, place them against your chest.

1. Lift the baby up and place them on your chest gently. Use one hand to support their buttock and use the other hand to pat your babies back gently.
2. Don’t stretch out the baby’s legs. It’s better to keep their body curled up to keep them from waking up.
3. Now, use the hand that’s on their back to rub the back. First, rub their back in a circular motion.
4. If the circular motion on their back doesn’t work, use your hands to pat between their shoulders.

Method 3: Hip Method

If you must burp the baby when they are sleeping, here’s another effective method you can try. People who breastfeed their baby lying down would love to follow this breastfeeding method. The caregiver doesn’t need to sit up or hold the baby upright in this position.

1. Place the baby’s tummy over the belly or the tummy. Ensure that the baby’s head is kept in an elevated position.
2. Pat their back between their shoulder blades.
3. Follow an alternative rubbing method if the previous method doesn’t work. Rub their back in an upward circular motion.

Method 4: Arm Hold

Here’s another method that works best on smaller babies.

• You must put the baby in a position where they can feed. Place one of the hands under their back to rest their body.
• Now, carefully turn your baby’s body so they are resting with their belly down on the caregiver’s forearm. Their head should be in the crook of the elbow. Keep the hand between the legs of the baby, giving you a firm grip to hold them steadily.
• Use the other hand to rub or pat the baby’s upper back.
• Once finished, you are to roll the baby toward the body.  Next, they will face up to continue their feeding, or they might sleep.

Method 5: Lap Method

This is a method well suited for the baby when he’s awake.

• Keep the baby in an upright sitting position. Now, turn them over onto their tummy. This way, they’re ready to rest on the caregiver’s thighs.
• Now use one arm to raise the baby’s upper body by gently holding their chin and chest.
• Next, use the other hand to gently rub or pat on the baby’s back for burping them.
• If finished, turn the baby over onto his back.

What if the baby doesn’t burp and falls asleep?

You can follow the abovementioned methods to burp the baby if they fall asleep.  However, what if the baby doesn’t burp at all? That’s a possibility if they haven’t swallowed enough air. Sometimes, your baby will need a little time and patience to burp.

Here are some tips for the parents –

• Burp them in between breastfeeding while switching the breasts.
• If the baby doesn’t burp after trying for 5 minutes, lie them down on the floor. Pick the baby up carefully after a few minutes and try to burp them again. Lying down can help move the air bubbles around. So, try that.
• After feeding the baby, keep them upright for some time. You can use a sling or wrap to help them maintain their position.
• There’s no need to worry if the baby doesn’t burp. Sometimes, they may not have enough gas inside their tummy to release. But give it a few minutes of intervals and gently try again.

When to Burp a Baby?

Some babies tend to get more acidity and gas than others. That’s why it’s good to keep burping them while nursing or after feeding.

This applies even when they don’t show any signs of acidity or gas. Burp your baby after they are done feeding. Here’s how often you should burp the baby while nursing –

1. When feeding the baby, burp them before switching breasts.
2. Parents bottle feeding the baby can burp the baby between two to three ounces of feeding. This applies to newborns under 6 months of age.

Should You Call a doctor?

It’s no issue if the baby falls asleep without burping. But if the baby has extreme levels of gas and accompanies symptoms like high fever, diarrhoea, excessive fussiness, and bloody stools, you might want to burp them.

It gets extremely difficult to settle the baby down under such conditions. It’s best to settle down the baby.

You May Like To Read This:

• When Can I Breastfeed After Drinking
• Is It Ok To Put Baby To Sleep Without Burping?
• Baby Won’t Burp On Their Own? What Can You Do To Help Them?