When Can You Stop Burping a Baby? A Complete Guide for Parents
The ins and outs of burping a baby is a major concern for most new parents. What does it do? Is it dangerous? Are you burping your baby correctly? For new parents, the reasons and general tips for burping a baby can be unknown.
Newborns swallow a fair amount of air during feeding because their digestive anatomy is still developing. The esophageal sphincters—bands of muscle at the top that open and close to let food and gas move through—are not fully mature at birth. As Fatherly explains, newborns “have underdeveloped esophageal sphincters,” and that immaturity means the muscle doesn’t always release air when it needs to. “In young babies, this muscle doesn’t always spontaneously relax when gas needs to pass,” says Carole Kramer Arsenault, R.N., founder of Boston Baby Nurse & Nanny (Fatherly). If swallowed air isn’t released as a burp, she adds, it often travels to the intestines and causes discomfort.
Newborns and younger infants require frequent burping until their digestive system and esophageal base begin to strengthen.
What Age Do Babies Not Need To Be Burped?
Most babies no longer need to be burped around 4 to 6 months old. Why that age range? This is usually when babies begin sitting with support, which directly assists esophageal development and makes air release easier. According to Medical News Today, “most babies begin sitting between 4 and 6 months,” a milestone that contributes to stronger posture and more controlled muscle movement which helps reduce swallowed air and improve digestion (Medical News Today).
To encourage these behaviors, provide enough tummy time and practice assisted sitting with things like your hands, pillows, or assisted standing walkers when the baby is ready. (Standing, another milestone in this regard, usually happens around the 9-month mark.)
As sitting improves, so do several other factors:
Their digestive system matures
They can maintain upright posture with support
They swallow less air while feeding
Their own movement helps release trapped gas naturally
Because of these milestones, many pediatricians consider 4–6 months the window when babies typically do not need to be burped anymore.
Still, this timeline isn’t universal. Some babies benefit from burping until 7–9 months, especially those who:
Drink fast
Experience frequent gas
Have reflux (spit up)
Take bottle feeds (which naturally introduce more air than breastfeeding)
Every baby has different developmental milestones, so take those into consideration. Always speak to a pediatrician if you are concerned about any underlying conditions related to the process above.
When Can You Stop Burping Your Baby?
You can stop burping your baby once it’s clear that air is no longer building up after feeding. Look for consistent patterns rather than a single feeding.
Signs you can stop burping
No discomfort during or after feeding
No arching, fussing, or pulling legs to the chest
Feedings end calmly without crying or squirming
Baby naturally burps on their own in upright or seated positions
Noticeably less spit-up
Signs your baby still needs burping
Frequent gas pains
Increased spit-up (reflux)
Fussiness halfway through a feed
Crying when laid flat after a bottle
If your baby is not burping after feeding, consider it a positive sign. Although reflux is normal after feeding, excessive projectile vomiting should be discussed with your baby’s primary care doctor or a nurse practitioner. Other things to be on the lookout for and discuss with your dedicated healthcare providers include excessive gassiness, stomach cramps, and crying (ParPeds, n.d.).
What If My Baby Won’t Burp After Feeding?
This is one of the top-searched parent concerns, and it’s completely normal. If your baby won’t burp after feeding, try the following:
Change positions
Sometimes air gets stuck depending on how your baby is being held. Try:Shoulder hold
Sitting upright on your lap
Lying across your lap
Gentle torso rotations
Give it time
Some babies need 10–15 minutes to release a burp.Pause and resume feeding
Bottle-fed babies often benefit from a mid-feed break to help release swallowed air.Pat lower on the back
Sometimes air pockets sit lower than expected, especially in small infants.
If you’ve rotated through positions and there’s still no burp, it’s okay. If you still have questions on proper techniques to burping your baby, speak to a parenting coach on the MissPoppins platform. Experts are available through regular or video chat for all concerns from burping, feeding, breastfeeding, and beyond.
Baby Not Burping After Feeding: Should You Be Worried?
Usually, no. Babies do not need to burp after every single feed.
Normal reasons your baby won’t burp
They swallowed very little air
They’re already comfortable
They released air earlier during the feed
Their digestive system is maturing
When to watch more closely
Baby becomes extremely fussy
Intense crying when laid flat
Waking from sleep due to trapped gas
Increased spit-up
What Happens If You Don’t Burp a Baby?
Skipping a burp typically does not cause dangerous outcomes, but it can create temporary discomfort.
Possible outcomes
Gas pain
Fussiness
Arching or squirming
Increased spit-up
Gassy nighttime sleep
Rare risks
More discomfort for babies with reflux
Crying fits from trapped air
Currently, there are no long-term developmental risks associated with missing a burp.
Dangers of Not Burping Your Baby
If you forget to burp your baby, they are likely to experience:
Trapped gas and general discomfort
Restlessness
Trouble settling for naps
Increased swallowed air from crying
Failing to burp your baby is unlikely to cause anything other than short-term discomfort. Many parents wonder about the relation between SIDS and not burping, particularly after a night feeding. ParPeds advises:
“When laying the baby down to sleep, have the head of the bed elevated. Elevate the head of the bed by placing something under two legs of the bed or under the mattress. Never put something on top of the mattress to elevate your newborn’s head, as this increases the risk for SIDS” (ParPeds, n.d.).
