Being a parent can be a life changing experience for anyone. However once the euphoria of holding the little one wears off parents are faced with sleepless nights and colicky, fussy babies.

Excess air swallowed while feeding and gas can keep your baby awake all night. To eliminate this you need to learn how to effectively burp a baby.

Burping a baby helps in releasing the swallowed air which in turn can cause spitting, gassiness and frustration for both you and the baby. Once the baby burps successfully and the gas is released from the tiny tummy, you will find your little one sleeping peacefully.

The best way to burping a baby is by gently patting his or her back. This forces the trapped air out of the system and provides instant relief to the baby.

Burping babies is essential as the excess trapped air in the tummy can cause the baby to become colicky. This leads to the long hours of crying and frustration that can leave both you and your newborn exhausted. This is essential for babies who are bottle fed as the faster flow from the nipple of the bottle forces excess swallowed air.

In contrast to this breastfed babies enjoy the advantage of smaller, frequent feeding in upright position that ensues that less air is swallowed. However it is advisable to burp a baby when switching breasts while feeding and after every five minutes of feeding.

There are many ways of burping a baby. However the most widely used method is the over the shoulder method. While sitting or standing upright, hold the baby against your chest while allowing the baby’s chin to rest against the shoulder. Ensure that your collarbone presses against the baby’s tummy. Now with one hand support the baby while with the other gently pat him or her on the back.

You can also burp the baby by placing him in your lap and holding the baby’s chest in your hand while supporting his head with your fingers. Now with the other hand gently pat the baby’s back to help release the gas.

Another effective way of burping a baby is by draping him or her over your thighs. With one hand support the baby’s head while with the other rub gently against the back to release the trapped air.