How to get baby to roll over faster?

We all want to get baby to burp quickly, especially at night. Yet, we have to be honest: it's often baby's body that decides.

Here is what worked for me with my two children, from mom to mom. It is neither a truth nor a general rule, just tips from experience to try to find what suits your baby.

The position that worked best: baby sitting, slightly leaning forward

The position that worked best for my children is the upright, vertical posture. Baby sits on me, slightly leaning forward, and I hold their head in my hands.

Then I massage their back in small circles, and I add small taps. These movements create vibrations in their body that help the burp come up.

My impression is that the sitting position clears the airways and facilitates the release of the burp, and that leaning forward encourages it even more.

When the burp doesn't come: change methods

Sometimes, nothing works. In this case, I change positions:

• Baby on the shoulder, with a small rocking motion back and forth. This position never worked for my two children, but it is very classic and works for many babies.
• Baby sitting on me, with small rocking motions.
• Baby placed semi-reclined on my bent legs.

I never pushed myself for more than 30 minutes. After this time, I tried to lay baby down, ask for help if possible, or lay them back down while checking that they were well settled.

Patience and fatigue are not the same every night: listen to yourself, and always stay in a safe position for both you and baby.

Get ahead of the burps: take breaks during the meal

My best advice is to get ahead of the burps rather than waiting for them at the end. Take a break every 10 minutes or so during the feeding or bottle.

These breaks limit the air that enters and allow you to immediately release the discomfort burps. The burp will then be faster.

Not all babies need to burp: if little air enters during the meal, there is sometimes nothing to release. In my experience, a breastfed baby often needs to burp less, because their latch during sucking is more natural than with a bottle.

How to know if baby has a stuck burp?

If baby squirms or twists, it is surely because a burp is stuck. In this case, I start over from the beginning, even if it can take 20 or 30 minutes.

Conversely, if baby falls asleep calmly without burping, do not stress. If they feel discomfort, they will let you know very quickly.

The common mistake: only trying one position

At the maternity ward, they only showed me one position. It was easy to apply and worked well for me, but every baby is different.

The mistake is to settle for what we were taught. Try several ways to get baby to burp to find the one that suits them. The so-called classic positions should not be forgotten: they may work very well for yours.

Stay zen and share the load

Try different positions, and do not put pressure on yourself if baby does not burp and falls asleep. A baby who has discomfort lets you know quickly.

To distribute the load between parents, a simple trick: the parent who gets baby to burp is not the one who feeds them. Each takes turns, which makes the nights more bearable.

In summary

To get baby to burp faster: try the slightly leaning forward sitting position, take breaks during the meal, change methods if the burp does not come, and de-dramatize. If baby seems to suffer often or vomits a lot, talk to your doctor or pediatrician.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best position to get baby to burp?

It depends on each baby. For my two children, the sitting position, slightly leaning forward, with the head held, worked best.

How long should I try to get baby to burp?

I never exceeded 30 minutes. After this time, I tried to lay baby down or lay them back down while ensuring they were comfortable.

Should I always get baby to burp?

Not necessarily. If little air enters during the meal, baby sometimes does not need to burp. If they have discomfort, they will let you know quickly.

How to limit difficult burps?

Take breaks every 10 minutes or so during the feeding or bottle, to limit the air swallowed and release the discomfort burps immediately.