When Can You Stop Burping Baby? Pediatricians Talk Timeline and Tips

I was somewhat of a baby-burping whisperer when my three kids were little. I could get a quality burp out of almost any baby in no time, even the fussiest and most stubborn. But eventually, I started to wonder: When can you stop burping baby?

Here, we dive into everything to know about when to stop burping baby—from the readiness signs to look out for to the best methods to rid it from your routine. Keep reading for a full burping breakdown.

Key Takeaways

• When do you stop burping baby? Most babies stop needing to be burped when they’re between 4 and 6 months old.
• Signs it’s time to stop burping baby: Some clues baby is ready to stop being burped include smooth feeds, sitting independently and increased mobility.
• Signs you still need to burp baby: If baby’s fussy or spitting up around feeding time, you shouldn’t stop burping them yet.
• Other methods to relieve baby’s gas: You can help a gassy baby with gentle movement (think bicycle legs), holding baby upright and taking steps to avoid gas bubbles during feeds.

When Do You Stop Burping Baby?

You can typically stop burping baby between 4 and 6 months of age, experts say.

“As baby gets older, their feeding becomes more coordinated, they swallow less air and they start moving around more, which naturally helps release gas on its own,” explains Dr. Wendy Hunter, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego and host of the podcast The Pediatrician Next Door.

That said, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to when to stop burping baby. “As widespread as the practice is, there’s actually very little standardization as to when and how to burp an infant,” says Dr. Caroline Brown, MD, IBCLC, a pediatrician and lactation consultant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Some babies never burp beyond the first couple of months, adds Dr. Gabriella Dauer, MD, a pediatrician in South Florida, “while other babies will continue to express upper airway gas well into infanthood.”

When Can You Put Baby to Bed Without Burping Them?

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to burp your little one before you put them to bed. “I wouldn’t delay allowing baby to sleep just for a good burp,” says Dr. Dauer.

If baby falls asleep in your arms, you can continue to hold them upright for a little bit before laying them down, she suggests. This way, food has time to make its way down into their belly, helping prevent reflux—even without a burp.

I found this to be true with my youngest son, who’d frequently fall asleep during his night feedings before I had the chance to burp him. I’d be nervous to lay him back down in his crib, worrying he’d spit up or wake up. But surprisingly, he was usually just fine. “If baby sleeps well without burping, you’re in the clear,” confirms Dr. Hunter.

On the flip side, if baby seems uncomfortable or wakes up soon after being fed, “a quick burp before bed is still worth it,” adds Dr. Hunter. This was the case for Brittany C., a mom of one. “If baby was extremely whiny or fussy in her crib or bassinet, I could usually just pick her up, get a burp out and she’d fall asleep instantly,” she shares.

Signs Baby Is Ready to Stop Being Burped

Baby will often give you clear-cut cues that they’re ready to stop being burped. Here are the biggest signs baby’s ready to go burp-free.

Feedings become a fuss-free event

During feeds, watch for baby being relaxed and not pulling off the breast or bottle. When you’re done feeding, notice if baby’s content and not spitting up. “If baby feeds comfortably and doesn’t show signs of discomfort, they likely don’t need to be burped,” says Dr. Elizabeth Vainder, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician in South Florida.

Baby’s sitting up independently

Another big clue they’re ready to stop being burped is when baby starts sitting up) on their own and is more mobile. “For me, once they were sitting unassisted I didn’t feel the need to burp them,” shares Carly B., a mom of two.

Dr. Hunter explains that this is because rolling, sitting or squirming helps move gas through baby’s system.

Baby’s starting solids

Once baby starts eating solid food—typically around 6 months—they start burping on their own. (Hey, there’s a milestone for everything!) “Once we introduced solids, his spit-up became so much less frequent and that contributed to us stopping burping—and he learned to burp on his own,” shares mom of one Katie L.

Signs You Should Continue Burping Baby

Baby will also give you signs that they’re not ready to stop being burped. “If baby seems uncomfortable during or after feeds, such as arching their back, squirming, pulling away from the bottle or breast or becoming fussy, burping may help,” Dr. Vainder says.

Also keep an eye on how your little one is acting after eating. “After feeds, signs like frequent spit-up, gassiness or needing to be held upright to stay comfortable are clues that a quick burp break might still be needed,” Dr. Hunter adds.

How to Transition Out of the Burping Phase

Leaving burping behind is easier than you might think. The best method is to gradually phase out burps and see how your little one responds. Start by “dropping the burp in the middle of the feeding and just burping after to see how they do,” advises Dr. Leslie Treece, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician in Tennessee. “If they tolerate that well, try stopping altogether the next time. If they’re gassy or fussy and need help, continue to burp.”

It’s important to follow baby’s cues. You can always add burping back to your routine. “It’s less about hitting a milestone and more about letting baby show you when they don’t need the help anymore,” Dr. Hunter says.

Another tactic is to just stop burping cold turkey. “There’s no specific technique to transition out of burping,” Dr. Vainder notes. Most of the moms we spoke to agreed with this school of thought: “[I went] cold turkey both times,” says Carly B. “With my second, I completely forgot about it.”

Real Parents on When to Stop Burping Baby

We asked members of our community when to stop burping baby, and got a wide range of responses. Read what they had to say.

Katie L., mom of one: 4-and-a-half months

“My baby was spitting up a lot after feeds. I constantly asked my pediatrician if he had reflux or a cow’s milk protein allergy, to which she always said no. She just classified him as a happy spitter! I religiously burped him [and] obsessed over holding him upright after feeds until about 4-and-a-half months. The main reason we stopped is because he started burping on his own!”

Carly B., mom of two:10 months

“I stopped burping my firstborn at around 10 months old. He was a very gassy baby, and spit up frequently. Around this time, I noticed less spit-up. He was fully sitting unassisted, and a lot of the time, if I left him sitting up he’d just burp by himself without my assistance!"

Brittany C., mom of one: Between 6 and 7 months

“At around 6 months, it seemed like she was burping more and more on her own. Now, at 7 months, I tend to hold her seated on my lap until she gets one out on her own. If she seems full or uncomfortable, I’ll still pat her back. [Stopping] seems to happen naturally.”

Enallia W., mom of four: Never started, never stopped

“I’m currently two weeks postpartum with my fourth baby. I’ve never burped any of them consistently after feedings. All of my children have been breastfed and it never really seemed necessary to me, considering they weren’t [swallowing] a lot of air.”

Other Ways to Help Relieve Baby’s Gas

Burping isn’t the only way to help prevent baby’s gas and reflux. Here are other ways to coax those gas bubbles out of baby’s immature digestive system.

Bicycle baby’s legs

“Gentle movement is a big one” when it comes to helping baby with gas pains, Dr. Hunter says. “Things like bicycling the legs or bringing the knees up toward the belly can help shift trapped air.”

Hold baby upright after feeds

This can be even more effective than burping when it comes to relieving gas. The position “allows gravity to pull down the food and allow any gases or air to rise,” Dr. Dauer explains. “We almost always held [our daughter] upright or put her in a chair post-feed,” says mom Brittany C.

Try gas drops or probiotics

Gas drops, which typically contain simethicone, are an over-the-counter medication that can help to alleviate discomfort from trapped gas.

“Simethicone drops can be very helpful with gas and they’re safe to use,” Dr. Treece says. Additionally, there’s promising research on giving infants probiotics to help relieve gas pains, adds Dr. Brown. In any case, speak to your pediatrician before introducing any new medication or supplement.

Make sure baby gets tummy time

Along with its physical benefits, tummy time can help ease out gas bubbles. “It puts natural pressure on the abdomen that can help gas pass,” Dr. Hunter notes.

Avoid gas bubbles during feeds

Keeping baby from swallowing gas bubbles can help prevent gas. “Making sure the latch is good and the bottle nipple flow isn’t too fast, and taking breaks during feeds, can all reduce how much air baby swallows in the first place,” Dr. Hunter says. “It’s often a combination of small adjustments that adds up to a more comfortable baby.”

To Sum It Up

Most babies stop needing to be burped between 4 and 6 months of age, as their GI systems mature and they start to move around more on their own. If your little one’s pulling away from the bottle or breast, spitting up or acting fussy after feeds, they most likely still need burping in their routine. But if feeds are going smoothly, you can try getting rid of the burp breaks.

Essentially, burping is all about following baby’s cues and seeing how comfortable they seem. “It’s about reading the pattern—if pausing to burp makes feeds calmer and baby seems more settled, it’s still worth doing,” says Hunter.

How We Developed This Article

For new parents, it’s common to wonder: When can I stop burping my infant? There’s no definitive rule as to when to stop burping baby, but we dug into when this typically happens—and how to follow baby’s cues—by speaking with five pediatricians. We also talked to five moms about when they stopped burping their babies, and how they knew it was time. After editing, this article was vetted through fact-check and reviewed by our pediatrician medical adviser. Learn more about how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process.

About the author: Lynsey Eidell is a parenting and entertainment writer, a mom of three young boys—and a self-described “baby-burping whisperer.” She’s a graduate of Villanova University and a native of Fairfield County, Connecticut, where she currently lives.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.