Burping a baby should be easy. Just put the baby on your shoulder and pat the back gently. The burp will happen. Maybe. Or maybe not. It could be that burping a baby becomes an involved process and that you have to learn the individual needs and wants of a particular baby.

The first thing to consider is that not all babies swallow air the same. Some babies will offer up gigantic burps after only a few slurps from the bottle or breast. Others can drink their fill without having anything more than a tiny hiccup at the end. You may be trying to induce a burp that simply isn’t there, or you may be satisfied that the burping is done before it actually is completed. Pay attention to how much your baby burps so you’ll have a gauge for the future.

Most babies burp well when placed on the shoulder. This is because of the simple physics of a burp. The burp is nothing more than an air bubble that was created because the baby swallowed some amount of air during feeding. Air rises so the burp is more likely to be expelled by gently patting the baby’s back while he or she is in an upright position – on the shoulder works well. But remember that babies don’t have to be upright in order to burp. Some even seem more relaxed and ready to give up a burp if they’re lying on their stomach, either across your lap or on a pillow. Note that most health care professionals advise not to leave a baby asleep on his or her stomach.

Some babies are upset by the patting and may react better to a gentle rubbing motion on the mid-back. Some like to be rocked or swayed while the patting is going on. A cranky or fussy baby will often act better once they’ve been burped. Getting the air off the baby’s stomach can ease the pain and cramping associated with excess gas. Remember that babies are likely to spit up during the burping, so you should always be prepared by having a cloth across your shoulder.