Winding your Baby.

It’s important to know how to wind your baby as any air that’s been swallowed during feeding will make your baby sore and restless.

Try burping your baby every 50 or 100ml if you bottle-feed, and each time you switch breasts if you breastfeed. If your baby doesn’t burp after a few minutes, try feeding again. Always burp when feeding time is over. You will soon learn just how frequently your baby needs to be burped.

If your baby seems niggly during a feed, is pulling her legs up towards her chest , pulls away moaning, then tries to feed again, the little one probably needs to be winded. Stop feeding, burp the baby, then start feeding again.
A newborn might “smile” if she has a wind.

How to prevent winding when breastfeeding.

Be sure your baby is sucking and latching correctly. Check her positioning on the breast.
Feed on demand – don’t make your baby wait for her feeds.
If you have an overabundant milk supply or a forceful letdown, try to lie back while you are feeding. This way your baby lies across your chest and feeds against gravity, slowing down the milk supply. This stops the baby from gulping air.

In the early weeks it’s important to feed on both sides to stimulate the milk production. Later you might find that your baby is more content with just taking only one breast at a feed. That way the baby gets the nutritious hind milk. P.S With the next feeding session, start this time with the other breast, not the same one you just used.

If the breast is too full for your baby to latch you could express just enough milk to soften the nipple for your baby to be able to position herself well on the breast. If there is certain foods that makes you windy, cut them out of your diet for a few weeks and see if it makes a difference to your baby.

How to prevent winding when bottle-feeding.

Check the size of the hole in the teat. Hold the bottle upside down and make sure the milk flows out correctly, not too slow and not too fast.
Hold the bottle at an angle that ensures there is always milk in the teat and that your baby is not sucking on air. Make sure your baby is not reacting to the formula itself. Find a formula that your baby is most comfortable with.

Posseting.

Wet winds, where your baby vomits up a little milk is known as posseting.
Babies who have swallowed air or babies who are overfull may spit up. The bubble of air sits under the milk in the stomache and when she burps the milk comes up too.

Weight your baby regularly and if she is gaining well, there is no cause for concern.
Keep your baby in an upright position for at least 20 minutes to allow the milk to settle.
Loss of weight is a problem and so is projectile vomiting. Consult your doctor in these cases.

How to wind.

To prevent a messy clean up when your baby vomits or possets, you might want to place a towel or bib under her chin or over our shoulder. Each baby is different, so experiment to find which burping position best suits you and your baby.

Release of stubborn winds.

• A rocking chair and classical music can help you through the bad times.
• Relax in a warm, deep bath with your baby.
• Carry your baby over your forearm, tummy down.
• Place her upright in a sling or carrier. The warmth and movement of your body may help to bring up winds.
• Lie her on her back and gently rock her feet towards her chest.
• Lie your baby down on her right side after a feed, as her stomach is on the left side and the air will rise up more easily to be burped out.

Champion winders.

Dads are often champion winders, and they seem to particularly enjoy the satisfaction of producing a great big burp from a baby. Fathers play with their babies more vigorously, which babies love and which helps get those winds up. And a man’s deep, gruff voice and flat, hairy chest can be extra soothing and supporting.