Science of the burp: understanding aerophagia and eructation in newborns

Infantile colic and regurgitation are common benign causes of distress in infants, often leading caregivers to employ burping after feeds despite limited scientific evidence of its efficacy. Burping is widely believed to release swallowed air, reduce regurgitation and minimise colic; however, current research does not support its benefit for colic prevention. We summarise in this report common burping techniques, their mechanical basis and implications for infant care. This brief review highlights the lack of standardised guidelines and underscores the need for well-designed studies to clarify the role of burping in modern neonatal practice. Burping after feeding is commonly advised by medical care providers like paediatricians, nurses, relatives and parenting websites, even though the scientific evidence for the efficacy of burping is lacking. There is no literature on various techniques of burping and the benefits associated with each. The only literature on burping efficacy showed no benefits. Burping is a widely practiced caregiving routine in newborn care, believed to release swallowed air, reduce regurgitation and minimise colic. Despite its near-universal application, scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of burping in healthy term infants remains limited and conflicting. Caregivers employ various burping techniques based on cultural traditions, paediatric advice and experiential knowledge, yet there is no clear consensus or standardised guideline to recommend one method over another. This review aims to summarise and evaluate the commonly practiced burping techniques, examining their mechanical principles, practical considerations and potential benefits or limitations for newborns and caregivers.