Nobody warns you how much of early parenthood is spent patting a very small back and waiting. Pat, rub, pat, a hopeful pause, nothing. Then, the second you lay them down, a burp worthy of a pub landlord, usually followed by a warm splash of milk down your last clean top.
Winding is one of those jobs everyone assumes you will just know how to do. So here is the short version: why babies need winding, the three positions the NHS suggests, what to do when nothing comes up, and how to tell everyday possetting from something worth a call.
Why babies need winding at all
Babies swallow air while they feed. According to the NHS guide to burping your baby, those air bubbles can get trapped in the tummy and cause discomfort. Some babies burp easily on their own. Others need a bit of help.
There are no fixed rules about when. Some babies need a break halfway through a feed, others are fine until the end. The NHS suggests pausing for a burping break if your baby seems uncomfortable while feeding, and waiting until they have finished if they seem happy. It also says a couple of minutes of burping should be enough.
A couple of minutes is enough. You do not have to pat until your arm drops off.
Three positions worth trying
Whichever you choose, the basics are the same: support your baby's head and neck, keep their tummy and back fairly straight rather than curled up, and rub or pat their back gently. Keep a muslin within reach, because bringing up a little milk is normal.
- Over your shoulder. Rest your baby's chin on your shoulder, support their head and shoulders with one hand, and gently rub and pat their back with the other. Walking around can help.
- Sitting on your lap. Sit your baby facing away from you with your palm flat on their chest, supporting their chin and jaw. Keep your fingers away from their throat. Lean them forward slightly and pat or rub their back with your free hand.
- Lying across your lap. Lay your baby face down across your lap, support their chin, and pat or rub their back.
The NHS suggests trying each one and using whichever works best, or combining them. Most babies have a favourite. It is rarely the one that suits your back.
When nothing comes up
Not every feed produces a burp, and that is fine. But if your baby seems uncomfortable, the NHS lists the signs of trapped wind as crying, an arched back, drawing their legs up to their tummy and clenched fists. It suggests:
- A gentle tummy massage. Lay your baby on their back and gently massage their tummy.
- Bicycle legs. Move their legs back and forth, as if they are riding a bike.
- A chat with your health visitor if that does not help.
How your baby feeds can make a difference too. Our guide to feeding your baby covers breast, bottle and both, and the National Breastfeeding Helpline is open 24 hours a day on 0300 100 0212.
Possetting: when milk comes back up
The NHS page on reflux in babies describes reflux as a baby bringing up milk, or being sick, during or shortly after a feed, and says it is very common and usually gets better on its own. It tends to start before 8 weeks and improve by around a year, as the ring of muscle at the bottom of the food pipe gets stronger.
Other signs can include coughing or hiccupping while feeding, being unsettled during feeds, swallowing or gulping after burping or feeding, and crying a lot. Some babies have the symptoms without much visible sick at all, which is known as silent reflux. Things the NHS suggests trying:
- Keep them upright during feeds and for as long as you can afterwards.
- Burp regularly during feeds, not just at the end.
- Get help with feeding position or technique, and ask your health visitor for advice.
The sleep bit: flat, and on their back
It is tempting to prop up a baby who brings up milk. The NHS says not to raise the head of the cot or Moses basket, and to always put your baby to sleep flat on their back, never on their side or front. The Lullaby Trust agrees: tilting, inclining or propping the mattress, cot or baby does not help with reflux, and there is no need for wedges or rolled-up blankets to keep a baby in position unless a health professional has advised it for a specific medical condition.
The worry that a baby on their back might choke on sick comes up a lot. The Lullaby Trust says no research has found this to be the case, and that babies are far safer sleeping on their backs. Our safe sleep guide covers the rest.
Wind, colic or something else?
If the crying goes on and on, someone will mention colic. The NHS describes colic as a baby crying a lot with no obvious cause. It can start when a baby is a few weeks old and usually stops by around 3 to 4 months. Holding your baby upright during feeds and winding them afterwards are among the things that may help, along with cuddles, gentle rocking, a warm bath and some background white noise. The NHS says anti-colic drops, herbal remedies and probiotics are not recommended, as there is no evidence they help. If teatime is when it all unravels, our piece on the 5pm witching hour is for you.
When to call someone
Most wind and possetting is messy but harmless. The NHS says to ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111 if your baby:
- has sick that is green or yellow, or has blood in it
- is projectile vomiting (being sick with more force than usual)
- has blood in their poo, or a swollen or tender tummy
- has a very high temperature, or feels hot, cold or shivery
- keeps being sick and cannot keep fluid down, or is refusing to feed
- has diarrhoea that lasts more than a week, or signs of dehydration
- will not stop crying and is very distressed
See a GP if reflux is not improving, starts for the first time after 6 months, carries on past their first birthday, or your baby is not gaining weight. Call 999 or go to A&E if your baby has a weak or high-pitched cry, or a cry that does not sound like their normal one. And if you are finding the crying hard to cope with, the NHS says that is a reason to call 111 or your GP too. You know your baby best, so trust your instincts.
The muslin months
Winding gets easier, mostly because you get quicker and they get bigger. For a while every top you own will smell faintly of milk and you will develop the reflexes of a goalkeeper. It passes. For more of the strange-but-normal side of the early weeks, here are the totally normal newborn things that worry every new parent, and if 3am is when it all goes wrong, try our 3am checklist.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Every baby is different. If you are worried about your baby's feeding, sickness or crying, speak to your health visitor or GP, call NHS 111, or call 999 in an emergency.
If you’re trying to conceive (TTC), you probably know that there are certain foods and nutrients that become especially important once you’re pregnant. But nutrition plays a vital role even when trying to conceive, much like laying a strong foundation before constructing a house.
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When choosing a supplement to support your fertility journey, look for science-backed, high-quality ingredients. Our editors are careful to select and partner with brands that use ingredients that have been clinically studied to support fertility. Eu Natural® (pronounced you) covers all those bases and more. We love knowing that Eu Natural® products contain zero artificial additives, binders, or fillers and are lab-tested to ensure purity and potency.
