Winding a baby is an essential part of caring for a newborn. When babies feed, they can swallow a lot of air along with the milk. This air gets trapped in their stomach and intestines, causing discomfort. If the air isn’t released through burping or “winding”, it can lead to painful gas, spit up, hiccups, and fussiness. Babies need to be winded during and after every feed. But what happens if you don’t wind a baby?
Why do babies need to be winded?
Babies need to be winded for the following reasons:
- To release air swallowed during feeding – Babies are still learning how to coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing when breast or bottle feeding. They often gulp down a lot of air along with the milk, which fills their stomach with gas.
- To relieve discomfort and pain – The buildup of air creates pressure and discomfort. Babies feel pain from gas bubbles and air pressing on their tiny stomachs and intestines.
- To reduce spit up and vomiting – Excess air can cause the stomach contents to be pushed back up. Winding helps babies “burp” up the air before it comes back up as spit up.
- To avoid gas drops and pain medication – Getting the air out through winding prevents the need for medications like gas drops or gripe water to relieve baby’s pain.
Winding helps release the excess air and gas, allowing baby to feel comfortable and settled after a feed. It should become part of every feeding routine.
What happens when you don’t wind a baby?
Failing to wind baby regularly can lead to the following issues:
Fussiness and crying
When air gets trapped in a baby’s stomach, it causes discomfort. The baby will become fussy, squirmy and cry a lot. They may draw their legs up, clench their fists, or wiggle around. Crying and fussing usually intensifies over time as the gas pain builds up.
Excessive spit up
Babies may spit up often and excessively if the air is not burped out. When air accumulates in the stomach, it pushes the contents back up. This leads to forceful spit up, sometimes even projectile vomiting.
Gas and colic
Intestinal gas is common in newborns. Not winding can make it worse, leading to symptoms of colic like frequent crying and irritability. Colic causes severe abdominal pain from intestinal gas that comes and goes.
Interrupted sleep
Discomfort from gas will prevent baby from sleeping well. They will have difficulty falling asleep, wake up frequently, and have an overall poor sleep quality.
Gastroesophageal reflux
When stomach contents are forced upwards frequently, it can lead to gastroesophageal reflux. The stomach acid burns and irritates the esophagus. Frequent spit up from excess air raises the risk of acid reflux in babies.
Need for medication
Medications may be required to relieve gas, reflux and abdominal discomfort when winding is not done. This includes simethicone drops to break up gas bubbles or proton pump inhibitors to reduce reflux.
When to seek medical help
In most cases, regular winding will prevent major issues in babies. But some signs warrant medical evaluation:
- Projectile, forceful vomiting
- Frequent wheezing, coughing or gagging during feeds
- Blood in spit up or vomit
- Green or yellow vomit
- Reflux causing poor weight gain
- Excessive crying and discomfort not relieved by winding
These signs could indicate an underlying condition like pyloric stenosis, milk protein allergy or gastroesophageal reflux disease. See a doctor if winding and burping does not provide relief or symptoms get worse.
How to properly wind a baby
Winding is simple when done regularly and with the right technique:
During feeds
- Hold baby upright while bottle feeding
- Burp halfway through feeds by gently patting or rubbing back
- Support head when burping and keep it higher than body
- Place baby tummy-down across lap and gently pat back
After feeds
- Hold baby upright over shoulder and gently pat or rub back for 5-10 minutes
- Lay baby face down across lap and rub back
- Lay baby tummy down across knees and pat back gently
- Sit baby on lap, lean forward and pat back
Keep winding until you hear 1-2 good burps. Change positions and alternate patting, circular rubbing to help release trapped air.
Tips for better winding
- Maintain good winding routine after every feed
- Pat or rub gently – Never forcefully thump baby’s back
- Wind for 5-10 minutes since babies burp at their own pace
- Wind baby when switching breasts during nursing
- Hold upright for 10-15 minutes after winding to prevent spit up
Being patient and consistent with winding helps avoid issues like reflux, gas, pain and fussiness. Consult a lactation consultant if you have trouble winding baby effectively.
When can you stop winding a baby?
There is no set age when you can stop winding a baby. The need depends on their ability to take in milk without swallowing excess air. Here are some general age guidelines:
| Age | Winding needs |
|---|---|
| 0-6 weeks | Wind after every feed, may take 10-15 minutes |
| 2-4 months | Winding time reduces to 5-10 minutes as swallowing improves |
| 4-6 months | Only need winding if shows signs of discomfort |
| 6+ months | Babies rarely swallow excess air and need winding |
Even if your baby seems comfortable, keep winding for 2-3 minutes after feeding until at least 6 months. Watch for cues like turning head away, sucking fists or fingers, arching back, drawing legs up, and fussing during or after feeds. These are signs they still need to be winded to feel comfortable.
Alternative ways to release gas
As babies grow up and gain head control, here are some alternative ways to help them release gas without traditional winding:
Tummy time
Allow baby to lie on tummy right after a feed. Gravity and gentle pressure on the abdomen helps release intestinal gas.
Bicycling legs
Lay baby on back, hold legs bent and gently bicycle legs or draw knees up to chest and press down lightly.
Baby massage
Gently massage baby’s tummy in a clockwise circular motion using warm hands. This helps relax GI tract.
Baby carrier
Wear baby in an upright carrier after feeding so gravity can pull gas bubbles down and out.
Conclusion
Winding is a simple but vital baby care practice. It prevents pain, discomfort and other issues by helping release air swallowed during feeding. Make it part of your baby’s regular feeding routine. Maintain proper winding technique – gently patting or rubbing baby’s back while holding upright. Stop winding only when your baby can feed without swallowing excess air and shows no signs of distress. Consult your pediatrician if winding doesn’t provide relief or if symptoms like reflux or vomiting develop.