Winding your baby
Winding your baby
The reason babies are particularly windy is because babies are likely to swallow air during their milk feed and may even swallow some air while crying and even breathing.
While a little trapped wind will not cause any harm to your baby, too much wind will cause your baby to feel uncomfortable and they may stop feeding.
Different winding techniques will suit different babies and each baby will differ in how easily they bring up their feed. Some babies need to be winded during their feed while others only need to be winded at that end of every feed. Try different winding techniques and apply the one that suits your baby best.
- Your little one may bring back up a little of their feed during winding so it can be a good idea to have a cloth at your disposal to clean up any little mess your baby may make.
- Wind can occur in breastfed and bottle-fed babies; however it is more common in bottle-fed babies as babies can control the flow of milk when drinking from the breast.
Tips for reducing wind
- Keep your baby in an upright position during and after feeding.
- Make sure milk fills the whole teat during feeding.
- Offer smaller feeds more frequently
- Ensure you are using the correct teat size. If your baby is using an incorrect teat size and feeds are taken too slowly or too quickly, the amount of air swallowed may increase.
- If you’ve got some concerns or other questions about winding your baby, contact our Careline and one of our experts will be happy to help you.
Brighter futures start here
Discover more about infant development to help shape your baby's future
Questions about feeding and nutrition?
Our nutritionists and feeding advisors are always on hand to talk about feeding your baby. So if you have a question, just get in touch.
Related articles
Important notice
Breastfeeding is best for babies and provides many benefits. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, you eat a varied, balanced diet. Combined breast and bottle feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of your own breastmilk, and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. The social and financial implications of using an infant formula should be considered. Improper use of an infant formula or inappropriate foods or feeding methods may present a health hazard. If you use an infant formula, you should follow manufacturer’s instructions for use carefully – failure to follow the instructions may make your baby ill. Always consult your doctor, midwife or health visitor for advice about feeding your baby.