Why do babies need to be burped and at what infant age does this become unnecessary?

ChinaCatmama

According to Dr William Sears: "The belief that babies need burping after feedings, or help "bringing up the wind," originated with the spread of bottle-feeding. The faster flow of milk from bottle nipples forces babies to gulp air in between closely-spaced swallows." "Breastfeeding infants have fewer problems with air in their tummies. They can control the flow of milk at the breast and so they suck with a slower rhythm that allows them to better coordinate breathing and swallowing. Also, breastfed babies tend to be fed in a more upright position and enjoy smaller, more frequent feedings – other conditions that lessen the swallowing of air." http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/T030300.asp "the majority of parents stopped burping their babies when they were between 4 and 9 months old." http://pediatrics.about.com/od/weeklyquestion/a/05_burping.htm This is according to a poll done on about.com http://pediatrics.about.com/library/polls/blpoll_burping.htm May 21 08, 4:13 PM