First-Time Parent: The honest guide to coping brilliantly and staying sane in your baby’s first year. Lucy Atkins

       FARTING

      They can be as loud as an adult’s and still entirely normal. If, however, they are accompanied by a lot of crying and writhing, your baby may be getting too much air with his feeds.

       SO HOW DO YOU BURP YOUR BABY?

      1 | Lay him against your shoulder.

      2 | Straighten his body and legs out by stroking down his back and legs firmly. You want his belly flat against you.

      3 | Gently pat or rub his back rhythmically until a burp comes out.

      4 | You can also wind your baby by sitting him on your lap, supporting his head and chest under his chin while you rub or pat his back with your other hand. Keep his back straight.

      5 | If nothing comes out after about thirty seconds there may be nothing there, but you have to get to know your own baby on this one.

      6 | Try this mid-feed if he seems uncomfortable or is pulling away but hasn’t had much milk.

       THROWING UP

      Often called, delicately, ‘possetting’ or ‘spitting up’, your baby’s sick can be quite frequent and copious and yet still normal. Be aware, however, that if he throws up a lot after a feed he may be hungrier sooner than a baby who holds it all down.

      HERE ARE THREE SICK-MINIMISING THINGS TO TRY!

      1 | Burp him halfway through a feed and avoid bouncing him around too much afterwards.

      2 | If bottle-feeding, check that the teat is suitable for his age. They come in different ‘flow’ sizes: slow for newborns, getting faster for bigger babies. If the flow is too fast, it may cause him to throw up. You can also ask your health visitor about other feeding-bottle teats that might help.