How to burp a sleeping baby It’s common for babies to fall asleep while eating, whether nursing or bottle-feeding. Burping a sleeping baby is basically the same as burping a baby who’s awake. However, this position is more likely to wake a baby, so you might not want to try it if your aim is to keep the baby asleep. Here are some positions for burping a sleeping baby: Burp between changing sides, or mid-bottle Share on Pinterest A sleepy baby may enjoy their feeding so much that they overeat and don’t realize they need a pause to burp. What to do if your baby doesn’t burp If your baby is asleep, try burping them for a minute before you lay them back down.