How to burp your baby
'Wind' is the term used to describe how a baby can swallow small amounts of air during a feed, and then bring it up as a 'burp' soon afterwards. Some babies will show signs of irritability or discomfort soon after feeding, especially if they have swallowed some air and have not brought it up (as a burp) soon afterwards. When a small pocket of air does come up, it can often bring with it a quantity of undigested milk (or a vomit).
A few people will also relate 'wind' to a baby passing wind from their bottom, although this is usually quite different from the discomfort that is possible with a baby swallowing air during a feed. Wind that is passed from the baby's bottom is a by-product of the break down and digestion of the milk (and eventually their food) being absorbed in their bowel. This type of wind is not because your baby has swallowed air while feeding. When some babies pass wind from their bottom, they can also have temporary discomfort for a minute or so, becoming very red in the face, squirming, grunting and occasionally crying a little, before finally passing wind (and/or bowel motions).
Be aware that 'burping' is NOT an essential action for your baby to perform after every feed, or before you can put them down to sleep. Your baby's 'need' to burp will be very individual for them. Burping tends to more common with bottle fed babies, but not all bottle fed babies need to burp and if they do, it may not be for every feed. Breastfed babies usually need to burp less often, but may still need burping on occasions. Newborn babies on the whole tend to burp more often in the early weeks, but then not as much as they grow older.
Discomfort or irritability from possible 'wind' will only usually be evident if you lay your baby down to bed straight after feeding, or they fall asleep feeding.