Spitting up is the easy flow of stomach contents out of the mouth, sometimes with a burp. It is a lot different from vomiting, which is the forceful throwing up of stomach contents. All the babies spit up when they gulp down some air with breastmilk or any other liquid. When the baby’s stomach is full, the stomach contents will force the sphincter open and flow back to the mouth through the esophagus. It is this esophageal sphincter that keeps the stomach content where they belong. Spitting up among babies is normal, and about half of all babies experience this. Normal spitting doesn’t affect the overall wellbeing of the baby. If he/she is eating well and is comfortable with this, there is nothing to be worried about. If your baby is gaining weight, then this spitting up is causing no harm. And most babies will outgrow spitting by the age of 12 months.
- Esophageal reflux: Esophageal reflux is totally normal. It is also called the acid reflux. When the lower sphincter muscle at the lower end of the esophagus relaxes at the wrong time, the stomach contents flow into the esophagus and, at times, through the mouth. This is very common among infants and doesn’t come along with any sort of pain or other symptoms. In fact, babies feel a slight relief after they spit-up.
- Aerophagia: This is when the infants swallow some air more than usual. This air may go to the stomach and may result in esophageal reflux. Thus, this causes the baby to spit up.
- Overstimulation: If the baby is being bounced or made to play after meals, this can also cause the baby to spit up. There is nothing to be worried about in this case. This is common as the baby needs more time than adults to process the food he takes.
- Overeating: Sometimes, you may not notice that you have fed your baby more than enough. This might also result in your baby spitting up after feeding. In this case, your baby may feel relieved after spitting up. So you don’t have to be get bothered as this is natural.
- Position your baby properly: Always try to keep your upright while you are feeding him. This will avoid situations like aerophagia and esophageal reflux. Also, keep him upright following the feeding session for at least 30 minutes. This can help to reduce your baby spitting up.
- Don’t overfeed: Rather than feeding your infant a large amount of food in a single feeding, try to feed him smaller quantities more frequently. And only feed what your baby needs. Don’t try to fill their tummy full if they are not hungry.
- Burp your baby during and after feeding: Remember how aerophagia can cause the baby to sit up. So, if you take time to burp your baby during and after feeding them, this will help the air to escape that is caught in his stomach. This air can cause a lot of trouble if not let out.
- Put baby to sleep on his back: It is essential to put your baby back on sleep on the back to avoid further problems. It is not recommended to make your baby sleep on his tummy to prevent spitting up. So, whenever you look for a solution, consider if it is recommended by the experts or discuss it with your pediatrician.
- Take a look at your baby’s diet: Sometimes, what your baby is eating might be a reason for your baby spitting up. If your baby is formula feeding, this formula might be contributing to his spit-up. He/she might show intolerance when you feed them. If this happens, consider changing the formula or their diet. If you have started with solids, then take a look into what you are feeding and if that is causing the spit-up. And if you are breastfeeding, watch your diet. Consider experimenting with your diet. Avoiding certain foods like dairy products can help your infant to digest breast milk easily.
At times, your infant spitting up milk might be a symptom of some other conditions. You’ll know when things are more than just normal spitting. Look out for signs. Something is wrong if you feel like your baby is considerably losing weight and shows discomfort before and after spitting up. Also, If the liquid coming out of the mouth is not just food contents and shows different colors, you should take your baby to a doctor immediately.
If the baby’s spitting up has changed to vomiting along with muscle contractions that occur after every feeding, this may be a symptom of another health disorder. Keep an eye on the contents that your baby is spitting up and if you notice anything unusual, call your pediatrician right away.
