Feeding your child breast milk or formula can be heartwarming and adorable until the inevitable happens – the “famous” baby spit up. Yes, it’s “inevitable” because the spit up is a rite of passage for most babies. If you’re curious about why this happens and what it could mean, this article is perfect for you.
In this expert-approved article, you’ll learn how to stop baby spit up, why babies do it, and whether it can be a sign of more serious issues. Of course, if you’re concerned, talk to a trusted baby doctor first. This way, you’ll receive the most detailed and personalized advice, and guidance on what the baby spit up could mean. That said, why do babies spit up? How can I reduce or prevent this from happening?
Find the answers (and much more) below. Keep on reading.
What Causes the Baby to Spit Up?
Baby spit up is normal, and all of them do it. Spit up is most common when the baby gulps down formula or breastmilk with air. If the baby’s stomach is full, or the child’s position suddenly changes after formula or breastfeeding, you’ll likely experience spit up. Since the contents of the stomach can open the sphincter, they may travel back up your baby’s esophagus.
However, your child may spit up more than others. So why do babies spit up and how do I know if I need to take action? How can you know if the child’s symptoms are harmless or a part of something more serious? Here are some more reasons why your baby may spit up.
- Your baby might have gastroesophageal reflux.
- Your baby may spit up due to aerophagia.
- Your baby may be overstimulated.
- Your baby is spitting up a lot due to pyloric stenosis.
As you can see, the answer to “why do babies spit up” is not so straightforward. In most cases, baby spit up is entirely harmless and natural. For example, if they spit up breastmilk or formula due to overstimulation, it’s best to keep the mealtimes calm. Some parents play with babies right after feeding. In order to reduce it, we recommend waiting twenty minutes before active play.
On the flip side, if it happens due to pyloric stenosis or another medical issue, you may require immediate professional help. In this case, consult your pediatrician for a thorough examination.
Further on in this article, you’ll also learn about how to stop the baby spit up effectively.
Spit Up vs Vomiting: What are the Differences?
There is one key distinction between a baby spit up and vomiting. The stomach contents will flow through the mouth when the baby is spitting up, usually with a slight burp. On the flip side, if the force is sudden and forceful, your baby is vomiting. Also, you will notice dribbling from your baby’s mouth with a spit up, while the flow during vomiting is “shooting.”
While vomiting can cause distress and discomfort to the baby, spitting usually doesn’t.
It’s also helpful to learn what causes vomiting. In short, it happens when the individual’s stomach is relaxed, but the diaphragm and abdominal muscles suddenly contract. Something called the “vomiting center” triggers this reflex. When your child has a stomach bug, chemicals in the blood (such as drugs), or motion sickness, the “vomiting center” is stimulated. Moreover, certain disturbing smells and sights can also cause it.
If your baby is spitting up a lot or vomiting, consult a healthcare professional right away.
How to Stop Baby Spit Up?
Now that you’re aware of the common causes of why your baby may be spitting up, let’s answer “how to stop baby spit up?”. First and foremost, your pediatrician will give you expert guidance, so always consult a professional before self-medicating at home. That said, there are specific home remedies you can implement today to reduce spit up incidents.
Here are six fantastic ways to lessen spitting up.
- Don’t overfeed the baby.
- Burp your baby frequently.
- Hold the baby upright.
- Limit active play post meals.
- Consider some oatmeal.
- Choose a better formula.
One of the best ways you can reduce the baby from spitting up is by avoiding overfeeding. Usually, when the baby’s stomach is full, you are going to see some food spurt back. Imagine your baby’s stomach as a gas tank. There will be ” leakage ” if you fill it up too much. So we recommend feeding your baby regularly, but in smaller amounts.
With that in mind, burping your baby often is also beneficial. If your baby has too much gas in the stomach, it will “escape” and bring the stomach contents back up. It’s best to burp during and after meals.
Whether you’re a new mother or a “seasoned” one, you may find it challenging to feed your baby in the correct position. So what’s the proper position anyway? We recommend trying the crossover hold position to reduce your child from spitting up. To do this, hold the baby’s head with the hand that is opposite from the one you’ll be nursing or formula-feeding. Next, place your wrist between the child’s shoulder blades, the thumb behind one ear and the other fingers behind the baby’s other ear.
The “football hold” or the clutch hold is another effective position for nursing. This position is beneficial for mothers who may have had a C-section (and want to avoid putting the baby against the abdomen), twins, a premature or a large baby, or with larger breasts.
The laid-back position or “biological nursing” is the best option for mothers with small breasts and babies with excess gas and sensitive stomachs.
Although feeding your baby while laying down is convenient during the night, it’s not the best option if you want to reduce spitting up. Instead, consider holding your child upright.
Active play can help your child with digestion. However, if you notice your baby spitting up frequently, you may want to wait twenty to thirty minutes before playing.
Now, let’s look at some changes you can make to your baby’s diet to reduce spitting up. For example, you can try incorporating some oatmeal into your baby’s diet. Keep in mind, giving cereal to babies before six months is not recommended. However, when babies and children have reflux or dysphagia, thicker food can help them reduce symptoms and swallow more safely. A good option for thickening food is steel-cut oats.
Oatmeal is naturally gluten-free, making it a suitable option for children with celiac disease. Nevertheless, make sure that the packaging says “gluten-free” because some companies manufacture oats in facilities where gluten is processed. Similarly, make sure that your baby is not allergic to the formula brand.
Baby Spit Up: When to Call a Doctor?
Most babies stop spitting up by age twelve months. However, if your baby still displays these symptoms, you may have a problem.
Also, take action if your baby:
- Loses weight
- Refuses food repeatedly
- Spits up blood or green fluid
- Cries more than usual
Call your pediatrician for help.
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