Why Do Babies Spit Up So Much?
By Wendy, Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
You’ve just fed your sweet baby. They seem content, but then—BAM!—they suddenly spit-up. Not just a little—it looks like almost everything you fed them just comes right up! What do you do? Is this normal?
Don’t fret. In most cases, spitting up is perfectly normal. Breastfed babies do it, and formula-fed babies do it too. Spitting up mostly has to do with your baby’s immature digestive system. It doesn’t usually indicate a medical issue, and it passes in due time.
And rest assured: your baby isn’t spitting up nearly as much as it seems. Even a teaspoon or two of milk looks like a lot when it gets spilled all over your shirt, or the living room floor.
Why Do Babies Spit Up?
Spitting up during or after a feeding is common. The Mayo Clinic estimates that half of all babies spit up during the first three months, and most babies outgrow spitting up by a year. Most cases of spitting up have to do with the fact that your baby’s digestive system—specifically the muscle between their esophagus and tummy—isn’t fully mature yet, so the milk they consume is more likely to come back up.
Is Spitting Up Ever A Problem?
In most cases, spitting up is nothing more than a laundry issue. If your baby is gaining weight well, seems content before and after spitting up, and doesn’t show signs of any other medical issues, there is likely nothing to be worried about. As the Academy of American Pediatrics remarks, if your baby is forcefully vomiting, vomiting up blood, or if you have any other concerns about your baby’s spitting up, you should contact your pediatrician.
How To Decrease Spitting Up
As long as your baby is a “happy spitter,” you can leave things be. But if you want to decrease the spitting up episodes, a few simple remedies can help:
Feed your baby in an upright position rather than a cradle or lying down position
Rely on shorter, more frequent feeding sessions; if breastfeeding, let your baby fully drain one breast before offering the other
Burp your baby after feeding, and hold them upright for a few minutes to allow the milk to go down the hatch
Could It Be Allergies?
Occasionally, excessive spitting up, especially when paired with other digestive comforts, can be a sign of intolerances or allergies. Most commonly, babies are sensitive to dairy milk. So switching to a milk-free formula can help; cutting dairy out of a breastfeeding mom’s diet can help too. Your baby can be sensitive to other things, too, including soy. It’s best to consult with your pediatrician when changing formula or making drastic changes to your diet as a breastfeeding mom.
Are You Producing Too Much Milk?
Especially in the early months, moms tend to produce more breastmilk than their baby needs. If that milk flows out very quickly and abundantly, it can cause uncomfortable symptoms like gassiness and spitting-up. If you think you may have an oversupply of milk, you can try offering your baby one breast at a time, allowing them to finish the first breast before offering the other, and trying to lean back a little while you nurse so that the flow isn’t quite as forceful.
Is Something Wrong With Your Baby’s Tummy?
If your baby’s spitting up is accompanied by crying or other signs of discomfort, your baby may have gastroesophageal reflux, which is common and treatable. In rare cases, excessive vomiting may be caused by pyloric stenosis, a serious medical condition. Always contact your pediatrician if you have questions about your baby’s health.
Where To Go From Here?
As a new parent, it’s hard not to obsess about every little thing that happens with your little one. Luckily, in most cases, spitting up isn’t something you need to worry about. That said, if you do think your baby’s spitting up is more than a messy nuisance, you should not hesitate to talk to your doctor.
