During the first 3-4 months of infanthood some babies
spit up all the time and some hardly. There is nothing
wrong with your baby as normally spit up is not a
health issue. Unlike vomiting which signals an illness,
spitting up is simply a nuisance to which your baby
shows little reaction, if any. When your baby spits
up she will simply carry on as if nothing happened!
In a gist spitting up is simply a sign of
an immature digestive system. Spitting up
is more annoying to the parents than the baby because
of the laundry problem it poses. But it is a temporary
one because by the time baby begins to sit up and
crawl, spitting up ceases on its own.
Why the Spit Up
• Typically a newborn's stomach is not developed
enough to handle the milk or formula and so the tendency
to bring up the food.
• Babies when they drink their formula or milk
gulp in air along with their feeds. The trapped air
when it comes up brings the liquid does up as well.
• Excess mucus needs to be cleared else it can
also cause spit ups
• Overfed babies tend to spit up
Here are some things you
can do if your baby spits up far too frequently:
• Burp your baby as you feed instead of waiting
for the burping session at the end of the feed.
• Feed your baby smaller meals more frequently
• Don't feed your crying baby because the chance
of taking in a lot of air is higher then
• Avoid handling your baby boisterously immediately
after a meal
• Keep your baby upright while you feed and
for a while after the feed as well
• Sometimes it is the formula; if excessive
spitting up continues you may need to try a different
brand
• Feed your baby in calm surroundings.
• Sit your baby upright in a baby seat or on
your lap for half an hour after feeding
• Elevate the head of the crib a little by placing
books under the mattress (and the mattress should
be well-fitted into the crib)
• Don't forget to place a burp cloth over your
shoulder and keep baby wipes handy to get the spit
up out of anything (if used as soon as it happened)
Sometimes spitting up may be a sign that something
is amiss. With a young baby, it is best to verify
if you suspect illness. If your baby has any of the
following, contact your doctor without delay. They
can be causing a cold, virus or the more severe form
of spitting up known as gastrointestinal reflux.
Fever,
congestion, vomiting that increases in
frequency and quantity, inconsolable crying,
projectile vomiting, excessive restlessness,
gagging during feeds, failure to gain
weight and change in normal stool or urine
(a decrease in wet or messy diapers)
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