Spit Happens!

One of the most helpful things my baby’s doctor said to me was that baby spit-up is most often a laundry problem not a health problem. As a new parent, though, how are you to tell?

What’s normal?
Because your baby has an immature digestive tract, occasionally stomach contents will come back up. This is especially true if baby has swallowed some air while feeding or when crying. Sometimes regular burping will help, Occasionally only time brings that gas bubble to the surface – along with some of the stomach contents. If your baby doesn’t seem especially uncomfortable and is gaining weight well, he may just be a ‘happy spitter.’

Half of all babies spit up at least once per day in the first few months of life. Spitting peaks between two and four months of age. As baby grows, the muscles of the stomach and esophagus mature, making baby better at keeping it all down. By seven to eight months, spitting typically slows, and most babies don’t spit up after one year.

Is it vomiting?
If your baby seems to be spitting up copious amounts forcefully, and it’s happening frequently, it could be that your baby is sick. Are there any other signs of illness, such as, fever, increased irritability or sleeplessness, etc.? Is anyone else in the house ill? Viral illnesses typically resolve within 24 hours, but can be dangerous for a young baby. Keep your baby hydrated (breastfeed lots if baby will tolerate it) and visit your baby’s healthcare provider.

Is baby allergic to my milk or to formula?
It’s unlikely for a baby to be allergic to anything in breastmilk, but occasionally babies have a sensitivity to cow’s milk protein (whether from breastmilk or formula). Other symptoms of food allergy include bloating, gassiness, diarrhea, diaper rash, green frothy bowel movements, and blood or mucous in baby’s stool.

Is it reflux?
While all spitting is considered reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is more serious. If your baby spits up often, seems uncomfortable, is very irritable, and isn’t gaining weight well, then your baby may be suffering from GERD. If reflux is severe, your baby’s doctor may recommend medications or sleep positions to improve comfort.

One thing most experts recommend for any type of spitting is keeping baby upright for 20 to 30 minutes after eating. Avoid overfeeding your baby – getting less milk more frequently might help. If you’re breastfeeding and have a forceful let-down or an oversupply (a common cause of spitting), getting the help of a lactation consultant can make baby (and you) more comfortable.

If your baby is just a happy spitter and doesn’t have any symptoms of allergy or reflux, then invest in some bibs and burp cloths, and keep a change of clothes handy for baby (and maybe for you!). If you aren’t sure, check with your baby’s doctor. Just like everything else with a baby, trust your instincts. While it’s probably just fine, getting it checked will give you peace of mind.

Written by Michelle, childbirth instructor, lactation consultant, and mother to 4 busy kids

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Can the Wrong Bottle Make Reflux Worse?

We all know that babies spit-up. This is a normal fact of life with a little one, and while it can be less than fun (after all, who wants to constantly smell like baby spit-up?) it’s not usually a big reason for concern. Babies spit-up. It happens.

Still, sometimes a baby will spit up more than what might be considered “normal.” Maybe they are spitting up regularly between meals, or perhaps they seem to be spitting up everything they just ate. Mommy usually knows best, and if you think your baby may be having more trouble with spitting up than most, it is fair for you to be concerned.

But is there anything you can do about it? And could your bottle choice be contributing to the problem? Will the wrong bottle make reflux worse?

The answer is, yes and no.

In most cases, babies who are fed at the breast are going to be sucking in less air than those who are bottle fed. So it is possible that a bottle fed baby, even those drinking pumped breast milk, may be experiencing more issues with trapped air in their bellies than a baby who is fed at the breast. And that trapped air can lead to more spit-up in some cases.

Which means that your baby may find some relief if you ditch the bottle altogether.

But does the type of bottle itself matter?

In most cases, no. Yes, there are some bottles that are designed to reduce the amount of air your baby swallows, and those certainly can’t hurt. Having the appropriate nipple size for your baby’s age is also important, because a nipple that allows your baby to drink too quickly may contribute to spitting up.

But the truth is, actual reflux is a medical condition, not something caused by anything you are or are not doing with the bottle. Proper feeding techniques can help to reduce general spit-up, but if you think your baby has full-blown reflux, a visit to the pediatrician is in order.

There are a lot of things that could be causing the reflux, and most of them can be treated fairly simply. For instance, your baby may have food allergies that indicate he or she would do better if you avoided those foods in your own diet while breastfeeding. But regardless of what the reason may be, reflux is a physiological problem—not one caused by how fast your baby is drinking or what type of bottle he or she is drinking from.

So if you have concerns, make a visit with your pediatrician before you go through the house replacing all the bottles.

Written by Leah Campbell, infertility advocate, adoptive mama, writer and editor. Find me @sifinalaska on Twitter.