What’s Causing My Baby to Spit-Up?
We’ve covered the signs of baby spit-up in a previous post, Recognizing Baby Reflux In Your Baby, but to recap, spit-up tends to look a lot like reflux in older humans. In babies, they are unable to control how they swallow, so more of the refluxed stomach contents will leave their mouth; spit-up in babies looks a lot like full regurgitation or vomiting, but has nothing to do with illness. In this blog, we’re going to take a look at what causes baby spit-up and answer some common questions about baby spit-up, such as: when should I be concerned about baby spit-up, how do I stop my baby from spitting up, and why is my baby spitting up so much all of a sudden?
What Causes Baby to Spit Up?
Spit-up is a common issue in babies because their lower esophageal sphincter (LES) may not be fully tightened yet. Furthermore, leftover hormones from the mother’s body may be impacting their LES as well. Over time, baby spit-up should resolve itself – usually by the time your child turns one.
In some cases, babies will spit up because of physical conditions. If there is a family history of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), it’s possible that the baby also has this condition. As we’ll discuss below, other issues could be causing your baby to spit up more than normal.
Common Baby Spit Up Questions:
Why Is My Baby Spitting Up So Much All of a Sudden?
If your baby doesn’t normally spit up, and this is a new development, ask yourself if your baby could be sick. If your baby has no other signs of illness, run a mental list of the foods and drinks that you’ve given to your baby. If you gave them anything new in the past 6 hours, try eliminating that food or drink to see if the issue resolves itself.
New teeth can also be a cause of spit-up. Cutting teeth causes your baby to salivate more, increasing the volume of liquid in their stomach and sometimes triggering their gag reflex. If your baby’s spit-up issues resolve when the tooth pops through, there’s nothing to worry about. Another condition that may cause this is seasonal allergies in your baby – post-nasal drip can trigger the gag reflex in your baby.
When Should I Be Concerned About Baby Spit Up?
Baby spit-up can be an alarming issue to deal with – and it can be quite uncomfortable for your little one. However, it can help to know that some spit-up is normal, due to your baby’s developing body and gut. However, if you feel your mom or dad senses tugging at your conscience, it’s better to talk to someone than to wait. Here are a few situations where you’ll want to call your child’s doctor for sure:
Projectile vomiting happens frequently (this could be a sign of pyloric stenosis)
Your child isn’t gaining weight appropriately
Your child refuses to eat or drink
Your child appears dehydrated or is not wetting diapers
Your baby is coughing or sounds hoarse (bronchitis and pneumonia are possible)
Your baby’s spit-up is strange looking (coffee ground appearance is an emergency visit)
How Do I Stop My Baby From Spitting Up?
As we’ve mentioned, a little bit of spit-up isn’t the end of the world. However, if your child’s reflux is disrupting their sleep or causing them to have trouble gaining weight, it’s time for some interventions. You can try some of the tips and tricks below, but keep in mind that medication may be required – especially for times when your child needs to be lying flat, like while sleeping.
Tips & Tricks for a Baby That Spits Up
Here are a few tips and tricks that you can try at home:
Keep your baby upright by at least 45 degrees while nursing or bottle-feeding.
For older babies, feeding in a highchair that sits 90 degrees upright is best.
Try to keep your baby awake for at least a half hour after feedings before they nap or do tummy time. Babies on solid foods will need longer to digest than babies on formula or breast milk.
Try eliminating common triggers for reflux such as citrus fruits, tomato products, fatty foods, and any others that you find aggravate your baby’s tummy.
If you are nursing, see if there are any changes to your diet that may help your little one’s reflux. Cow’s milk is a frequent offender.
Try feeding your baby smaller amounts in shorter intervals. This can help relieve the pressure on the underdeveloped LES and reduce spit-up occurrences.
Try burping your baby at intervals after feeding, rather than a single burp after each feeding.
Try eliminating caffeine from your diet if you are breastfeeding.
When in Doubt, Seek the Doctor Out
You know your child best and will be able to tell if you need medical assistance. Talking with a reflux specialist likely won’t be necessary unless your baby has a very specific issue. If you find that your child’s pediatrician would like you to see a reflux specialist, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team of experts at the Tampa Bay Reflux Center.