Spitting up is normal in babies. This continues usually until they are about 8-9 months old. Spitting up is usually about swallowed air or the baby eating too much at a time.

Spitting up can cause nasal congestion. Nasal congestion can lead to “gulping” and swallowed air as well as difficulty in coordinating the “suck, swallow, breath” sequence. Swallowed air can lead to more spitting up. So spitting up is a cycle…

If your baby is gaining weight well, the spit up is more of a laundry problem than a serious concern. There is not a medicine that helps with spitting up but there are some things you can try.

How To Help Your Child

Do

  • Flush the nose with saline before feedings to reduce congestion

  • If bottle feeding – give them a break if they are short of breath

  • Burp as frequently as practical (between breasts or after every 30-45 mls from the bottle).

  • Feed the baby in a more vertical position with good head support

  • Keep the baby upright after feeding for 20-30 minutes

  • Smaller volume, more frequent feedings in the day

Don’t

  • Avoid dry clean only outfits!

When to Worry

Contact us by portal, texting or calling 503 400 3852 option 2

  • We only worry if spit up impacts weight gain which we monitor at well child exams.

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This advice about symptom relief is intended to equip you to help your child at home. If you have continued concerns please contact our office. If this is a medical emergency, please call 911 and us. We can also help during an emergency.

If you are not a Small Town Pediatrics family, please contact your child’s medical office or click Accepting New Patients to register your child with us.