Spitting Up
Most babies normally spit up at least some of the time. It may be when they eat a little too much, don't burp well, or get too excited after a meal. Other babies spit up after most or all of their feedings.
Aside from cleaning up the messes these babies cause, there usually is nothing to worry about. Your baby's spitting up may be a problem if she is fussy for most of the day or night, seems to be choking or having trouble breathing when she spits up, or isn't gaining weight well.
For normal spitting up, you often don't have to do anything except keeping burp rags handy to minimize messes. Changing your baby's formula isn't usually helpful, although thickened or added rice formulas sometimes decrease the amount of spitting up.
Other non-medical interventions might include feeding your baby smaller amounts more frequently if the spitting up seems to be related to the amount she drinks at one time, or burping your baby more often during each feeding. You might also hold your baby upright after feedings and try to reduce how much stimulation she gets after her feedings.
When will my baby stop spitting up?
Many babies stop spitting up when they are around six to nine months old, or once they are sitting up well and eating more solid foods. Other babies don't stop until much later, when they are twelve to eighteen months old. Talk to your pediatrician if your baby's reflux (spitting up) isn't getting better over time, or begins causing problems.
Talk to your pediatrician if your baby's spitting up seems to be a problem. Also remember that if it isn't bothering your baby, you don't have to do anything.
