Spitting up milk in babies is a common phenomenon, mainly attributed to two factors: first, symptoms of systemic or gastrointestinal diseases that babies may have; second, the structure and physiological characteristics of the baby’s gastrointestinal tract make it relatively easy for them to spit up milk. In most cases, the latter is the more common reason. Milk ingested from the mouth passes through the esophagus into the stomach, which has two openings: the cardia (entrance) connected to the esophagus and the pylorus (exit) connected to the intestines. If a baby frequently spits up milk after each feeding, accompanied by fever, abnormal stools, or changes in mental status, parents should consider the possibility of gastrointestinal or other systemic issues and seek medical examination promptly.
Proper feeding practices are crucial to reduce spitting up in babies. Avoiding frequent changes in formula, living environment, and caregivers is important as these may disrupt the normal development of the baby’s digestive system. After feeding, parents should burp the baby, ensuring that the baby truly burps and not just goes through the motions. Side sleeping is also an effective strategy to reduce spitting up, helping to protect the baby’s ears, but it’s essential to periodically adjust the sleeping position to avoid potential effects of prolonged same posture.
Baby swimming is recommended as an activity to promote digestion and reduce spitting up. The full-body movement in water provides gentle massage to babies and enhances their digestive function. If possible, encourage parents to let babies swim regularly.
Specific reasons for spitting up include the small stomach capacity of babies, the horizontal position of the stomach, and the relaxation due to incomplete development of the cardia sphincter, while the pyloric sphincter is relatively tighter, making food easily reflux. To prevent spitting up, after feeding, babies should be kept in a right-sided position first, then laid down flat once there are no signs of spitting up, and habitually burped to release swallowed air.
By adopting appropriate feeding habits, correct burping techniques, suitable sleep position adjustments, and adequate physical activities, spitting up in babies can be significantly reduced. Parents should pay attention to the overall health of their babies, adjust care methods timely, and seek professional medical advice when necessary.
