When a full-month-old baby experiences a large amount of vomiting, parents should first distinguish whether it is vomiting or spitting up. Vomiting differs from spitting up in that the volume of vomit is larger, possibly occurring shortly after or half an hour after feeding, accompanied by signs of discomfort such as the baby opening their mouth and stretching their neck; while spitting up involves a smaller volume, usually occurring immediately after feeding and only expelling a small amount of milk. Vomiting is relatively common in infants, and its causes may be indicative of systemic diseases or due to the structural characteristics of the infant’s digestive tract, with the latter being more prevalent.
To reduce vomiting, helping the baby burp is an effective method. Typically, after the baby reaches 3-4 months of age, with the mastery of sucking skills and the maturation of the pyloric function, the incidence of vomiting will significantly decrease. Before this stage, it is recommended to help the baby burp after each feeding, which can be done by holding the baby upright and gently patting their back for more than 5 minutes, or by attempting to massage their back with the palm. Another method is to have the baby sit on an adult’s lap and pat their back, which helps expel gas since the sitting position allows the stomach entrance to face upwards, making it easier to burp.
If the baby still cannot burp, try keeping their upper body upright or slightly tilted for about 30 minutes to help expel the air from their stomach.
As for the time to feed again, there should be at least a 2-hour interval after the last feeding, even if the baby has not vomited, it is important to avoid overfeeding to prevent vomiting.
After a newborn vomits, it is not advised to feed them again immediately. The correct approach includes: first ensuring the baby’s upper body is elevated to prevent the vomit from entering the trachea and causing danger; observing the baby’s complexion; if they can recover after a brief discomfort, there is no need to worry excessively, and appropriate hydration can be given based on the situation, but it should be done 30 minutes after vomiting to avoid irritating the stomach; afterwards, when feeding, the amount of milk should be reduced to half of the usual quantity, and feeding times can be slightly increased until the baby fully recovers.
The key to managing a baby’s vomiting lies in correctly identifying the type of vomiting, effectively burping to reduce gas buildup, reasonably arranging feeding times and amounts, and ensuring the baby’s safety and comfort.
