Infants’ esophageal sphincter function is not fully developed, and vigorous activity or coughing after eating may lead to vomiting. Overfeeding should be avoided, and after feeding, the child can be placed on an adult’s shoulder, gently patting the back to help expel swallowed air, with gentle movements to reduce shaking, preferably in a side-lying position to prevent vomiting from entering the airway and causing pneumonia or even suffocation. This condition usually improves with age and shows improvement after 4-6 months.
It is necessary to differentiate whether a baby is spitting up milk or formula. Vomiting involves a larger amount, may be accompanied by discomfort expressions, and can occur at any time; spit-up involves a small amount, mostly appearing immediately after feeding, generally not a major concern. The reasons for vomiting are diverse, it could be a symptom of a disease or due to the structural characteristics of the baby’s digestive system, with the latter being more common.
Characteristics of an infant’s digestive system include low esophageal muscle tone, slow peristalsis, leading to food accumulation; a relaxed lower esophageal sphincter easily pushed open by food; the pylorus may spasm, causing difficulty in food passage and reflux. Additionally, an infant’s stomach is positioned horizontally, with a small capacity, making spit-up more likely. Occasional spit-up without affecting the baby’s overall health should not cause excessive worry; if it occurs frequently with other symptoms, prompt medical examination is necessary.
When spit-up appears watery, it may be related to the infant catching a chill. In such cases, attempting abdominal heat therapy and giving a small amount of warm water first to observe the response before deciding on continued feeding.
Furthermore, if a baby spits up a watery substance, it may be due to their unique stomach structure, making milk retention easier to trigger spit-up, especially when swallowing air while eating. Other potential reasons could include amniotic fluid aspiration, pyloric muscle tension, constipation, infection, or intestinal issues, which parents should observe closely and seek timely advice from a healthcare professional.
