When a baby experiences spitting up, parents may worry whether it is caused by catching a chill and look for ways to alleviate the situation. In fact, spitting up is quite common in babies, mainly related to their immature digestive system. Below are several relevant causes and coping strategies:
The structure of a baby’s stomach is such that the cardia is relatively relaxed while the pylorus is narrower, combined with the possibility of swallowing air while feeding. These factors work together, causing the milk to easily reflux back into the mouth, resulting in spitting up. During breastfeeding, if the baby doesn’t latch tightly enough, they may swallow more air; with bottle feeding, a nipple with a too large opening causing rapid milk flow is also a significant reason. Furthermore, excessive milk volume, short feeding intervals, vigorous activity after feeding, or lying down immediately can also promote spitting up.
To alleviate this situation, you can try the following methods:
Help the baby burp after feeding to release excess air in the stomach.
Adjust the size of the bottle nipple to prevent milk from flowing too quickly.
Implement a feeding method of small amounts and frequent meals.
Avoid letting the baby engage in vigorous activity immediately after feeding, maintaining a quiet state.
When laying the baby down, keep the head slightly elevated at about 30 to 40 degrees for about half an hour.
For different types of spitting up, there are specific solutions:
If spitting up involves chunks of milk, you need to control the milk flow speed.
After the baby has been crying, gently calm them before feeding to prevent immediate spitting up.
Pay attention to the flow rate while feeding to avoid frequent spitting up after long intervals.
If the spit-up milk has an unusual smell, increasing fluid intake may help.
Sometimes, spitting up may be a signal of illness, especially when accompanied by rapid weight loss, abnormal color of vomit, severe coughing, or projectile vomiting; medical attention should be sought promptly. In most cases, spitting up in babies is a normal physiological phenomenon related to the immaturity of the digestive system. However, excessive feeding or exposure to cold can also lead to spitting up, so it is equally important to maintain an appropriate feeding volume and keep the baby warm.
Understanding the various possibilities of a baby’s spitting up and taking corresponding preventive and coping measures can effectively reduce this phenomenon and ensure the healthy growth of the baby.
