When a baby experiences spitting up and is unwilling to sleep, it may be due to various reasons. One possibility is that the baby’s stomach has been exposed to cold; in this case, trying a belly button patch may help alleviate the issue. If the baby’s spitting up is severe and they seem restless during sleep, we need to distinguish whether the baby is spitting up or has reflux. Spitting up typically involves a larger volume and is accompanied by signs of discomfort, while reflux is usually a smaller amount and occurs shortly after feeding, being relatively mild.
Infant spitting up is primarily caused by two factors: first, it may be a symptom of a certain illness; second, it results from the structural characteristics of the infant’s gastrointestinal system. Infants have insufficient muscle tone in the esophagus and slow peristalsis, making it easy for food to accumulate. Additionally, their pylorus is relatively relaxed, which may spasm due to irritation; these physiological characteristics make it easy for stomach contents to flow back. Moreover, since an infant’s stomach is positioned horizontally and has a limited capacity for food storage, this also increases the likelihood of spitting up. Occasional spitting up does not necessarily indicate that the baby is sick, but if it occurs frequently alongside other symptoms such as fever, abnormal stools, or changes in mental state, medical evaluation should be sought promptly.
For babies who spit up and fuss at night, this is relatively common within the first three months after birth, and parents need not worry excessively. Gently patting the baby’s back after feeding can help with gas release, and placing the baby on their side may reduce the likelihood of spitting up. As for a baby’s crying at night, it may simply be an expression of needs or a natural behavior in the light sleep stage. Parents should carefully observe to distinguish the baby’s genuine needs and avoid over-responding, which could lead to dependence habits.
