Why do babies spit up curdled milk. How can parents prevent this common occurrence. Is spitting up harmful to infants. What are the different types of baby spit up. When should parents be concerned about their baby’s spit up.

Understanding Baby Spit Up: Causes and Types

Spitting up is a common occurrence in infants, often causing concern for new parents. To better understand this phenomenon, let’s explore its causes and the various types of spit up you might encounter.

What Causes Babies to Spit Up?

Several factors contribute to infant spit up:

• Immature digestive systems
• Underdeveloped lower esophageal sphincter
• Acid reflux
• Food allergies
• Pyloric stenosis (rare)

The primary reason for spit up is the underdeveloped lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle between the stomach and esophagus. In infants, this muscle is still developing, allowing stomach contents to flow back up easily.

Different Types of Baby Spit Up

Parents may encounter various types of spit up:

1. Normal spit up: Smooth texture, resembling recently consumed milk
2. Curdled spit up: Chunky appearance due to stomach acid interaction
3. Colored spit up: May indicate the presence of blood, bile, or phlegm
4. Vomit: Different from spit up, often a sign of illness

Can the color of spit up indicate a problem? While most spit up is whitish, red could suggest blood, and green or yellow might indicate bile or phlegm. If you notice these colors, consult your pediatrician.

Is Baby Spit Up a Cause for Concern?

For most parents, seeing their baby spit up can be worrying. However, it’s generally harmless and even beneficial in some cases. Spitting up can make the baby more comfortable and create space in their stomach for more milk.

When should parents be concerned about spit up? While occasional spit up is normal, the following signs warrant medical attention:

• Forceful spitting up
• Unusual colors in spit up (red, brown, green, yellow)
• Sudden onset of spitting up after 6 months
• Feeding refusal
• Insufficient weight gain
• Blood in stool
• Increased irritability or crying
• Respiratory issues
• Decreased urine output

Preventing Curdled Milk Spit Up: Effective Strategies

While spitting up is often unavoidable, there are several strategies parents can employ to reduce its frequency and severity:

Optimal Feeding Positions

How does feeding position affect spit up? Babies fed in a lying position tend to spit up more frequently. To minimize this:

• Hold your baby in a semi-upright position during feeding
• Keep the baby’s head higher than their stomach
• Avoid laying the baby down immediately after feeding

Proper Burping Techniques

Effective burping can significantly reduce spit up. Try these methods:

1. Over-the-shoulder burp: Hold baby against your chest, supporting their head
2. Sitting on lap: Support baby’s chest and head with one hand while patting their back
3. Lying across lap: Place baby face down across your legs, supporting their head

How often should you burp your baby? For bottle-fed infants, burp after every 2-3 ounces. For breastfed babies, burp when switching breasts.

Feeding Practices to Reduce Spit Up

Adjusting your feeding practices can help minimize spit up:

Frequency and Volume of Feedings

Does feeding frequency affect spit up? Yes, overfeeding can lead to more frequent spit ups. Consider these tips:

• Feed smaller amounts more frequently
• Wait at least 2-3 hours between feedings
• Avoid forcing your baby to finish a bottle

Bottle Feeding Techniques

For bottle-fed babies:

• Use slow-flow nipples to prevent overfeeding
• Tilt the bottle to prevent air ingestion
• Take frequent breaks during feeding

Dietary Considerations for Breastfeeding Mothers

Can a mother’s diet affect her baby’s spit up? Yes, certain foods in a breastfeeding mother’s diet may increase the likelihood of spit up. Consider these dietary adjustments:

• Limit caffeine intake
• Avoid spicy or acidic foods
• Reduce consumption of gas-producing foods (e.g., broccoli, cabbage)
• Consider eliminating dairy if your baby shows signs of lactose intolerance

How long does it take for food in a mother’s diet to affect her breast milk? Generally, it takes 2-6 hours for food to be metabolized and enter breast milk.

Clothing and Environment: Minimizing Spit Up Impact

While you can’t always prevent spit up, you can minimize its impact:

Dressing Your Baby

• Use bibs during and after feedings
• Opt for easy-to-change outfits
• Keep spare clothes handy

Creating a Spit Up-Friendly Environment

How can you protect your home from spit up stains? Try these tips:

• Use waterproof mattress covers
• Keep washable blankets or towels nearby during feedings
• Consider using furniture covers on upholstered items

When to Seek Medical Advice

While most cases of spit up are harmless, certain situations require medical attention. Consult your pediatrician if:

• Your baby isn’t gaining weight
• Spit up is projectile or forceful
• Your baby seems to be in pain when spitting up
• Spit up is green, yellow, or contains blood
• Your baby has fewer wet diapers than usual

How can you distinguish between normal spit up and more serious conditions? Normal spit up is usually painless and doesn’t affect the baby’s overall health or growth. More serious conditions often involve other symptoms like weight loss, irritability, or changes in bowel movements.

The Developmental Timeline of Spit Up

Understanding the typical timeline of spit up can help parents navigate this phase:

When Does Spit Up Usually Start?

Spit up often begins within the first few weeks of life and tends to peak around 4 months of age.

When Do Babies Typically Outgrow Spit Up?

Most babies outgrow frequent spit up by 6-12 months of age. This coincides with developmental milestones such as sitting up and starting solid foods.

What factors influence how long a baby will spit up? Several factors can affect the duration of the spitting up phase:

• Individual development of the digestive system
• Feeding practices
• Introduction of solid foods
• Positioning during and after feedings

Myth-Busting: Common Misconceptions About Baby Spit Up

Let’s address some common myths about baby spit up:

Myth: Spit Up Means the Baby Isn’t Getting Enough Nutrition

Reality: Most babies who spit up are still getting adequate nutrition. The amount of spit up often appears more than it actually is.

Myth: All Spit Up is Caused by Acid Reflux

Reality: While acid reflux can cause spit up, it’s not the only cause. Many babies spit up due to their immature digestive systems without having reflux.

Myth: Changing Formula Will Always Stop Spit Up

Reality: While some babies may benefit from a formula change, most cases of spit up are not related to the type of formula used.

Does the type of formula affect spit up frequency? In most cases, the type of formula doesn’t significantly impact spit up. However, some babies may be sensitive to certain formulas, and a change might help in these specific cases.

Coping Strategies for Parents

Dealing with frequent spit up can be challenging for parents. Here are some coping strategies:

Emotional Coping

• Remember that spit up is usually harmless and temporary
• Share your concerns with your pediatrician for reassurance
• Connect with other parents experiencing similar challenges

Practical Coping

How can parents manage the practical aspects of frequent spit up?

• Keep burp cloths and spare clothes easily accessible
• Use waterproof covers on furniture and car seats
• Develop a quick clean-up routine
• Consider wearing clothes that are easy to clean or change

By understanding the causes of spit up, implementing preventive strategies, and knowing when to seek medical advice, parents can navigate this common phase of infancy with confidence. Remember, most babies outgrow frequent spit up as their digestive systems mature, and it rarely indicates a serious problem. With patience and proper care, you and your baby will get through this phase together.

How to Prevent Baby Spitting Up Curdled Milk

How to Prevent Baby Spitting Up Curdled Milk? Is it harmful? Find the answers to these in this definitive guide on spitting up for new parents

What causes spitting up in babies?

Types of spitting up

Should I worry about my baby spitting up?

How to Prevent Baby Spitting Up Curdled Milk

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Breastfeeding can be a challenge for many new parents, and it can take quite a bit of effort to make it work. Now just as you’ve got the hang of it and are beginning to enjoy it, you find that your baby is spitting up the milk your body worked so hard to make!

Yes, spitting up can be messy, but it can also be distressful for new parents who aren’t sure if this is normal or if their baby is missing out on valuable calories and nutrients. If the spit-up has a curdled appearance, parents become even more alarmed

If you’re worried about this too, don’t worry – spitting up is quite common among babies, especially in the first few months, and generally subsides by the baby’s first birthday.

What causes spitting up in babies?

1. Immature digestive systems – The human body possesses a muscle between the stomach and the esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter, which is responsible for keeping food down in the stomach. This muscle is still underdeveloped in babies, which results in some of the stomach contents coming up. This effect is more pronounced since babies’ stomachs are small and can only hold a little at a time.

2. Acid reflux – Acid reflux is common in young babies, and occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter doesn’t close completely, causing some of the stomach acid to come up and lead to spitting up.

3. Food allergies – Some babies can have an allergic reaction to something in the formula they are consuming or even in the mom’s diet. However, in such cases, the spitting up is often accompanied by symptoms like diarrhea.

4. Pyloric stenosis – The pylorus is at the bottom of the stomach through which food passes into the intestines. If the pylorus muscles are enlarged, it can lead to spitting up. This is a serious condition that requires surgery, but it is an extremely rare condition, occurring only in 3 out of 1,000 babies.

Types of spitting up

Normal spit-up – This spit-up has a smooth texture and looks almost identical to the milk the baby has had, whether it is breast milk or formula. This kind of spit-up is generally seen during or immediately following feeding.

Curdled spit-up – This spit-up has a chunkier, curdled appearance and is usually seen a while after the baby’s feeding. The curdled appearance is due to the action of the stomach acids on the breast milk or formula while it is in the baby’s stomach.

Colored spit-up – For young babies who consume only milk, the spit-up is likely to be whitish in color. For older babies who’ve started solids, the color of the spit-up will change depending on what foods they eat. However, red could indicate the presence of blood, while green or yellow could indicate the presence of bile or phlegm.

Vomit – Vomiting is actually completely different from spit-up and is generally a sign of the baby being unwell. For instance, spit-up usually occurs close to the baby’s body, while vomit travels farther. Spitting up is gentler, while vomiting requires more force and can be painful for the baby.

Should I worry about my baby spitting up?

Seeing the baby spit up can worry most new parents, but it is generally harmless. In fact, your baby may appear to be more comfortable after spitting up and getting that release. Spitting up can also free up space in the baby’s tummy, making room for more milk.

One thing to remember is that the spit-up milk usually appears more than it actually is. It may seem like your baby has spit up everything she ate, but that is very unlikely. The mess on your clothes is no indication of how much your baby has actually spit up!

In a nutshell, spitting up is not harmful and should not affect your baby’s growth and well-being. As long as your baby seems fine otherwise, there is nothing to worry about. However, if you notice any of the following signs or symptoms, it is better to consult a doctor:

• Forceful spitting up
• Spit up that is red, brown, green, or yellow
• Spit up that looks like coffee grounds
• Suddenly starts spitting up after 6 months of age
• Refusal to feed
• Insufficient weight gain
• Blood in the stool
• Increased irritability or crying
• Cough or difficulty breathing
• Fewer wet diapers

If you notice any of these signs, it could be a sign of an illness, so it’s best to see the doctor right away. As for regular spit-up, you can reduce its occurrence by following a few simple tips.

1. Choose the right feeding position

Babies who feed in lying positions tend to spit up more than babies who feed in other positions. While feeding your baby, keep the baby’s head at a higher level than the feet. Ensure that the baby stays in this position throughout the feeding and doesn’t dip down. This helps the milk to flow down easily and reduces the likelihood of it coming up.

2. Ensure a good latch

A good latch is essential for multiple reasons – reducing pain, improving suction, and also reducing the intake of air. Swallowing air while sucking can increase the likelihood of spitting up as well as acid reflux. A good latch means that the baby’s mouth is open wide around the areola and not just the nipple. The baby’s chin touches the breast and the lips appear turned out.

3. Avoid overfeeding

Feeding too much or too fast can both result in spitting up. Rather than feeding a lot few times a day, increase the number of feedings and feed a little less at each feeding. This ensures that the baby’s little tummy doesn’t get stuffed beyond capacity. Keep an eye out for the signs of fullness, like slowed sucking, relaxed hands, or getting distracted.

4. Control the flow of milk

Along with ensuring that the baby isn’t overfed, you also need to control the flow of milk into the baby’s mouth. This can be an issue for mothers who have an oversupply of breast milk or a powerful let-down, which can cause a sudden rush of milk that the baby can’t handle. Express some milk before starting the feeding, so your baby gets a more controlled flow of milk. If you’re bottle feeding, choose a nipple with a smaller hole.

5. Avoid distractions while feeding

As your baby starts becoming more aware of the world around her, she may start stalling during feeding and getting distracted. This can lead to a loosening of the latch and swallowing more air, increasing the likelihood of spitting up. Try to feed in a quiet environment without distractions around, and try to keep the baby focused on the feeding. If she is too distracted, she may be full, so you can remove her from the breast.

6. Remember to burp your baby

Burping the baby is one of the best ways to reduce spitting up, although if you’ve overfed the baby, burping could lead to more spit up! Burp frequently during feeding as well as after, by holding the baby up and patting on the back to release any trapped air. If bottle feeding, burp after every 30 ml of milk.

7. Keep your baby upright after feeding

Even after burping your baby, it helps to hold him in an upright position for the next 20-30 minutes so the milk has a chance to settle down in his tummy. Avoid any active play like bouncing or swinging since this can lead to spitting up or even vomiting. Instead, simply sit down with the baby or walk around holding him.

8. Put baby to sleep on her back

Experts recommend putting babies to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome. This is also helpful for another reason – it reduces pressure on the tummy and reduces the chances of spitting up.

9. Raise the head of your baby’s mattress

Keeping the head in a raised position is a great way to reduce the chances of spitting up or acid reflux. However, it is not recommended to use pillows for babies, so an easy way to achieve this is to roll up some blankets and place it under the baby’s crib mattress. This keeps the head elevated without hurting the baby’s posture.

10. Reduce pressure on baby’s tummy

While placing the baby on her back is a good way to reduce pressure on her tummy, it also helps to dress her in comfortable clothes. Avoid anything that is tight at the waist, like pants with tight elastic bands. This also applies to diapers – fasten the seals in a comfortably loose manner, leaving some room for the baby’s tummy.

11. Look at your own diet

If you are breastfeeding your baby, your diet may have an impact on the baby’s spitting up. Some babies react adversely to certain foods in their mothers’ diets, like tomatoes, citrus fruits, spices, and carbonated drinks. You can try avoiding these foods and see if it’s reducing your baby’s spitting up.

12. Change your baby formula

If you are bottle feeding, it may help to look at your baby’s formula. Switching to a formula with low-lactose content or a hypoallergenic formula may help reduce spitting up. Always consult your pediatrician before changing your baby’s formula.

If you’ve tried all these methods but your baby is still spitting up, there may be another problem. Please watch out for any of the symptoms mentioned earlier, and if you notice any of them, consult your doctor right away.

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Baby Spitting Up Curdled Milk: Causes & Treatment

Is your baby spitting up curdled milk after feeding? If you are a newbie parent, seeing your baby spitting up after every feed can make you wonder if your little one is okay. Being a new mommy can be an intimidating experience for most women as every day may bring new parenting challenges for them. There are many issues that may become a cause of concern in daily life, and one of them could be your baby spitting curdled milk! Well, it is very common for babies to spit up; however, if you wish to know why it happens, what you can do to reduce it and many other associated aspects of the topic, well, all this and more are discussed in the following blog!

What Is Baby Spit-Up?

Babies have an underdeveloped digestive system, because of which they may regurgitate some of their stomach contents. Since they primarily feed breast milk or formula milk, when they spit up, it likely looks like a white substance, the nature of which depends on how long after the feed your baby spits. Spitting, unlike vomiting, is not painful and does not require much. Many times, your chubby bubby won’t even notice when they’re doing it.

Now the curdled part. If your baby spits up milk during or sometime after the feed, the milk they regurgitate will likely be smooth in texture. If your baby spits up curdled milk hours after eating, the milk will come out as curdled. The explanation for this is that when the milk gets into the stomach, it mixes with the stomach acid and curdles up. When your baby spits out, the curdled milk comes out.

What Does Curdled Spit-up Look Like?

Your baby’s spit up milk looks just like the breastmilk or formula that your baby feeds. However, the spit up milk may appear less or more curdled based on the time it stays inside your baby’s tummy. This means that if milk comes out or the baby spits up soon as after his feed, the spit up milk may appear just like milk only, however, the milk that stays longer inside the tummy may appear more curdled because it gets mixed up with the stomach acids and appears chunky or curdled. Also, if the baby is only on breastmilk or formula, the curdled spit is likely of whitish hue. However, red spit up could indicate the presence of blood, and green or yellow spit up could indicate the presence of bile or phlegm, and if any such abnormal coloured spitting up is noticed, it should be reported to the doctor!

How Is It Different From Normal Spitting?

If your breastfed baby is spitting up curdled milk, it does not mean that you should hit the panic button at once! You need to know that most babies may spit up curdled milk at least once before they turn three months old. However, you may want to know what is considered a normal scenario in this case and also when should you become concerned! Well, if your baby appears content, does not experience any breathing difficulty, is comfortable, is not losing weight and basically, if your baby feels and looks fine, then you can term your baby as a ‘happy spitter’. However, if your baby is spitting up the entire contents of his stomach on regular basis and as a result is cranky, not gaining weight, and exhibiting other such symptoms, then it could be a cause of concern and usually not considered normal. It will be a good idea to visit your doctor to know about the underlying causes of the same.

What Are the Causes of Spitting up Curdled Milk?

There are a bunch of reasons babies may spit up curdled milk. From digestion issues to acid reflux, just like in adults, it could be anything; hence, it is essential to map the underlying reasons so you can ensure it doesn’t happen again. Here are some reasons for babies or infants spitting up curdled milk:

1.

Because of Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is known to be a painful condition in which acid from the stomach travels up the throat. This condition is very common and can lead a baby to throw up curdled milk. This condition can be prevented by feeding the baby in an upright position, keeping a tab on how much to feed in one go, by avoiding certain foods while breastfeeding (citrus foods, carbonated drinks, spicy foods, etc.).

2. Because of Immature Digestive Systems

One of the most common reasons for curdled milk in a baby’s mouth is because of an immature digestive system. However, as babies grow up, their digestion gets better and they stop spitting up. In some cases, babies may spit up because of digestion issues such as lactose intolerance, allergic reaction to formula or cow’s milk, milk protein allergies. You can establish such allergies or intolerance by keeping a tab on symptoms such as diarrhoea. If any such symptoms are registered, you must visit a doctor.

3.

Because of Pyloric Stenosis

This is one of the rare conditions that can affect young babies in which the stomach is narrow and it becomes difficult for the food to travel to the intestines. This condition can be one of the reasons for your baby’s unexplained weight loss, spitting up curdled or non-curdled milk, constipation, etc. The treatment of this condition usually requires surgical intervention.

Curdled Spitting-up Vs Curdled Vomiting

You can easily distinguish between curdled spitting up from a baby vomiting curdled milk. Where spitting up is more subtle and is usually followed by a burp. You can usually see it as liquid coming out from the side of your baby’s mouth. However, in comparison to spitting up, vomiting is not only forceful but your baby will throw up several inches away from him.

How to Stop Baby From Spitting Curdled Milk

Though spitting up curdled milk is a common phenomenon in babies, however, here are some tips that can prevent or stop your baby from spitting curdled milk:

• Make sure you feed your baby in an upright position, as feeding in a curled or slouched position can make your baby throw up.
• If your breasts are too full, make sure you express some milk to managing the milk flow. If the baby is bottle-fed, you should check the nipple hole to make sure the milk flow is proper and not too much for the baby to handle.
• Refrain from overfeeding your baby, if your baby refuses to feed, then do not insist on feeding him. Focus on feeding frequently rather than feeding in one go.
• Check for any extra pressure on your baby’s stomach, which can happen due to tight clothing, tight diapers, babies lying on their tummies for long, etc., to avoid any spitting-up accidents.
• Try and burp your baby to let go of any trapped air that the baby may have ingested during feeds. If possible, burp your baby in between the feeding sessions too.
• Make sure that you keep the feeding sessions calmer and quieter for your baby, as when babies get distracted; they may ingest more air, which can make them spit up more.
• If your little one is formula-fed, try changing it to see if it makes any significant change.
• You may try experimenting with your own diet. Many mothers have got significant results when they excluded gas-inducing foods or dairy from their own diet.

When Should You Not Get Worried?

Baby spit up a lot, and them spitting up milk is not always a worrying situation. Here are some instances you can note when not to worry when your little one spits up:

• The spitting is less in volume and in frequency. Like they spit up only a little feed.
• The spit-up does not come out a couple of feet.
• Your baby does not have stomach pain
• Your baby is growing well and gaining weight absolutely fine.
• Your baby is acting all normal.

When to Call a Doctor

As your baby’s digestive system matures up, the spitting up stops gradually and this may happen anywhere from six to 12 months of age. However, if you notice any of the following things, you should get in touch with your doctor:

• If your baby isn’t feeding properly.
• If your baby experiences difficulty in breathing.
• If your baby isn’t gaining weight.
• If there are traces of blood in your baby’s poop.
• If your baby’s spit contains green or yellow fluid.
• If spit-ups are more like vomiting than regular spit-ups.
• If your baby has fewer wet diapers in a day than expected.
• If your baby’s or newborns’ curdled spit up has traces of blood.
• If you notice your baby crying or being in an irritable state more than usual.
• If your baby is spitting up curdled formula or breastmilk at a later stage, which is 6 months or older.

There are umpteen reasons that can make your baby spit up curdled milk. Though it is a very normal occurrence in newborns and younger babies, however, if you are concerned about this issue, you should meet your doctor and get your concerns addressed. Your doctor is the best person to help you explain the reason for the same and also offer you the best solution.

Also Read:

Is Drooling Common in Infants?
Infant Spitting up Through the Nose
Is It Normal for Baby to Vomit Mucus?

Why does a newborn spit up so often, what is normal spitting up.

— Polina Aleksandrovna, for what reasons does a newborn often spit up on breast, mixed and artificial feeding?

– A newborn and a child up to a year old can normally spit up several times a day due to the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract. In an adult, the angle of the esophagus is acute – it is difficult for food to be thrown into the esophagus. In a small child, this angle is more obtuse, and in a horizontal position, it is easier for the contents of the stomach to enter the esophagus and exit through the mouth. This is true for breast, mixed and artificial feeding, since it is not a matter of nutrition, but of the structure of the gastrointestinal tract.

Spitting up can provoke:

• severe anxiety in the child;
• active play – tossing, flipping, especially after a recent feeding;
• overeating while breastfeeding – stomach overflows and excess milk leaves it;
• infant formula – formula is denser than breast milk and stays longer in the stomach, so there is a higher risk of backflow into the esophagus.

See also

• “Why a newborn hiccups and how to help him”

Does the newborn spit up a lot?

– The younger the child, the more often he can normally spit up. Spitting up after each feeding in a newborn will not be a pathology if the volume of regurgitation is not more than 5 ml (for older babies, about 10 ml). According to the stain on the diaper, it seems to the mother that this is a lot, but in fact it is not so – if you draw 5 ml of water into a syringe and pour it onto the fabric, the stain will be quite large.

The most important thing is that the number of regurgitation should not increase, but decrease. If in the first month the child spit up 1-2 times a day and suddenly began to spit up 10-15 times, of course, this is very alarming.

— Why does a newborn spit up after feeding and when can he be fed again?

– Given the anatomical and physiological characteristics of infants, it is not necessary to look for a connection between regurgitation and feeding.

For example,

• the child has eaten for a long time, the milk has almost left his stomach, but if he was awkwardly taken and the position of the body changed, then he will vomit a small amount of milk remaining in the stomach. This will not be an indication to feed the baby;
• the child burped immediately after feeding – no need to supplement him, most likely, he overate a little. Wait for the next meal and feed;
• regurgitation is not voluminous – no need to adjust the feeding regimen for them. Abundant regurgitation is a subject of discussion with the doctor and the search for tactics based on the problem of the baby.

— Are pylorospasm and pyloric stenosis somehow related to regurgitation in infants?

— Food enters the stomach through the esophagus, then into the duodenum. Between the stomach and the duodenum there is a transition point where the sphincter muscle contracts so that the contents do not flow in the opposite direction.

Pyloric stenosis – permanent narrowing of the opening between the stomach and duodenum, in which the sphincter is excessively enlarged. The hole can be completely closed or very small, and the child will always spit up, because there is nowhere else for food from the stomach to go. The child develops dehydration, weight gain is poor.

Pylorospasm is a disorder of nervous regulation, when the muscle periodically spasms and closes the opening, and food cannot move from the stomach to the intestines. But at one moment the muscle relaxes, and part of the food passes to further sections. With spasm, regurgitation is inconsistent, manifestations are noticeable after two to three weeks.

– Fountain regurgitation – what else can cause it?

– Fountain regurgitation in infants can be associated with food intolerance, viral infection and intoxication, in which the body is cleared of food, because it is not able to digest it.

— What does spitting up curdled milk mean?

– Spitting up curdled milk indicates that the food has been in the stomach for some time and has been slightly fermented. If a newborn is spitting up curdled milk, it may be pylorospasm or pyloric stenosis, or the baby simply spit up the rest of the milk when changing body position.

— Why does a newborn spit up through the nose?

– The oral cavity and the nasal cavity are close, the organs are interconnected. Food partially flows out through the nose with profuse regurgitation or at a certain position of the body, when the milk that the child vomited up, according to the laws of physics, entered the nasal cavity. Due to frequent regurgitation through the nose, inflammatory diseases can develop. Such children are observed by a doctor, measures are taken so that such situations do not recur. If regurgitation through the nose happened once, this is not scary and does not mean that something is wrong with the child. You can just clean the nose with a baby aspirator and not worry.

– Polina Alexandrovna, how to deal with the fact that a newborn burps in a dream?

– If the child has a tendency to spit up, you can try to give him a higher body position in a special cocoon. The baby cocoon is designed to help babies with digestive issues and a tendency to gas, spit up. In the cocoon, the upper body of the child is slightly raised. Due to this, the influence of the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the child is neutralized, and the milk does not flow upward.

– Another warning sign is profuse regurgitation.

— The main criterion for regurgitation is the condition of the child. If the child is worried, gaining weight poorly, he does not have enough nutrition due to regurgitation, then you need to look for a solution to the problem at the pediatrician’s appointment.

Read also

• “How to improve the digestion of a newborn”

– In some babies, spitting up is a sign of neurological problems – is it really so?

— Yes, and pylorospasm is one of them. Children also have the so-called central vomiting, when the problem is not localized in the gastrointestinal tract, but in the brain, the center of which controls the gag reflex. And if there is a neurological problem that leads to disruption of the center, the child may spit up profusely.

— Is the diagnosis made by a pediatric neurologist?

— When a child starts spitting up, it is impossible to immediately say that this is a surgical, neurological or other problem, you need to understand the complex. First of all, the pediatrician must examine the baby and understand what is happening to him. Next comes the appointment of a surgeon, a neurologist and a gastroenterologist. Each specialist, for his part, prescribes an examination and, based on the results, concludes whether there is a pathology in his profile or not.

— Until what age do babies spit up?

– Normally, regurgitation ends by 12 months, in isolated cases they can last up to 18 months. It is important that regurgitation does not become more frequent, but becomes more rare. With the introduction of solid food, there is no basis for regurgitation.

— Going back to the beginning of the spit-up-baby-food conversation, it’s true that formula-fed babies may spit up a little more, but does formula help solve this problem?

– With the frequency of regurgitation, everything is individual. When regurgitation brings discomfort to the child, but there are no food obstructions, the doctor may prescribe an anti-reflux mixture. As part of such a mixture, there are various thickeners that make the lump of food in the stomach thicker and more viscous so that the product does not flow back and reflux does not occur. Anti-reflux formula is given in a specific way and does not replace 100% of a child’s food.

— Polina Aleksandrovna, to help mom — how to hold a newborn so that he burps after feeding?

— During feeding, the baby should lie with his head up. After that, it is advisable to hold it with a “column” (“soldier”) and wait for the characteristic sound of belching in an upright position – this is how air comes out, the stomach does not overstretch and the risk of regurgitation is reduced.

A child in the first year of life has anatomical and physiological features that predispose to regurgitation. Regurgitation is considered normal if it is not abundant and does not lead to a violation of the child’s condition. Abundant regurgitation, anxiety, fever, poor weight gain, signs of intoxication are formidable symptoms that require a mandatory visit to the doctor.

* Breast milk is the best food for babies. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a child’s life and continued breastfeeding after complementary foods are introduced until the age of 2 years. Before introducing new products into the baby’s diet, you should consult with a specialist. The material is for informational purposes and cannot replace the advice of a healthcare professional. For feeding children from birth. The product is certified.

Baby spitting up curdled milk: causes and treatment

Finally you became parents! Every day yours is filled with new pleasant emotions and impressions. Are you happy! But sometimes some events make moms and dads very worried. One of the causes of unrest is regurgitation. Do not worry if your baby in the first months of life spews out the contents of the stomach – this is quite normal. For some it happens often, and for some it happens less often. What it depends on and whether it is possible to help with something, you will learn from this article.

Causes

To understand why a child spit up often and a lot, one should delve into all the details of the process, this will help to distinguish a physiological norm from a dangerous situation. This happens involuntarily. The contents of the stomach are ejected into the esophagus, and then into the mouth. You will not be able to completely get rid of this natural process, but you can reduce the frequency and amount.

The child usually spits up after eating. This is due to the fact that during feeding, along with milk, air enters, which, in turn, provokes abdominal pain – colic.

What to do?

In order for the air to escape, you need to press the baby with his stomach to his own body in an upright position. In other words, a column. The head should rest on the shoulder of an adult, since he still does not know how to keep it even. If the air does not come out, you can try to lightly pat on the back. This usually helps. Do not be alarmed if milk comes out with air. The question often arises: “A month old baby spit up – why does this happen?” Yes, because he likes to suck milk, and he does it not only to satisfy his hunger. This brings him pleasure and brings him closer to his mother. If you pay attention, you can see that even in a dream he makes sucking movements. At the same time, he even smiles. The child spits up after eating because he overeats. Carried away by the process, he sucks out more milk than required. This is not a reason to worry – he has not yet learned to control the process of saturation. He will grow up a little more and will eat exactly as much as he should.

More than 80 percent of babies under 7 months spit up every day. The number of regurgitations and their frequency depends on several factors, for example:

• full-term baby or not;
• dynamics of weight gain;
• birth weight;
• mother’s desire to feed on demand.

Remember: overeating is never healthy!

Dissonance between the pharynx and intestinal motility is another reason

When a child sucks milk, he does it in series, 3-5 times. Between them, making small pauses, he swallows what he managed to pump earlier. Breast milk quickly reaches the intestines, as it is a liquid food. When food enters the intestines, peristaltic waves appear. At this time, the pressure in the stomach rises. This gives an impetus to the food returning back into the esophagus.

Another reason why a child vomits curdled milk is that the cardial part of the stomach is imperfect. When he gets older, a cardiac sphincter will appear between the esophagus and the cardia of the stomach, which will not allow food to be thrown into the esophagus by contracting movements.

All troubles from nerves

If the child is too active, then one can observe the stretching of the walls of the stomach. But this cause is rare. And only a specialist can correctly determine it. So, dear mothers and fathers, if you have any suspicions, consult a doctor, do not self-medicate.

Spitting up and weight gain

Relatives should be primarily concerned about weight gain, not how often the baby spit up curdled milk. If he is gaining weight well, then you should not worry about it. The system of the gastrointestinal tract is just beginning to form, so this process is the norm. Your baby sleeps well, he is cheerful and smiles often, which means you have no reason to worry. But if he is not gaining weight or, even worse, is losing it, then do not put off a visit to the pediatrician.

The baby spit up and at the same time lose kilograms

If the child began to spit up and at the same time does not gain weight, then you should sound the alarm, and not hope that this is a physiological norm. The doctor will just examine him, ask his parents about the details and, possibly, prescribe tests. Here are the most common causes of weight loss from regurgitation:

• Infectious disease. The gastrointestinal system immediately responds to infections in the body. Usually the color of the regurgitated mass is yellow or greenish. This is due to the fact that food is mixed with bile. If you notice that your baby is spitting up greenish milk – seek medical help immediately! If there are any other threatening symptoms, call an ambulance.
• Lactose intolerance. A woman’s breast milk contains a protein called lactose. It is broken down in the stomach by the enzyme lactase. When this enzyme is absent or produced in small amounts, milk intolerance appears. Naturally, if the body cannot digest it, the child will often spit up a lot.
• Improper development of the digestive tract. The digestive system is very complex. And not everyone immediately after birth has organs of the correct size, shape and arrangement in the correct order. Quite often, something is small, and something is pinched or twisted. Only a doctor will be able to correctly identify the “wrong” organ, because of which the child spits up curdled milk.

Is it possible to reduce the amount of regurgitation?

Everyone is convinced that spitting up in babies who are gaining weight well is a physiological norm (that is, they will not bring danger). True, not everyone will like the fact that all things begin to smell like belching.

In the pediatrician’s office, the question is often asked: “Is there a solution to the problem of regurgitation?” Doctors respond to this that everything will pass with time, you just have to wait. Babies stop inadvertently regurgitating stomach contents through the mouth when they begin to sit up on their own, that is, at about 6-7 months. But what about moms and dads who can’t wait? Pharmacies do not sell medicines or special devices that will help solve the problem. The only thing you can use is funds from excess gas formation. Some are produced on the basis of simethicone (drugs “Sab simplex”, “Espumizan”, etc.), while others are made on the basis of fennel fruits (drugs “Plantex”). You can also use the dill water known in Soviet times or brew the dill composition at home. You just need to know the recipe. Regardless of what you choose, the drug will remove gases from the tummy, which means that pressure on the walls of the stomach will decrease, and the volume of regurgitation should become less.

Dealing with spitting up

When you finish feeding, carry your baby in an upright position (as described just above) for about 20-30 minutes. If you don’t have that time, use a sling. The more air the baby releases, the less it will spit up. Do not rush during feeding (both breastfeeding and artificial). It is better to feed more often, but in smaller portions. Artificial pediatricians are advised to help release air after every 90 grams of formula, and breastfed babies – when changing breasts or during a sucking pause. Give both of them another half an hour to rest, do not play with them and throw them up. Believe me, you will still have time to do it.

Is your child artificial? Then check that the hole in the nipple is the correct size. It shouldn’t be too big. Why does the child spit up a lot? Yes, because in our time it is not customary to swaddle. But in vain. Doctors advise to do this (just do not tighten the legs). When the baby is wrapped in a diaper, its activity decreases, and with it the pressure on the walls of the ventricle.

Do not forget to lead an active lifestyle, it will also benefit you. Every day, go outside with the baby in the fresh air, bathe him before bedtime. If you have the opportunity to visit the pool with him – fine, do not miss it. Every time before going to bed, do a tummy massage, gymnastics. It all strengthens the muscles. When putting your baby to sleep, give him a pacifier. This is very helpful. Sucking movements stimulate intestinal activity, and food is no longer supplied. And this means that it will be digested faster.

Doctors do not recommend!

Do not use bolsters and pillows until the age of one, and do not put the baby to sleep on his stomach, face down. Never leave the little one unattended if he lies on his tummy in a dream. This all increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. It is better to place a flat pillow (or a towel folded several times) under the mattress so that the head lies at an angle of about 30 degrees and is turned to the left or right. Even if he burps in this position, he certainly will not choke.

Don’t worry

You may think your baby is spitting up a lot of milk or formula.
You will feel sorry for the milk that mommy’s body so diligently produced, or the mixture for which you had to pay a considerable amount. Most likely you are exaggerating. Try spilling a big spoonful of milk on the table and see what a huge puddle you get. Now look at your clothes, is there the same stain? Children usually spit up only a teaspoon.

The baby spit up in a fountain

A one month old man may spit up in a fountain due to an immature digestive system. But why does a child spit up curdled milk at the age of 3-6 months? The reason for this may be neurological diseases or abnormal development of the digestive system. Check with your doctor.

When else should I seek medical help?

• If the baby spit up all the time between feeds.
• Cough occurs during the expulsion of food from the gastrointestinal tract.
• The escaping milk or mixture has a specific unpleasant odor and a brown or green tint.

Infants with such symptoms should be examined first by a pediatrician, and then by specialists of a narrower profile – a gastroenterologist, a neurologist. If any pathologies are identified, the doctors will prescribe a comprehensive treatment that will definitely help. The main thing is to apply in time.

Blood in the regurgitation mass

Most often, at the sight of blood, mothers and fathers immediately begin to panic. First of all, calm down. If you are still breastfeeding the little one, then most likely this blood belongs to you. It can flow from cracked nipples during feeding. Another option. It happens that during regurgitation, the baby is very tense, thereby provoking a rupture of a small blood vessel at the end of the esophagus. All this will quickly heal, and you will forget about it. However, you should still consult a doctor or even call an ambulance if bleeding continues.

Wrapping up

If your baby is spitting up, the reasons can be varied and depend on age. If in parallel with this process kilograms are not lost, then this is a physiological norm that does not bring discomfort and harm.