Why Is My Baby Spitting Up Curdled Milk?

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

In this Article

• What Is Baby Spit-Up?
• Why Do Babies Spit Up?
• Methods for Reducing Baby Spit-Up
• When to Be Concerned About Baby Spit-Up

If your baby is spitting up after feeding, you might wonder if this is something you should be concerned about. Spitting up can be even more jarring when the milk has a curdled appearance.  

‌As long as your child is showing no other signs of illness, is alert, and is gaining weight, spit-up is not typically a cause for concern and generally slows down by 12 to 18 months of age. 

Spitting up refers to what happens in the first few months of your baby’s life when they regurgitate some of their stomach contents. Because a baby’s diet consists of primarily breast milk or formula, the spit-up is likely to be a white texture but can vary depending on how long after feeding your baby spits up. 

Spit up that looks like curdled milk is no reason to be alarmed, and there is an explanation.  If your child spits up during or immediately after feeding, it is likely to have a smooth, milky texture. If your baby spits up after the milk has had time to mix with your baby’s stomach acid, the spit-up is likely to appear curdled.  

Baby spit-up differs from vomit in that the flow of spit-up is usually slower and stays closer to the baby’s body, while vomiting is more forceful and projectile and can indicate illness. If your child is vomiting, call your child’s health care provider. 

There is a muscle ring between the stomach and the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). In babies, this muscle is not as developed as it is in adults and older children, resulting in frequent spitting up of stomach contents. Some babies spit up more than others, and it is important to remember that babies’ stomachs are very small and can become full quickly. 

Parents often think that their babies are spitting up more than they actually are. A puddle of spit-up or a large spit-up stain can look like a lot of liquid, but it is important to consider how much liquid spreads. Imagine spilling just a tablespoon of water on a table. It would look like a lot more liquid than it actually is. 

If your baby is spitting up frequently, and you would like to try to reduce how much they are spitting up, there are a few things that you can try to see if they help: 

• You can feed your baby in an upright or semi-upright position. 
• You can try to feed your baby smaller amounts of milk in each feeding. 
• If your baby is formula-fed, you may want to try a different formula to see if that helps 
• If you are breastfeeding, you can try to experiment with your own diet to see if that helps. Some mothers find that eliminating dairy from their diet can reduce spit-up.

Though burping after feeding is frequently recommended to new parents, one study in 2015 found that burping increased the risk of spit-up in infants up to three months old. 

Avoid following advice that directs you to place your baby on their stomach while they sleep to prevent spitting up. It is important to place your baby to sleep on their back, as this reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, also known as SIDS. 

Most of the time your baby spitting up is nothing to be concerned about as long as they are happy and gaining weight. However, there are instances where you should call your baby’s health care provider. 

Some babies develop gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD can cause health complications if left untreated. Consult your child’s doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms, as they could indicate GERD or other serious health conditions: 

• There is blood in your baby’s spit-up.
• Your baby’s spit-up is green or yellow in color.
• Your baby’s spit-up resembles coffee grounds.
• Your baby is refusing to eat.
• Your baby suddenly begins spitting up after six months of age.
• There is blood in your baby’s stool.
• Your baby has stopped gaining weight.
• You notice a persistent cough or difficulty breathing.
• Your baby seems lethargic.
• The number of wet diapers has decreased suddenly.

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How much baby spit up is too much?

A baby with a full tummy is usually a happy baby, which probably explains why infants doze off after most feedings. And when their tummy is full of breast milk or formula, it’s perfectly normal for a baby to spit up a little bit of it.

Is your baby spitting up too much?

Contact your pediatrician.

Why it happens

“Babies are made to spit up,” said Melinda Feely, MD, a family medicine physician at OSF HealthCare. “The muscle between their stomach and esophagus isn’t fully developed at birth, so whenever there’s a little air bubble in their stomach after feeding, it will sometimes move through that opening and bring some of that liquid with it – usually just a mouthful.

“We like to call them ‘happy spitters.’ The baby is just sitting there, happy and cooing, when all of a sudden – blip! A little spit up happens. However, some babies hold on to every drop and don’t spit up at all, so there’s a wide range of what’s considered normal.”

Normal spit up can have a number of different appearances, including curdled, non-curdled, white, yellow, clear or even mucus-like.

It’s different than vomiting

“As opposed to the easy flow, low-force event of spitting up, vomiting is a more forceful or shooting event, and it’s usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever or diarrhea,” Dr. Feely said. “Vomiting also presents more of a risk for dehydration than spitting up.”

A good way to determine if a baby is becoming dehydrated is a decrease in the number of wet diapers they have per day. Immediately after birth, that number should be equal to the number of days old the baby is, and it will increase over that first week to at least four wet diapers per day.

Tips for reducing spit up

If your baby seems to be spitting up too much, there are some things you can do that may help.

Hold the baby upright while feeding: “There are numerous positions for breastfeeding and bottle feeding that keep the baby more upright and use gravity to help keep liquid in their tummy, such as seated positions,” Dr. Feely said. “This is especially important with bottle feeding since liquid flows much more quickly from a bottle than when breastfeeding. If you hold a bottle upside down, liquid will easily drip from it, but a baby has to work to get milk from a breast. ”

Don’t overfeed: “In the first month or so, babies will generally stop eating when they’re full, but they also suck to soothe themselves,” Dr. Feely said. “If you have a fussy baby, it’s sometimes hard to figure out if they’re hungry or if they just want to suck to soothe. Some parents automatically give them another bottle, which leads to overfeeding and can increase the likelihood of spitting up.”

Consider different bottles or nipples: Bottle feeding can sometimes lead to swallowing too much air, which leads to more spit ups. To avoid this, use slow-flow nipples or bottles that are made to be air-free.

Burp the baby during and after meals: This can keep air from building up in a baby’s tummy.

Avoid play time for 30 minutes after meals: This includes things like bouncing, swinging, tummy time, etc.

Keep the baby upright after feeding: This will help keep food in the baby’s stomach.

Try a different formula or adjust the mother’s diet: “Some babies have intolerances, and changing their formula or the mother’s diet can solve the problem,” Dr. Feely said. “Regarding the mother’s diet, dairy is one of the main issues that comes up, but caffeine can also be a problem. It’s also important to remember that it takes about two weeks for the proteins from dairy or formula to completely work their way out of the baby and mother’s bodies, so parents need to give diet changes time to work even though it’s hard because the baby is unhappy.”

Always place the baby on their back to sleep: “Parents should be doing this anyway to help prevent SIDS – sudden infant death syndrome,” Dr. Feely said. “It’s also important when putting a baby to bed after feeding because it will avoid putting pressure on their tummy, which can cause them to spit up. While it may seem like it’d be easier for a baby to choke on food they’ve spit up while laying on their backs, our bodies have a flap just above the larynx called the epiglottis that prevents stomach contents from going down the airway, and this cap is larger in newborns to protect them. ”

When to see a doctor

There are a number of signs in a baby’s spit up that should lead to a visit to their pediatrician.

“You don’t want to see spit up that’s dark green, neon green, neon yellow, red or something that looks like coffee grounds,” Dr. Feely said. “These can be signs of something wrong in the liver, stomach or elsewhere.

“If they change from being a happy spitter to forceful spitting or spitting a larger volume than before, that could be a sign of a bigger problem. Also, if the baby is crying a lot more than usual, that irritability can be a sign of a belly ache or acid reflux that’s burning their esophagus.”

Other signs include:

• Not gaining weight
• Not wanting to feed
• Fewer wet diapers than usual
• Frequent vomiting after feeding
• Stool changes, such as blood in their stool
• Starting to spit up more at 6 months old or later, which is when the baby should be sitting up and holding food down better
• Difficulty breathing: This can happen if a baby breathes in something they’ve spit up. While the epiglottis usually keeps this from occurring, it occasionally can happen.

Last Updated: March 28, 2022

View all posts by Luke Legner

Tags: infants, parenting, pediatrics

Categories: Kids & Family

A 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 the 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 child 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 you 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. Over time, this will all go away on its own. But it happens that children simply “melt” before our eyes, in which case you should definitely contact a pediatrician. Pharmacists have not yet come up with a safe cure for spitting up. The only thing you can do is reduce the frequency and amount. Spend as much time as possible on the street, do massage and gymnastics, bathe your baby. Use products that reduce gas formation. There are a lot of them in pharmacies. Consult with a pharmacist, he will help you make the right choice. Well, here you have found out why the child spits up a lot. You just have to wait until he grows up and gets stronger. Time will fly by quickly, and only pleasant moments will remain in memory.

Why does my child spit up curdled milk? – Drink-Drink

Contents

• What is regurgitation?
• What causes milk to curdle?
• Possible causes of regurgitation of curdled milk
  • Digestive difficulties
  • Acid reflux
  • Pyloric stenosis
• Conclusion

Don’t you sometimes want your newborn to come with an instruction manual? This will take the guesswork out of some of the burning questions of the first few weeks: Are they eating enough? Are you crying too much? Very hot, too hot? Too cold? Why do they vomit when I feed them?

Let’s focus on the latter for a minute. It is important to remember that spitting up is normal for babies in the first few months. And even if the consistency of what comes out is slightly different from what went in, overall there is still nothing to worry about.

Here’s why your baby might spit up curdled milk and what you can do about it.

After all, what is regurgitation?

Children constantly spit up because of an underdeveloped digestive system. This happens when milk or food flows back into the baby’s esophagus from the stomach. (The esophagus is the organ that connects the stomach to the mouth.)

Regurgitation and vomiting are separate activities. Vomiting requires force and can be painful in infants. However, when it comes to spitting up, your little one will most likely not even notice when he is doing it.

Common regurgitation in breastfed and formula-fed babies is usually very similar to milk or formula the baby has just drunk – more on clotting in a minute.

Your baby will be relatively comfortable and comfortable during and after spitting up – he may even look pleased with himself! If they haven’t finished eating, they won’t have problems eating after the spitting session.

What causes milk to curdle?

Regurgitation, like vomiting, may contain gastric juice. Babies spit up when breastfeeding milk or formula mixes with acidic stomach fluid.

Time also plays a role here. The regurgitation immediately after a feed is likely to be similar to regular milk. If your baby spit up after a while, it most likely looks like curdled milk.

Possible causes of regurgitation of curdled milk

There are several possible reasons why your baby may spit up curdled milk:

Digestive difficulties

Your baby may have trouble digesting breast milk for several reasons. The most common – at least for newborns – is simply that their digestive systems take longer to develop.

Some children may have an allergic reaction to cow’s milk or formula containing cow’s milk. In rare cases, they may be lactose intolerant or allergic to milk protein. But be aware that they are accompanied by other symptoms such as diarrhea. Talk to your pediatrician if you suspect an allergy or intolerance.

Your pediatrician may recommend changes to your child’s diet to reduce spitting up. Options include:

• soy protein formula
• Extensively Hydrolyzed Blend (EHF), a type of blend that contains digested proteins from cow’s milk that are unlikely to cause allergic reactions.
• Amino Acid Formula (AAF) or alternative formula for children with EHF problems

Be aware, however, that children usually outgrow digestive problems as they age.

Acid reflux

Babies can have acid reflux, especially if they are newborns. Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid rises from the stomach into the throat. It can be painful.

Before switching to formula (or from breastfeeding to formula), try the following home remedies:

• do not feed your baby too fast or too much at once
• feed your baby upright.
• if you are breastfeeding, avoid foods such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, spicy foods, sodas and foods high in fat (this can affect your breast milk and lead to reflux)

Pyloric stenosis

Pyloric stenosis is rare , it affects about 3 out of 1,000 children in the United States.