Why does my baby’s spit-up appear chunky. What causes babies to spit up frequently. When should I be concerned about my baby’s spit-up. How can I help reduce my baby’s spit-up.

The Science Behind Baby Spit-Up: Understanding the Basics

Spit-up, also known as infant reflux or gastroesophageal reflux, is a common occurrence in babies. It happens when the contents of a baby’s stomach, such as milk or formula, come back up after feeding. This phenomenon is particularly prevalent in the first three months of life, affecting more than half of all babies.

But why does this happen? The primary reason lies in the developmental stage of a baby’s digestive system. In newborns, the lower esophageal sphincter – a muscular valve between the esophagus and the stomach – may not function properly yet. This immature sphincter can allow stomach contents to flow back into the esophagus and out of the mouth.

Common Spit-Up Scenarios

• One or two mouthfuls of milk or formula being regurgitated
• Spitting up during or shortly after feedings
• Small amounts of spit-up accompanying burping
• Larger amounts of spit-up following overfeeding
• Spit-up occurring without crying or apparent discomfort

Factors Contributing to Frequent Baby Spit-Up

While occasional spit-up is normal, some babies may experience more frequent episodes. Several factors can contribute to this increased frequency:

Immature Digestive Function

As mentioned earlier, a newborn’s digestive system is still developing. The lower esophageal sphincter may not open and close properly, leading to more frequent spit-ups. This is a natural part of development and typically improves as the baby grows.

Overfeeding

A baby’s stomach is small and can only hold a limited amount of milk or formula. When overfed, the excess may come back up as spit-up. It’s important to pay attention to your baby’s hunger cues and not force them to finish a bottle if they’re showing signs of fullness.

Positioning

Newborns spend a lot of time lying on their backs, which can exacerbate reflux. However, it’s crucial to note that back sleeping is still the recommended position for reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). As babies learn to sit up, typically around six months, reflux often improves.

Gas

Accumulated air bubbles in a baby’s stomach can trigger spit-up. Several factors can lead to excessive gas:

• Eating too quickly
• Using an incorrect bottle nipple size
• Sucking on a pacifier
• Crying
• Overstimulation during or after feeding

Distinguishing Between Normal Spit-Up and Vomiting

It’s essential for parents to differentiate between normal spit-up and vomiting, as the latter could indicate a more serious condition. How can you tell the difference?

Spit-up is characterized by an easy flow or dribble of a small amount of stomach contents through the mouth. It’s usually not forceful and doesn’t seem to bother the baby.

Vomiting, on the other hand, is a forceful, projectile expulsion of stomach contents. It’s caused by strong contractions of the abdominal muscles and diaphragm. Vomiting could be a sign of a virus, cow’s milk protein allergy, intestinal blockage, or other health conditions. It can also lead to dehydration if persistent.

When to Seek Medical Attention

If your baby is vomiting rather than spitting up, it’s important to consult your pediatrician. Additionally, watch for these signs that may indicate a need for medical attention:

• Poor weight gain or weight loss
• Excessive crying, irritability, or fussiness
• Signs of discomfort, such as arching the back while spitting up
• Refusing to eat
• Spit-up that appears bloody, yellow, or green
• Accompanying diarrhea or other digestive issues
• Respiratory problems like coughing or wheezing
• Persistent rash
• Continued spitting up beyond 12 months of age

The Mystery of Chunky Spit-Up: What Does It Mean?

Parents often become concerned when they notice their baby’s spit-up appears chunky. But what causes this texture, and is it a cause for concern?

Chunky spit-up can occur for several reasons. One common cause is partially digested milk. As milk sits in the stomach, it begins to curdle and form small, soft curds. When this partially digested milk comes back up, it can appear chunky.

Another potential cause is the mixing of milk with stomach acid. This combination can create a thicker, chunkier consistency than fresh milk or formula.

Is Chunky Spit-Up Normal?

In most cases, chunky spit-up is not a cause for concern. It’s a normal part of the digestive process and doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem. However, if the chunky spit-up is accompanied by other symptoms or occurs frequently, it’s worth discussing with your pediatrician.

Strategies to Reduce Baby Spit-Up

While spit-up is often a normal part of infancy, there are steps you can take to help minimize its frequency and volume:

1. Feed in an upright position: Keep your baby’s head higher than the rest of their body during feeding.
2. Burp frequently: For bottle-fed babies, burp after every 1-2 ounces. For breastfed babies, burp after feeding on each side.
3. Avoid overfeeding: Pay attention to your baby’s hunger cues and don’t force them to finish a bottle.
4. Check bottle nipple size: Ensure you’re using the correct nipple flow for your baby’s age and feeding ability.
5. Keep baby upright after feeding: Hold your baby upright for 20-30 minutes after feeding.
6. Avoid activity immediately after feeding: Give your baby time to digest before playtime or diaper changes.
7. Consider smaller, more frequent feedings: This can help prevent overfeeding and reduce the likelihood of spit-up.

The Role of Diet in Baby Spit-Up

For breastfed babies, a mother’s diet can sometimes influence spit-up frequency and volume. Some babies may be sensitive to certain foods in their mother’s diet, leading to increased spit-up or discomfort. Common culprits include:

• Dairy products
• Caffeine
• Spicy foods
• Citrus fruits
• Chocolate

If you suspect your diet might be affecting your baby’s spit-up, consider keeping a food diary and discussing it with your pediatrician. They may recommend eliminating certain foods to see if it improves your baby’s symptoms.

Formula Considerations

For formula-fed babies, the type of formula can sometimes influence spit-up. Some babies may benefit from switching to a formula specially designed to help reduce spit-up. These formulas often contain added rice starch or are pre-thickened to help the milk stay in the stomach. However, always consult with your pediatrician before making any changes to your baby’s formula.

The Natural Course of Baby Spit-Up: When Does It End?

Parents often wonder when their baby will outgrow the spit-up phase. The good news is that for most babies, spit-up significantly decreases or stops entirely by around 12 months of age. This improvement is typically due to several factors:

• Maturation of the lower esophageal sphincter
• Increased time spent in an upright position
• Introduction of solid foods
• Overall growth and development of the digestive system

However, it’s important to remember that every baby is different. Some may stop spitting up earlier, while others may continue beyond their first birthday. As long as your baby is growing well and not showing signs of discomfort, occasional spit-up is generally not a cause for concern.

When Spit-Up Becomes a Medical Concern: Understanding GERD

While most cases of baby spit-up are normal and harmless, some babies may develop a more serious condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD occurs when stomach contents frequently flow back into the esophagus, causing irritation and discomfort.

How can you tell if your baby’s spit-up might be related to GERD? Look out for these signs:

• Frequent and forceful spit-up or vomiting
• Difficulty gaining weight or weight loss
• Refusing to eat or difficulty eating
• Arching of the back during or after feeding
• Irritability or crying during or after feeding
• Chronic coughing or wheezing
• Gagging or choking

If you suspect your baby might have GERD, it’s important to consult with your pediatrician. They may recommend lifestyle changes, feeding adjustments, or in some cases, medication to manage the condition.

Diagnostic Procedures for GERD

In cases where GERD is suspected, your pediatrician may recommend certain diagnostic procedures to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions. These may include:

• Upper GI series: An X-ray examination of the upper digestive tract
• Endoscopy: A procedure that allows doctors to examine the esophagus and stomach directly
• pH monitoring: A test to measure the acidity in the esophagus
• Impedance monitoring: A test that can detect both acid and non-acid reflux

These tests are typically reserved for cases where symptoms are severe or don’t respond to initial treatment measures.

The Psychological Impact of Baby Spit-Up on Parents

While baby spit-up is often a normal and harmless occurrence, it can cause significant stress and anxiety for parents, especially first-time parents. It’s not uncommon for parents to worry about whether their baby is getting enough nutrition, if they’re doing something wrong, or if there’s an underlying health issue.

It’s important to remember that spit-up is a common part of infancy and doesn’t reflect on your parenting skills. However, if you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious about your baby’s spit-up, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. This could be from your pediatrician, a lactation consultant, or other parents who have gone through similar experiences.

Coping Strategies for Parents

• Educate yourself: Understanding that spit-up is normal can help alleviate anxiety.
• Keep perspective: Remember that this phase is temporary and will pass.
• Seek support: Don’t hesitate to reach out to healthcare providers or support groups.
• Practice self-care: Take care of your own physical and mental health.
• Be prepared: Keep burp cloths and changes of clothes handy to make clean-up easier.

By understanding the causes of baby spit-up, recognizing when it might be a concern, and knowing how to manage it, parents can navigate this common aspect of infancy with greater confidence and less stress. Remember, every baby is unique, and what’s normal can vary. Always trust your instincts and don’t hesitate to consult with your pediatrician if you have concerns about your baby’s health or development.

Why Do Babies Spit Up?

It’s not uncommon for babies to spit up occasionally. Let’s explore a few common reasons why babies spit up and when to consult your pediatrician.

Spit-up, also known as infant reflux or gastroesophageal reflux, happens when a baby’s stomach contents, such as milk or formula, come back up after a meal. Spit-up is very common, even in healthy babies. In fact, more than half of all babies spit up in the first three months of life.¹

Common spit-up experiences include:

• Spitting up one or two mouthfuls of milk or formula
• Spitting up during or shortly after feedings
• Smaller spit-ups with burping
• Larger spit-ups after overfeeding
• Typically no crying or discomfort

Why is my baby spitting up a lot?

There are a number of reasons why your baby may be spitting up a lot, and how your baby is eating, growing, or positioned can impact how much they spit up.

Still-developing digestive function

In newborns, the lower esophageal sphincter—a muscular valve between the esophagus and the stomach that keeps the food down—may not open and close properly yet. ² So after feeding, a tablespoon or two of clear or milky drool may come back up through the esophagus and rush out the mouth and the nose. It could be a sudden “surprise,” or you may receive a forewarning burp. While your baby may be eating like a champ, their digestive function could need a little more time to catch up.

Overfeeding

Your baby’s tiny tummy can only hold so much. What your little one’s belly can’t fit may come back up as spit-up.

Spending time on their backs

Since newborns can’t sit up yet, they spend a lot of time lying on their backs, which can aggravate reflux. However, even if your little one has reflux, back sleeping is still the recommended sleeping position for reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. And if your baby does spit up while on their back, their gag reflex will allow them to swallow or cough up the spit-up.³ As your baby learns to sit up, typically around six months, the reflux usually starts to improve.

Gas

Built-up air bubbles in your baby’s belly can trigger spit-up. Some common gas-producing culprits include:

• Eating too fast
• Using an incorrect baby bottle nipple size
• Sucking on a pacifier
• Crying

Overstimulation during or after feeding

A baby who is overly excited before eating may gulp too much milk or formula, which could lead to gas and spit-up. An abrupt change of position or active play, such as bouncing immediately after feeding, could also irritate your baby’s sensitive digestive system.

When does a baby stop spitting up?

Many babies stop spitting up by 12 months,⁴ often due to:

• A more developed lower esophageal sphincter function
• Sitting up more and spending less time on their back⁵
• An introduction to solid foods

Is your baby vomiting or just spitting up?

Spitting up is characterized by the easy flow or dribble of a mouthful or two of contents through the mouth. Vomiting is a forceful, projectile throwing up of stomach contents caused by a strong contraction of the abdominal muscle and diaphragm. Vomiting could indicate a virus, cow’s milk protein allergy, blockage, or other health conditions and could lead to dehydration. If your baby is vomiting, call your pediatrician.

Explore more ways to differentiate between spitting up and vomiting.

When should I be concerned about baby spit-up?

If your baby is a “happy spitter” and isn’t bothered by the reflux, there’s often no need to worry. However, spit-up could occasionally indicate an issue needing medical attention. For example, some babies may spit up because of an allergy to the protein in cow’s milk, even if they’re getting it through breast milk.

Talk to your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your baby’s issues. Keep an eye out for these other indications that your baby’s spit-up issues could potentially be connected to a food allergy or sensitivity, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or another health condition:

• Little to no weight gain
• Crying, irritability, and fussiness
• Acting sick or uncomfortable, including arching their back while spitting up
• Refusing food
• Vomiting
• Spit-up that looks bloody, yellow, or green
• Diarrhea or other digestive issues
• Respiratory issues such as coughing or wheezing
• Rash
• Spitting up when over 12 months old

What are some ways to help ease baby spit-up?

If you notice your baby spitting up frequently, consult your pediatrician. Your little one may benefit from switching to a formula specially designed to help reduce spit-up.

You may also want to try the following:

• Position your baby’s head higher than the rest of their body when feeding.
• Burp your baby after every 1-2 fluid ounces of formula, but wait for them to take a break—don’t interrupt their feeding. For breastfed babies, burp after feeding on each side.
• Check that you have the proper nipple flow (a bottle held upside down allows one quick drop at a time, but not a steady stream), and burp your baby often.
• Avoid tight diapers as they put added pressure on the stomach.
• Don’t play vigorously with your baby right after a feeding.
• Reduce pacifier time, as constant sucking can pump your baby’s stomach up with swallowed air.
• Calm your baby down if they are frantic, stressed, or rushing through feeding.
• Hold your baby upright for 30 minutes after feeding.
• Give smaller, more frequent feedings to lessen the chances of spit-up.

Ask your doctor if switching to Enfamil A.R.™ could help relieve spit-up

Spit-up is a common experience for many babies, and while it’s a bit messy, it typically won’t cause discomfort or affect your baby’s growth and development.⁶ But if your little one is spitting up a lot or you have any questions or concerns, call your pediatrician and consider asking them if an infant formula designed to help ease spit-up issues could provide some relief. Enfamil A.R. formula is specially formulated with added rice starch for a thicker consistency to reduce reflux and spit-up by over 50%* in one week. It provides complete nutrition for your infant up to 12 months of age and meets reflux reduction guidelines as set by the American Academy of Pediatrics.⁷

While you’re waiting to talk with your doctor, be sure to join Enfamil Family Beginnings to earn rewards on Enfamil purchases and get discounts, free baby formula samples, and baby freebies! You’ll also get custom baby content and tips delivered to your email.

Spit-up is just one of the many feeding issues that your baby may encounter during their first year. If you think your baby may be struggling with another feeding issue, get tips to give them some relief.

References:

¹ “Reflux in Infants.” MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/refluxininfants.html.↗ Accessed September 29, 2022.

² “Spitting up – self-care.” MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000754.htm.↗ Accessed September 29, 2022.

³ Porto, Anthony, MD, MPH, FAAP. “What is the safest sleep solution for my baby with reflux?“ HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/ask-the-pediatrician/Pages/What-is-the-safest-sleep-solution-for-my-baby-with-reflux.aspx#:~:text=Take%20the%20spitting%20over%20the,even%20for%20babies%20with%20reflux.↗ Accessed September 29, 2022.

⁴  Porto, Anthony, MD, MPH, FAAP. “Gastroesophageal Reflux & Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Parent FAQs.” HealthyChildren.org https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/GERD-Reflux.aspx.↗ Accessed September 29, 2022.

⁵ Porto, Anthony, MD, MPH, FAAP. “What is the safest sleep solution for my baby with reflux?“ HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/ask-the-pediatrician/Pages/What-is-the-safest-sleep-solution-for-my-baby-with-reflux.aspx#:~:text=Take%20the%20spitting%20over%20the,even%20for%20babies%20with%20reflux.↗ Accessed September 29, 2022.

⁶ Mayo Clinic Staff. “Spitting up in babies: What’s normal, what’s not.” Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/healthy-baby/art-20044329#:~:text=Spitting%20up%20is%20common%20in,reflux%20or%20infant%20acid%20reflux.↗ Accessed September 29, 2022.

⁷ Lightdale JR, Gremse DA; Section on Gastroenterology,Hepatology, and Nutrition. Gastroesophageal reflux:management guidance for the pediatrician. Pediatrics. 2013 May;131(5):e1684-95.doi:10.1542/peds.2013-0421. Epub 2013 Apr 29. PMID: 23629618.

Why It’s Happening and What to Do

Updated

27 November 2021

|

Published

14 August 2019

Fact Checked

Reviewed by Dr. Anna Klepchukova, Intensive care medicine specialist, chief medical officer, Flo Health Inc., UK

Flo Fact-Checking Standards

Every piece of content at Flo Health adheres to the highest editorial standards for language, style, and medical accuracy. To learn what we do to deliver the best health and lifestyle insights to you, check out our content review principles.

Spitting up milk or formula is common in newborns; but you might be worried if your baby spits up blood. Keep reading to find out when babies spitting up blood is considered normal, and when it’s cause for concern.

Reasons for spitting up blood

Ingesting blood irritates your baby’s stomach so if you notice blood in their spit-up and you’ve been breastfeeding, don’t panic. In some cases, it has more to do with you than with your baby.

Depending on their age, there a number of explanations for why they’re spitting up blood.

Your newborn baby spits up blood in the first few days of life

In the first few days after birth, it’s natural for your breast milk to be bloodstained. This is due to increased blood flow to the area, a generation of new cells, and growth in your milk ducts. Often referred to as “rusty pipe syndrome,” bloodstained breast milk may be slightly red, pink, orange, or brown in color. Don’t worry – it’s perfectly safe for them to drink this breast milk. Just remember that their spit-up will take on a similar appearance.

Alternatively, your newborn might spit up blood during the first three days if they swallowed blood during delivery. Consult your doctor if you think this is the case.

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Your newborn baby spits up blood in the first few months of life

If your little one is spitting up blood during the first few months, try to determine if the blood is actually coming from you.

Do you have peeling or cracked nipples? If they happen to bleed during breastfeeding, it’s possible for your baby to ingest some of it. As a result, their spit-up is going to have a slightly blood-tinged hue, or contain tiny traces of blood.

Try breastfeeding with a nipple shield to temporarily limit your baby’s exposure to your cracked nipples.

Incorrect usage of a breast pump or any type of physical trauma to the breasts could also be underlying factors. Broken capillaries have a tendency to leak blood into your breast milk.

Testing out different breastfeeding positions might help your child latch properly and alleviate some of the related symptoms.

Have you already taken steps to try and heal your nipples? Are you still seeing blood in your breast milk? Then make an appointment with your doctor who should rule out more serious conditions, such as:

• Intraductal papilloma (a benign breast tumor)
• Mastitis (an infection leading to bleeding of the nipples)
• Breast cancer

When to call the doctor if your baby spits up blood 

When your baby spits up blood and you’ve been able to determine that isn’t coming from you, contact your doctor immediately. Possible causes include:

• Clotting disorders, which are more common in babies with a vitamin K deficiency (most newborns receive a vitamin K injection at birth)
• Excessive or forceful vomiting, which may produce small tears in their esophagus
• Trauma or irritation to their nasal pathways, especially if they’ve used a nasogastric tube or undergone nasal suctioning

What does a small amount of blood in the vomit mean?

Spit-up is easily expelled by newborns because the sphincter muscle between their stomach and esophagus hasn’t fully developed. Vomiting, on the other hand, is a forceful action that might be rather uncomfortable and possibly dangerous.

If your baby is throwing up blood, or has a small amount of blood in their vomit after ingesting cow’s milk or formula, it could be an allergic reaction. Note that blood in the vomit usually resembles streaks of coffee grounds.

Vomiting is also a potential symptom of gastroesophagael reflux disease (GERD,) or in more serious cases, gastrointestinal bleeding due to esophageal or stomach tears. Less common reasons include anatomical anomalies, vascular abnormalities, and congenital coagulation disorders.

When to call the doctor if your baby is throwing up blood

Seek medical attention if your baby is throwing up blood that you know isn’t yours. Vomiting blood, or hematemesis, can be an indication of severe illness. Be on the lookout for the following signs and symptoms:

• Green vomit
• Temperature (taken rectally) which is higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit
• Diarrhea, particularly dark or bloody stools
• New skin rashes
• Seizures or severe fussiness and being inconsolably upset

If possible, take a sample of the blood in your baby’s vomit to your doctor for testing. 

When it comes to your child’s health, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Seek medical assistance immediately if you have any concerns about spotting blood in your baby’s spit-up or vomit.

References

https://www. breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/unusual-appearances-breastmilk

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24592514

https://www.verywellfamily.com/blood-in-breast-milk-431550

https://www.verywellfamily.com/help-my-baby-is-spitting-up-blood-284376

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/Infant-Vomiting.aspx

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vomiting-blood/

https://bettersafercare.vic.gov.au/resources/clinical-guidance/maternity-and-newborn-clinical-network/vomiting-in-neonates#goto-vomit-contains-blood

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5330817/

History of updates

Current version
(27 November 2021)

Reviewed by Dr. Anna Klepchukova, Intensive care medicine specialist, chief medical officer, Flo Health Inc., UK

02 August 2019

Pediatrician, gastroenterologist Olga Ustinova about nutrition and digestive problems of a child in the first year of life

Almost every young mother, having gone through childbirth and waiting for discharge from the maternity hospital, thinks: she has finally exhausted herself, there are pleasant chores and endless happiness of motherhood ahead. But, once at home, an inexperienced mother suddenly realizes: there is a child, but the instructions for him in the maternity hospital were not issued. The baby sobs frantically around the clock, women lose milk from experiences, and if there is no one to help, then panic attacks the woman: what to do? Olga Ustinova, chief physician of the Children’s City Clinical Hospital No. 1, doctor of the highest category, candidate of medical sciences, pediatrician, gastroenterologist, mother of two sons, shares her life and professional experience.

Unfortunately, or perhaps, fortunately, it is impossible to write an algorithm, the very instructions, according to the points of which it would be possible to raise a healthy child without any hassle. Every woman, through mistakes and her own experience, finds the only true, individual approach to her child. And yet, in order to avoid panic when the simplest, even banal problems arise, the expectant mother must prepare for meeting a new person.

First, and this is very correct, spouses should plan pregnancy. After all, the health of the child is laid in the womb and directly depends on her own health. At the planning stage, the couple should give up bad habits, switch to a healthy diet. A woman should take care of her health throughout all nine months of bearing a child. Everything that a woman eats, in one way or another, will get to the baby. Therefore, before taking any medicine, a pregnant woman should consult a gynecologist. During this period, it is extremely important to give up food, in which there are many different “E” and other dangerous chemicals. No need to complicate your life by coming up with an exquisite diet, the most useful is ordinary fresh homemade food.

And so the long-awaited meeting took place, the baby was born. In the first six months of life, a child has few requests and reasons for tears: if the baby cries, it means that he either wants to eat, or sleep, or something hurts him. If it turned out that the child is hungry, the mother should take care of a healthy diet that will not harm the little person, but will benefit him.

Rational feeding of babies up to a year is extremely important, because it is during this period that the child grows and develops more actively than ever. Not only growth, but also the physical and neuropsychic development of the child depends on what the baby eats. Food should fully satisfy the needs of the body and correspond to its age capabilities.

Breastfeeding

It is important that a woman remember: there is nothing more useful for her child than mother’s milk, no formula can replace mother’s breast. Therefore, no matter how difficult it is in the first months after birth, do not rush to complete lactation. The baby will thank you for this with its good health.

Unfortunately, the choice of whether to feed a child with formula or breastfeeding does not always depend on the mother. Some women are genetically unable to feed a baby: there is little or no milk at all. You should not despair, together with the pediatrician you need to choose a mixture that will take into account the problems and wishes of your little one (mixtures are ordinary and medicinal). But first, you still need to try to establish breastfeeding.

A few tips on how to do this:

– do not be nervous: stress not only reduces lactation, but can lead to the complete disappearance of milk.

– put the baby to the breast more often. When it comes to establishing breastfeeding, you don’t have to talk about feeding on a schedule – you can return to it when there is enough milk. In the meantime, the more the baby sucks, the more milk will be.

– drink more and eat well. The drink must be warm. You can drink water, dried fruit compote, weak tea, as well as special lactogenic teas that are sold in pharmacies. Strong tea (black and green) should not be drunk: caffeine, which is contained in tea, can over-energize the child and cause restless sleep.

As for tea with milk (condensed milk), which is often called the best lactogogue, I will answer this: yes, it stimulates lactation, but milk can cause increased colic (abdominal pain from excess gas), as well as allergies in a child, because you should not abuse this drink, it is better to give preference to pharmacy herbal teas for lactation.

– even if a young mother has assistants who can take walks with the baby, the mother must walk in the fresh air every day.

– a young mother, as far as possible, should have a full sleep – 8 hours a day. This is possible, you just need to correctly prioritize in the new conditions. No need to try to have time to do everything, the main task of a woman at this stage is to take care of the child. And therefore, if the child fell asleep – it is worth taking a nap yourself. And part of the household chores, you can, for example, entrust your husband.

– make sure that milk does not stagnate in the breast (lactostasis) – no seals form. The mammary gland should be regularly gently massaged along the milk ducts (toward the nipple). More about how to properly massage the breasts, the woman will be told and shown in the maternity hospital.

How to understand that the baby is malnourished:

The main indicator is underweight at monthly control weighing. In the first six months of life, the child should gain 600-800 grams per month. Mom needs to find out if the baby is sucking out the norm of milk for feeding him according to his age. If the baby is bottle-fed, then everything is simple: special scales will come to the aid of the mother of the baby. Weighed the baby before feeding, after and subtracted the difference.

In the first week of life for feeding, the baby should eat about 50 ml of milk (300-400 ml per day), in two weeks – 60-90 ml per feeding, 20% of the baby’s weight per day.

– 1 month – 100 ml per feeding, 600 ml per day

– 2 months – 120-150 ml per feeding, 800 ml per day

– 3 months – 150 -180 ml per feeding, 1/6 of the baby’s weight per day

– 4 months – 180-210 ml per feeding, 1/6 of the mass per day

– 5-6 months – 210-240 ml per feeding, 800-1000 ml per day

A hungry child will tell his mother that he wants to eat by crying. If the newborn turns his head left and right, opens his mouth and makes a sucking gesture, starts sucking his fist or thumb, the baby wants to eat.

Complementary foods It’s time to get acquainted with the spoon

If the mother has enough milk, then up to 6 months there is no need to worry about complementary foods. In the first six months of life, breast milk contains everything a little person needs. After five months, the baby can only be pampered with hypoallergenic fruit puree and juice. If the baby does not have enough breast milk, he is underweight, then up to five months you need to supplement the baby with a mixture. At the discretion of the mother: replace one or two breastfeedings with formula or feed according to the scheme – breast, then bottle. A bottle-fed baby can start spoon-feeding from the age of five months.

Complementary feeding rules:

– Do not rush to diversify your baby’s diet. The interval between the introduction of new products is 5-7 days.

– It is better to start complementary foods with one-component vegetable puree. Vegetables should be introduced into the diet in the following sequence: zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, pumpkin, carrots. It is better to give vegetables at lunch, start with one teaspoon, gradually vegetable puree will replace one full meal

– In the first month from the beginning of feeding, we give vegetables, the next month cereals are added to the vegetables – rice, corn, buckwheat. We also start with one teaspoon and gradually increase the volume of porridge until full feeding. The exception is children with underweight, for them, complementary foods begin with porridge, and then only vegetables come. Preference is given to gluten-free cereals, as gluten can lead to indigestion, as well as allergies. Oatmeal can be given to a child at 8-9months.

It is better to give porridge for breakfast, but more often parents give it before a night’s sleep so that the baby does not wake up longer for the next feeding and gives mom a rest.

– Further, at 7 months, you can gradually add meat (turkey, rabbit, veal, chicken, lamb) to vegetable puree; also, a child at this age can add yolk (chicken or quail) to food, offer potatoes. At 8-9 months a child should eat no more than 50 grams of meat per day, by the year – about 100 grams of meat.

– at 9 months, the baby can be given cottage cheese, kefir.

Vegetable puree schedule:

Starting with zucchini:

1 day – (5 grams) one teaspoon supplemented with breast or formula

Day 2 – 10 grams supplemented with breast or formula

Day 3 – 20 grams supplemented with breast or formula

Day 4 – 40 grams supplemented with breast or formula

Day 5 – 80 grams supplemented with breast or formula

Day 6 – 120 grams supplemented with breast or formula

Day 7 – 150 grams supplemented with breast or formula

The next day, according to this scheme, we give cauliflower – we start with one teaspoon and bring it to full feeding. Zucchini can be added to cauliflower if the child did not have a negative reaction to it. Porridges are introduced into the child’s diet according to the same scheme.

You can cook baby food yourself, or you can buy ready-made food in the store – this also applies to cereals, and vegetable, meat purees. Moreover, ready-made food from jars is no worse than cooked at home, and for mom, these “jars” and “boxes” are a significant help. Vegetables are boiled for a child without salt and spices, such food will seem tasteless to adults, but children have a different opinion on this matter.

To teach a child to chew, properly form a food ball, swallow food in pieces, mom will need patience, and the baby will need teeth. And while there are no teeth, a blender will come to the aid of mom, which will help bring home-cooked vegetables and meat to the desired consistency.

There are many opinions about how long a baby should be breastfed. Scientific studies on this matter – and I also agree with them – say: breast milk is necessary for a baby up to a year. In the second year of life, milk no longer has those protective functions, it ceases to saturate the child, and mother’s breast becomes a way of communicating with the closest person, a habit. In a woman, due to prolonged feeding, exhaustion occurs.

Colic and profuse regurgitation in infants

After the birth of a child, many mothers face such a problem as colic. Colic is intestinal spasm caused by increased gas production. The kid cries a lot, pulls his legs, pulling them to his stomach, his stomach is swollen from gases. After 2-3 months, the stomach and intestines will adapt to the new, post-natal conditions of life and the problem will disappear by itself. But to make life easier for yourself and your child during these months, there are simple tips. First, you can seek help from drugs for newborns that reduce the amount of gases in the intestines (for example, dill water). The pediatrician at the appointment will tell you exactly what you can give your baby. If a woman is breastfeeding, she is obliged to take into account the interests of the baby on her own plate.

If the child suffers from colic, a nursing mother should exclude from her diet foods that increase gas formation in the intestines: raw cabbage, legumes, bread, sweets. You should not drink milk, it is better to give preference to fermented milk products: cottage cheese, kefir (also in small quantities: 1 glass of kefir, 100 grams of cottage cheese per day).

After feeding the baby, it is necessary to put it in a “column” (lean the baby vertically against you, the baby’s head will be on the mother’s shoulder). You need to wait until the baby burps the air that he swallowed with milk. If you do not carry out this procedure, then the air will go into the intestines, and the pain in the abdomen from excess gas will intensify.

It is also important to exclude from food foods that most often cause allergies: citrus fruits, chocolate, coffee, tomatoes, nuts. Mom in the first three months should eat porridge, soups with potatoes, pasta, lean meat, fish (pollock, cod, hake).

A baby suffering from colic should be laid out on the tummy before feeding, this will help get rid of harmful gases.

Also relieve the pain of a warm diaper placed on the tummy, stroking the tummy (light massage) in a clockwise direction.

When breastfeeding, the mother should ensure that the baby captures the entire areola of the nipple, does not swallow air. With artificial feeding, you need to choose the right nipple and mixture for your baby.

Another problem that mothers face in the first months of a child’s life is profuse regurgitation: the child sucked both breasts and vomited everything on the mother’s shoulder like a fountain. The problem must be dealt with individually. Often the reason is very simple – the mother overfeeds the baby, gives breasts at the first squeak, that’s too much and comes out. When overfeeding, there is also excessive weight gain. In this case, you need to feed the child according to the regimen that your pediatrician will tell you, the feeding schedule will depend on the age of the baby.

It is possible that the little one suckles the breast incorrectly (or the bottle does not fit): together with milk (mixture), he swallows too much air, which then burps up with food. If the reason is different, then the pediatrician will prescribe an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, which will show if there are any pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

A young mother should remember that panic and hysteria are not her allies, her anxiety will be immediately transferred to the baby. The baby will also perceive a positive optimistic mother’s attitude. Therefore, if the mother wants the baby to eat well and sleep well, you need to be an example for him: do not cry and do not be nervous in vain.

There is no need to rush to transfer the child to the common table. Up to three years, children’s nutrition should be careful: do not tell the child about chocolate and sweets for as long as possible, do not give the baby fried, smoked, spicy, overly salty foods. I’m not talking about fast food and all sorts of chips and soda, it’s all a taboo for both small and large. Until the age of three, seafood is not allowed at all; a child only by the age of three produces enzymes for their digestion. For the same reason, mushrooms are not allowed for up to five years. The baby needs to cook the soup on the second broth, that is, when the meat or fish boils, the water must be drained and the pan filled with clean water, which will become the broth.

Very often mothers complain that the child loves one thing and flatly refuses to eat another. There is only one answer to such complaints: the child does what he wants and how it is easier for him, and it is in his mother’s power to teach him to love what is good for his health, to form the right eating habits. Another thing is if mom is too lazy to stand at the stove: stew vegetables, cook soups, and then patiently try to accustom children to such food. In this case, there is no need to complain and shift the burden of responsibility onto the child: they say, they cannot be forced. Parents failed, food preferences and addictions of young children are only the fault and achievements of mom and dad.

Due to the irresponsible attitude of parents, as well as due to the abundance of ready-made food in stores, many diseases have become much younger today. Childhood obesity has become a modern epidemic, more and more children are suffering from type II diabetes.

Eating right, on the one hand, it’s easy, but on the other – a whole art. Pediatrician, gastroenterologist Olga Ustinova shared some simple tips on what parents should pay attention to and how to properly feed their babies. TIA readers can ask exciting questions to the doctor in the comments to the interview, qualified answers will be published on the website www.tvernews.ru.

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Olga Ustinova, Children’s City Clinical Hospital No. 1, advice to young mothers on how to feed babies, complementary foods, breastfeeding

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Questions to the pediatrician – articles from the specialists of the clinic “Mother and Child”

Andreichik Yulia Stanislavovna

Obstetrician-gynecologist, Reproductologist, Ultrasound specialist

Clinic “Mother and Child” Nizhny Novgorod

My son (he is two months old) spits up every time after feeding. Tell me what to do?

– Most often, children spit up due to the peculiarities of the structure of the gastrointestinal tract: for example, a short esophagus, immaturity of the sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach, a “fusiform” shape of the stomach, etc. predispose to regurgitation. ripen and regurgitation will pass.

Also regurgitation occurs due to overfeeding or improper and indiscriminate feeding. Plus, very often children swallow air when they suck on the breast or a bottle – this also provokes regurgitation. Also, regurgitation can cause a quick change in body position or braking of the child immediately after feeding, tight swaddling. Therefore, if the child is receiving formula, check the nipples and bottles, he may be swallowing a lot of air during feeding. If the baby suckles at the breast, see if he is latching on properly. After feeding, hold the baby vertically in a “column” for several minutes. Usually, regurgitation does not affect the child’s condition in any way, but if something bothers you anyway, show your son to the pediatrician.

I know that all newborns are tested for congenital diseases at the maternity hospital. What are they looking at and why are they doing it?

– This is the so-called neonatal screening – the examination of all newborns to detect certain serious hereditary diseases even before their clinical symptoms appear. If you make a diagnosis as early as possible and immediately start treatment, then the disease will proceed much easier, sometimes without even affecting the health and life of the child. Today in our country, newborns are examined for five diseases: phenylketonuria, hypothyroidism, galactosemia, andrenogenital syndrome and cystic fibrosis. Usually, full-term babies on the 4th day, and premature babies on the 7th day of life take one or two drops of blood from the heel, then this test is sent to the laboratory. The test results will be ready in 10 days. Parents learn about them only if, based on the results of the analysis, there are suspicions of the presence of a disease, then an emergency notification comes to the children’s clinic at the place of residence. If for some reason the child was not tested for congenital diseases (for example, the mother was discharged from the maternity hospital earlier), the parents themselves should contact the polyclinic at the place of residence or the medical genetic consultation, where this study is also carried out

Every winter, my skin begins to dry and peel off, especially on the face. And I am very worried that my seven-month-old daughter will have the same problem, she is allergic like me. Advise on how to prevent possible problems.

– Yes, in winter the skin of both children and adults dries out very often. This is caused by constant temperature changes (room – street) and very low humidity. First of all, during the heating season, you must constantly turn on the humidifier. If the batteries are too hot, then the heat supply should be adjusted. When bathing your baby, try to use gentle, non-drying products based on nourishing oils. If you feel that moisturizing is not enough, use special creams and lotions for the body and face. It is very important to use a protective frost cream before going out for a walk, such as MommyCare Wind and Weather Balm. Lubricate the exposed areas of the child’s face with it – with such protection, the skin will not lose the necessary moisture and will not begin to peel off.

My baby is 1.5 months old. From about 3 weeks of age, his eye fester. Dripped antibacterial eye drops – nothing helps. What to do?

– Most often at this age, children have dacryocystitis – purulent inflammation of the nasolacrimal canal. Through this channel, the tear from the lacrimal sac enters the nasal cavity. After the birth of a child, elements of embryonic tissue may remain in the lumen of the nasolacrimal canal, which interferes with the outflow of tears from the lacrimal sac. This leads to the fact that the tear begins to stagnate, which can cause purulent inflammation. First, dacryocystitis is treated conservatively: they do the so-called massage of the nasolacrimal canal. After each feeding, the parents with some effort run their fingers along the canal (how to do this should be shown by a pediatrician or ophthalmologist). After that, the eye is washed to remove particles of pus and an antibiotic or antiseptic solution is instilled. All treatment is prescribed only by a doctor. As a rule, after a massage, after a few days, the channel becomes passable, and that’s it. If long-term conservative treatment does not help, they proceed to the second stage – on an outpatient basis in a children’s hospital, the canal is bouged (the procedure is very fast and goes without consequences for the child).

My daughter is 5 months old and I only breastfeed her. Two weeks ago, the girl developed diathesis on her face and elbows, although I did not introduce any allergens into my diet. Maybe it makes sense to transfer the daughter to the mixture?

– There is no need to put the baby on formula. An allergic reaction could be provoked by food, clothes, water, wool, fluff, and animals, and not just breast milk. Try to isolate your daughter from potential allergens (check washing powder, new clothes) and carefully review your diet again.