Why Do Babies Spit Up ?

Tired of packing three baby clothes every time you go out? This is the inside story of spitting and when it usually stops. 

Spitting up refers to the fact that the contents of the baby's stomach can easily flow out of the mouth, possibly with a burp. Baby spitting up is a reality for new parents-it is so common that there are even special clothes for cleaning things up. But when your child seems to spit up often, it is understandable that spitting up suddenly becomes a concern.

Why it happens:

Newborns may spit up milk because the immature sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach allows food to flow backward, causing gastroesophageal reflux and because of the need to remove excess mucus and saliva. When milk mixes with air it results in a burp, or just because they've eaten too much.

How to reduce baby spit up:

There is no definite way to spit milk, but you can surely work on reducing the frequency. You may need to do some detective work to find out what causes the baby to spit up. 

After breastfeeding, first try to hold the baby on their tummy at a 30-45 degree angle. This is usually a posture in which people hold their babies and burp. Supporting your baby on your shoulders in this position for 15 to 20 minutes after feeding will make a big difference in reducing your baby's spitting up. You can even try feeding your baby less at a time. If they seem hungry, you can compensate by feeding them more often. Finally, frequent burps during and after each meal can prevent air from building up in your baby's stomach. 

Why you shouldn't worry: 

Spitting up is harmless and it's more like a laundry problem than a medical problem. It is unlikely to interfere with the baby's feeding (it looks like a hearty meal may be just a tablespoon or something mixed with saliva and mucus... well).