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    She's Your Friend » Baby Tips

    Baby Keeps Spitting up: How to Help

    by Joanna Stephens Published: Dec 13, 2020 · Updated: Mar 17, 2023 · This post may contain affiliate links. We earn commission from purchases made. ·

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    a mom holding a baby with text overlay that reads baby keeps spitting up here's what helps
    a mom hugging her baby with text overlay that reads " helpful infant reflux remedies"
    a mom holding a baby with text overlay that reads baby keeps spitting up here's what helps

    Do you have a little baby that keeps spitting up every time he/she drinks? It can be heartbreaking seeing your little one throwing up so often, but here's what you can do to help.

    a mom comforting her baby
    Jump to:
    • How to help baby with reflux
    • What causes baby reflux?
    • Reflux FAQ

    How to help baby with reflux

    1. Slow down the feeding

    With babies who have trouble keeping milk down, go slower. This is easier when you are bottle feeding than breastfeeding, but can be done either way. 

    After a few minutes of your baby drinking, stop baby from drinking and do some burping.

    • Use a slow flow nipple, this will automatically slow down how much milk baby is drinking.
    • Take frequent breaks when feeding baby to burp them. 

    2. They are over eating

    Babies can't tell you when they are full, which means they might keep drinking even when their tummy has had enough. 

    When baby has too much in their tummy, it will inevitably come right back up. 

    baby hand with closed fists which could mean baby is hungry and a baby with an open hand which can mean baby is full

    Cues that baby is full

    • Your baby will turn their head away from the bottle or your breast.
    • Your baby might start to fall asleep. 
    • Your baby's fingers might relax and open up. (A sign that baby is still hungry will be a closed fists) 
    • Your baby lets go of the bottle or your breast.
    • Your baby is becoming distracted with other things, and is losing interest in the bottle or your breast.

    3. After eating, keep baby upright for 15-20 minutes

    Have you ever eaten then went and laid down and felt food start to come back up? This could be another cause of why your baby is spitting up. 

    Try to avoid putting your baby on their back or tummy right after they have finished drinking and see if this will help. 

    What causes baby reflux?

    Baby's spit up for many reasons, from reflux to overeating, and even drinking too fast. Narrowing down the cause can help you fix the problem. 

    When my son was in the NICU, we learned a different way to feed babies than what I had done with my daughter. It seriously changed everything and he didn't have nearly as many problems with reflux that my daughter did. 

    Reflux FAQ

    When should I be concerned about baby spit up?

    If baby starts acting fussier than usual or isn't gaining weight, it's important to talk with your pediatrician right away.

    They will want to know how many pee diapers baby is having in a day to make sure baby isn't getting dehydrated.

    Should I feed my baby again after spitting up?

    When baby has stopped spitting up, you can offer baby a bottle again. If they want more they will drink it, but make sure you are looking for baby's cues.

    Does spit up mean overfeeding?

    No, not always. Sometimes it can be caused by baby not digesting the milk or formula well.

    Another cause is baby drinking it too fast, so try a slower flow nipple on the bottle.

    Mama, I know it can be frustrating trying everything. That mom guilt starts to eat away at you, but don't let it! You are doing an amazing job!

    Every baby is different. You might find one thing works for you that didn't for others. It's all a matter of trial and error. Hang in there, mama!

    You might also enjoy reading:

    • how to help baby with gas
    • how to get rid of cradle cap
    • best baby bottles
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