How to Decrease Spitup in a Baby

Many babies spit up during and after feedings, and it's usually not indicative of a medical problem. Infants often spit up because their digestive systems are not yet fully developed, and they are still learning the important suck and swallow techniques needed to drink properly. Follow these steps to decrease spitup in your baby and make his mealtime more enjoyable for both of you.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Feed your infant half of what you normally feed him, but twice as often. He will digest his meal more quickly if his stomach isn't quite as full, which will decrease spitup.
2. Decrease spitup by burping your baby often while feeding him and after his feeding is over. If you're breastfeeding your baby, burp your infant before moving him to your other breast. If you're feeding your baby formula, burp him once he's finished half his bottle.
3. Move your infant into an upright position for half an hour once he's finished eating, and try to keep him calm and quiet. This upright position will help keep the food in his stomach, as laying him on his back following his meal may trigger a spitup episode.
4. Lay your infant down for a nap, or at bedtime, with the head of his crib or bassinet mattress elevated at a small angle.
5. Buy nipples especially made for infants or babies with digestive issues. Ensure that the hole in the nipple isn't too big, or the breastmilk or formula will flow too quickly into your baby's mouth.
6. Create a list of how often your baby spits up, and how much he spits up. Also note if the spitup is accompanied by pain in his stomach, and monitor his weight gain. Contact your baby's pediatrician if you notice any patterns or if his symptoms or spitup episodes are increasing.

Tips & Warnings

• Spitup episodes often end once your baby reaches 7 months old, because he is likely sitting up much of the time, and his digestive system has reached maturity.
• If other techniques do not decrease your baby's spitup, you may try a different brand of formula or abstain from serving milk to see if these changes help.
• Avoid jostling or vigorously moving your baby around once he's finished a feeding, as these things can increase spitup.