How Much Is Too Much?

If you are a parent, you know spitting up is normal for babies. Because it is such a frequent occurrence, parents may have a hard time knowing when vomiting could be a sign of a problem.

During your baby’s first few months, he or she may spit up as the swallowing tube and stomach mature, or for a variety of reasons, such as overfeeding or indigestion. As babies mature over the first six months of life, however, almost all will gradually grow out of it.

“It is perfectly normal for babies under the age of six months to spit up at least once a day,” said Ronald Sokol, MD, Chief of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at The Children’s Hospital. “However, if you feel your baby is spitting up too often, there are ways you can help.”

Follow these tips to prevent frequent vomiting:

• Keep your baby in an upright position for a half hour after feeding.
• Thicken formulas by adding rice cereal.
• Make sure there’s no pressure on the baby’s stomach after feeding. For example, parents should wait at least 30 minutes after feeding before putting their baby in his or her car seat.

“While spitting up is normal for babies, it is important to know when it could be a sign of something more serious,” Dr. Sokol said. “Consult your physician if your baby is in pain when he or she spits up, or if your baby turns blue or has trouble breathing when spitting up.”

For more information about vomiting, visit www.thechildrenshospital.org and search for “vomiting.”