When a baby spits up milk, we tend to think, “Are you sick?” Baby's stomach is structured for easy return

When a baby spits up milk, we tend to think, “Are you sick?”
But remember that the baby's stomach is structured for easy return.
This means that the milk they drink tends to reflux back into their mouths, a physiological phenomenon that also causes regurgitation.


《 Cause of vomiting back up 》
In the first month or two after birth, a baby's satiety center has not yet developed, and the baby will drink only the amount given to it. Especially in the case of formula, they tend to drink too much because they are so happy that they “drink a lot. If the nipple hole is large enough, they will drink a lot without exerting effort, which often leads to excessive drinking and vomiting.

If the mother's milk supply is too good, it may be just right to milk the baby once before giving it to her.
In the case of mixed feeding, the baby is given milk after breast milk, but even if the baby is drinking breast milk, the amount of breast milk is not known, so the baby tends to drink more milk. If the baby spits up every time, try adjusting the amount of milk.
It may also be better to interval the feedings a bit; try giving them 2-3 hours between feedings.

After 3 months of age, the baby will be able to drink better and will spit up less.


《 Countermeasures against vomiting back up 》
If the baby still spits up, hold the baby upright for a while and see what happens. If she still spits up, hold her upright for a while and see what happens. If you hold her upright, move her slowly and hold her upright, because if you do so abruptly, milk may come out too quickly.
It is also important to keep the baby's head in an upright position as much as possible when feeding the bottle. When the baby drinks with its head erect, the air naturally rises to the top of the bottle, preventing the baby from swallowing air.

→　reference：Dr. Bétta Baby Bottle ｜ Bétta Baby Store

Consider also the case when you do not burp enough. A burp may occur not only once, but also over time.

After vomiting, do not feed anything for 30 minutes to an hour and see what happens. If he does not vomit, try giving him some cold water, milk, or breast milk to prevent dehydration, and if he does not vomit, give him half the normal amount.


《 In the case of vomiting back up of a physical condition 》
In most cases, vomiting is not a problem, but it is possible that the vomiting is caused by a physical illness.

Symptoms of viral gastroenteritis may also cause vomiting of milk or breast milk that has just been drunk. This illness is caused by infection of the gastrointestinal tract by “rotavirus,” “norovirus,” or “adenovirus,” which are all prevalent in winter. The rotavirus causes diarrhea and whitish stools that resemble rice water.
If the baby is in a good mood when vomiting, you can keep an eye on him or her. However, if the child has a fever or diarrhea, is in a bad mood, cries continuously, seems distressed, is pale, limp, or acting differently than usual, see a pediatrician.

If a baby vomits like a fountain within 5 minutes after feeding, it may be due to hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (hypertrophic pyloric stenosis). The part of the body that connects the stomach to the intestines is called the “pylorus,” and this part of the body becomes thickened, narrowing the exit, thus reducing the flow of milk from the stomach to the intestines. This disease often develops from the second or third week of life to around three months of age. At first, the vomiting is a sporadic spilling of milk, but the symptoms gradually become more severe, and by the time the baby is around one month old, the vomiting is repeated within five minutes after feeding, with a vigorous, fountain-like discharge. The baby tries to expel the milk or breast milk from the stomach to the intestines, but because the pyloric region is thickened, it does not go to the intestines but accumulates in the stomach, and finally regurgitates and is vomited out through the mouth. The baby still craves milk after vomiting, but the repeated vomiting leads to weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration, resulting in a pale complexion and loss of energy. The exact cause of this condition is not known, but it is thought to be related to genetics and the effects of smoking during pregnancy.
If you suspect pyloric stenosis, see your doctor immediately.


Keep a notebook of daily occurrences to keep track of what condition your baby is in when he or she spits up. It will be helpful when you visit the hospital if you make detailed notes of what you notice, such as the condition and frequency of stool and urine, and whether anything unusual has happened.