Advice History

Are there any easy ways to prevent my baby from spitting up (at least so often)?

Keeping your baby upright while feeding is a helpful solution if he has reflux. This might also mean keeping him upright while he sleeps. Some parents whose children experience severe reflux put their child to sleep in a car seat. This keeps them upright and fastened so they won't move around and are safer when they are sleeping. If your child has severe reflux you might want to discuss this solution with your child's pediatrician.

How do I know how bad my baby's reflux is?

A little bit of spit up (less than a tablespoon) is normal at each feeding. But if your baby is spitting up more, or projectile vomiting, or extremely fussy after a feeding, you should contact your pediatrician. Other signs are gagging after a feeding (where stomach contents only come up as far as the throat), excessive coughing (aspiration of stomach contents) or no weight gain. Serious reflux can be treated with prescription medications, while less serious cases of reflux can be managed by keeping your baby upright during and shortly after feedings.