Pregnancy & Baby Index: Baby Health: Illness: An infant who spits up a lot
An infant who spits up a lot
by Gary Emmett, MD
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The question:
Our two month old baby seems to spit up a lot. Is this normal? Is there anything we can do?
The Pediatrician Answers:
The question is: what do you mean by spitting?
a) If the baby spits up a small stain with almost every feeding, is gaining weight well, and is not having any lung problems, then that
spitting is normal.
b) If the baby is spitting more than an ounce (covers the area of a large dinner plate or more) with each feeding, and is not gaining weight well or is having lung problems (wheezing, chronic bronchitis, persistent wet cough), that is abnormal, and is probably gastro-esophageal
reflux (GER). This usually requires medication.
c) All the situations in-between? Consult your practitioner, but if the child is gaining weight, then there is usually not serious disease.