Spitting Up in Infants Treatment

Self-Care at Home

Because spitting up is normal in infants, no treatment is required if the child is otherwise healthy and developing well. However, some changes in the feeding technique may help reduce the number of episodes or the amount of the spitting up.

The following feeding techniques may help with spitting up:

• Burp the infant frequently (after every 1-2 ounces) to prevent the build-up of air in the stomach.

• Feed slower to allow the stomach contents more time to empty into the intestines.

• Be careful not to feed too much at a time and to stop feeding when the infant seems full.

• Keep the infant upright after feeding for at least 15 minutes. This allows gravity to help prevent the stomach contents from coming up.

Medical Treatment

If the child is otherwise well, no specific treatment may be needed other than the feeding techniques mentioned for home care.

Occasionally, the spitting up may be so frequent that the infant may not gain weight appropriately. This is much more concerning and may require specific tests and more aggressive treatment. If the testing confirms gastroesophageal reflux , the treatment may include careful feeding techniques and possibly medications.