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Many moms feel scared when their baby is spitting up curdled milk. Most common reactions for mom are to feel overwhelmed and ask themselves, “Why does my baby spit up?” Even though it doesn’t look okay, it’s a normal thing that their digestive system does.
As a mom, understanding the difference between a normal split-up from a serious one can help you have peace of mind during these overwhelming times. In this guide, we’ll talk about the causes of a spit-up, how to take care of it, and when you should be worried.
What Is a Baby Spit-Up?
Baby spit-up is when your baby throws up a small amount of milk or formula after feeding. It’s super common and usually nothing to worry about.
It may look the same as vomiting, but it's different. Unlike vomiting (which is forceful), spit up simply flows out of the mouth, which is sometimes accompanied by a burp. Babies have immature digestive systems, so a bit of milk coming back up is part of the process.
What Makes The Milk Curdle?
Your baby may spit up milk like liquid that is chunky and smells like vinegar. As a mom, you may see it once in a while, most commonly after feeding. Your mom instinct may see it and question if it’s something serious or if something bad is going on with your baby. Rest assured, it's actually normal to happen.
This milk-like substance your baby is spitting up is actually just a combination of your baby’s stomach acid and the milk. You can think of it as yogurt because it's actually something like that. Your baby’s stomach acid is as acidic as yours; their acids try to break down the milk after it sits there for too long.
With that idea, you’ll know that the substance your baby is spitting up is milk, just in a different form. If it's smooth and looks like milk, then it's just recent. If it's something chunky and looks like yogurt/cheese, then it may have been there for a long time. Now, the important question – is it dangerous? Usually not.
Why Do Babies Spit Up Curdled Milk?
There are a few reasons why:
- Immature Digestive System - Their stomachs and digestive systems are still developing, so it's normal that sometimes their stomachs may not be developed enough to digest the feed they’ve ingested
- Overfeeding - Your baby’s stomach is small and still underdeveloped. Excess food may come up if their stomach couldn’t handle the amount of food you’ve fed them.
- Airswallowing - Your baby may have been too excited for the food that they have gulped too fast. This gulping may cause them to swallow air, which can be the reason for their food coming back up.
- Lying Down Too Soon - Your baby’s food can flow back out if you lay them down too fast after feeding.
- Sensitivity or Allergy - Your baby may be allergic to milk, which may be the reason that they spit up frequently. It’s a rare occurrence, and your doctor will tell you what to do.
- Reflux (GER or GERD) - As surprising as it is, your baby also experiences reflux. This can be one of the reasons for your baby’s frequent spit-up.
When to Worry About Your Baby Spitting Up Curdled Milk?
Normally, curdled spit-up is normal, but there are times when it might be pointing to something serious. Here's when you should talk to your pediatrician:
- Spit-up is forceful or projectile
- Your baby doesn’t appear to gain weight, or seems fussy after eating
- Spit-up is green, yellow, or has blood in it
- Baby spits up large amounts frequently
- They arch their back or seem to be in pain during/after feeds
- They’re spitting up curdled milk in sleep, and it affects breathing or causes choking
How To Avoid Baby Spitting Up Curdled Milk After Feeding?
To avoid spitting, all you need to do is these few things, during and after feeding:
- Keep your baby straight up when you're feeding your baby. Let gravity help your baby’s stomach.
- Don’t let them gulp too fast; control the tempo. Pull the bottle or push them off to let them breathe and swallow properly.
- Burp them as much as possible and make it a habit to burp them every time they drink an ounce of milk.
- Try to hold them upright for a couple of minutes after feeding (20 minutes minimum).
- Wait for a couple of minutes before tummy time. Avoid putting any pressure on their bloated tummy after feeding time.
- If breastfeeding, check the milk flow. If it's too fast, it may cause faster gulping, which in turn results in air swallowing.
Always check the amount of milk your baby is about to drink. For a more sensitive tummy, you should practice a small quantity per feed.
Simple Remedies To Try At Home
Beyond feeding tweaks, here are some gentle ways to help your baby keep more milk down:
- Try a wedge or slight incline for sleep. (Always follow safe sleep guidelines!)
- Note every spit-up you see. This can help you understand how often your baby spits up.
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Use a quality smart baby monitor like the Momcozy 5-Inch Dual-mode Smart Baby Monitor. It helps you see if you monitor your baby’s breathing, see if they move, and their sleeping position without stepping inside the room.
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A smart baby monitor collection is more essential than you think. Using this can help you watch over your baby 24/7, especially when you're scared that they might spit up while sleeping.
When To See Your Pediatrician?
Normally, spitting up is nothing to be worried about and is just caused by your baby’s underdeveloped tummy. But if it feels different and too frequent, it might be a sign of something serious. Here are some of the signs you need to look out for:
- Your baby still looks thin or is losing weight even though they eat normally
- They cry while feeding and after feeding.
- They don’t have any appetite
- You see blood on the spit up
- Lack of wet diapers (a sign of dehydration).
It’s also important to note that if your baby is having a hard time breathing because of the spit-up, especially during sleep, you should reach out. In these cases, using a gentle nasal aspirator for newborns can help your baby be comfortable as it clears out the nasal passage before and after feeding. Check out the full nasal aspirator newborn collection for other helpful tools.
Always remember that you can ask your doctor if something doesn’t feel right. Knowing the reason behind your baby’s frequent spit-up can help you have peace of mind and a good course of action.
FAQs
How Do I Know If My Baby Has Reflux or Just Spitting Up?
The difference is their reaction after it happens. If it’s just spitting up, your baby should be fine or alert after. On the other hand, reflux makes them uncomfortable, which may result in crying after.
Here are some of the signs of reflux:
- Arching back or squirming in discomfort
- Frequent, forceful spit-up
- Crying during or after feeding
- Trouble sleeping or refusing feeds
Asking your doctor is still a better way to tell which is which.
What Does GERD Spit-Up Look Like?
It’s often confusing to differentiate GERD from a regular spit-up because of their similar appearance. Both are white, curdled or milk. To identify them, you need to look closely at their pattern.
Here are some of the signs that your baby has GERD:
- Frequent spit-up after nearly every meal
- Spit-up paired with crying or discomfort
- Gagging or choking on the milk
- Difficulty sleeping
Keep a close watch on your baby’s reaction after the spit-up. If it looks like your baby is uncomfortable every time it happens, then there’s maybe something serious going on.
Conclusion
Curdled spit-up on milk can look alarming, but for the average baby, it's just part of the normal process of their early development. Your baby’s digestive tracts are not yet developed enough, and some curdled spit-up after feedings or during sleep is generally harmless.
The one thing you should focus on is the patterns they show during and after feeding. Trust your instincts, and know when to ask your doctor for help. Also, understanding and adding small changes to your baby’s feeding time, and using tools like the Momcozy smart baby monitors and nasal aspirator for newborns can feel much easier for you and your baby.
So, if you find yourself worrying about your baby’s health because of the spit-up, take a deep breath and stay calm. You’re doing great. And your baby? They’re just figuring it all out—one burp at a time.
