Spitting Up vs. Vomiting

07 Jun Spitting Up vs. Vomiting

3 min. read

Every parent deals with a fair share of vomits and spit-ups. All babies do it now and then mostly with feeding.

Spit-up happens when the formula or milk of your infant’s baby comes back up through the mouth (not forcefully). It usually comes with a burp. However, it is different from vomiting in which your child throws up the content from the stomach with a forceful muscle contraction. 

If you want to be sure your little one is comfortable, content, growing well, and they don’t have any breathing issues, you must know the difference between spit-up and vomiting. Keep on reading to find more.

Spitting up vs. Vomiting

Causes of Spitting

As mentioned above spitting up is something that all babies do while they grow up. It is typically a relaxed movement of milk or formula that comes out of the mouth with a burp.

 It may happen;

• If you overfeed the baby
• Your baby has gulped in too much air while drinking or eating and need to burp more frequently
• They have gastrointestinal reflux
• Too much stimulation after eating or drinking

What is important here to understand is that spitting up doesn’t cause babies any kind of distress. And that makes it different from vomiting.

Causes of Vomiting

Vomiting is when the brain stimulates a forceful contraction of muscles and diaphragm due to various causes including;

• Chemical or drug
• The stomach virus your infant has ingested
• Reaction to obnoxious and awful sights or smells the infant has experienced
• Any ear-related issue

It is worth noting that vomiting is much more forceful and can cause your baby distress.

When to See a Doctor?

Thinking when you need to be concerned about spitting up?

If it becomes a forceful projectile of the content from the mouth, you may need to see a pediatrician. You know your child best, so if you are worried at all please call your pediatrician. You should also consult your pediatrician if spitting up is associated with other symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, or infectious diseases. If the color of vomit changes, it may be a sign of a viral infection.

How to Deal with Spitting or Vomiting?

Fortunately, vomiting and spitting are something all children outgrow. But it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do anything to ease it. There are ways to reduce the signs and symptoms.

• Spitting up can get better when you change the formula of your baby. You can switch to another formula if your doctor recommends it. But make sure you talk to your pediatrician before changing the formula.
• Don’t lie down your baby after feeding. Instead, hold him or her upright to help digest the milk
• If you have concerns that your baby’s spitting up is becoming forceful vomiting, visit your pediatrician for an emergency.

Watching your baby throwing up frequently can increase your concerns parents. You may feel fearful that there is something wrong with the child. The best way to clear your doubts is to visit your pediatrician and get your baby checked. You can call Continuum Pediatrics at 817-617-8600 if you want to learn about your child’s health or schedule an appointment.