Seeking Advice on Babyburping & Spitting up Newborns & Infants

My son had an issue with spitting up when he was born and I switched him to soy formula and it helped a lot. He still spit up but not as much.

So glad to hear you are enjoying every moment -- it is easy enough to forget, especially when your baby is so little!

My first question would be, is this a problem for the baby? Sometimes babies are "happy spitters" -- they don't burp, spit up, but gain well and are generally happy and content. Sometimes these babies are described as having a laundry problem, not a health problem! :)

If he's not gaining because of the spitting up, or is unhappy, it may be worth exploring other possibilities with your health care provider, like reflux or a formula change.

Good luck!

J.
Birthways Labor Support and Postpartum Doulas

try slightly smaller feedings or try giving him a break about half way through? my babies were breastfed, but I usually burped them between sides. Also try keeping him upright for about 30 mins after the feeding. Sitting in your lap or a swing, in a baby carrier, bouncy seat etc. At the end of the day, some babies just spit up a lot. Don't worry - he'll outgrow it. In the mean time, have spare clothes nearby :)

C.,
I breastfed my babies and they both spit up alot. I typically would try to not move them around too much after they ate. My doc. said it was totally normal to spit up, as long as it is not projectile. One trick my mom taught me for burping, stop often from feeding to burp first(every 3 minutes). Then when you do burp him, sit him on your leg facing left or right using your hand under his chin/neck/under arm a little on front to support and have him leaning forward a little and then gently pat his back.
It always worked for me. I would get a burp quickly this way. It really seemed to help to kind of lift his arm up a little the the support hand. I hope it works for you! Good Luck!

Hi C. Check with his peditrican and see what he/she says. Maybe his formula needs changing.

I know this is kind of late...but my 2 month old doesn't like to burp and always spits up alot. I just tried Enfamil A.R and it worked wonders. She still didn't burp but she is not spitting up at all. I was really shocked and it was a relief that I didn't have to clean up spit-up all the time.

Maybe try different ways of burping your baby. One that worked for us was to sit baby up on your lap with his side to your front. Put your arm across his front so his head can rest against it as you hold his arm that is farthest away from you up in the air & with your "free" arm pat his back. This was a good position for us with a colicy baby.

My 6 month old has reflux. They tell me that reflux babies are often times harder to burp. Maybe because it is painful? Our son uses a pacifier and we have found that if we give it to him when we are trying to burp him it helps. him to do so. It might work for you if you are using a pacifier.

Here is a resource that I hope might be helpful for you...

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/t030300.asp

Best wishes,
J.

My little guy was a spit-up baby. It drove me bonkers. He wasn't great about burping either, Dad could get them but I couldn't. I had to lay him in my lap & gently rub his tummy in a clockwise circular motion & that would get them. Funny thing, I was teasing my husband one night rubbing his tummy like a baby and he burped! He got really indignant, like you just burped me!! But it was hysterical and proved to me that it does really work.

You probably know this already, but when babies get gas, a great way to help it is to bring their knees up to their chests to stretch out the lower back & compress the tummy. It's a little like pumping a well, but gentle. Anyway, this action really helps get the gas gone.

D.
ps, congrats on the new baby!! You have an even bigger span than I do at 19, 10 & 23 mos!! :) I bet it's a blast to have a new baby around again!!

YOu know, my daughter now 10 and a half months, never really did burp very much between or after feedings, and we never pushed it. (in other words, tried for maybe 3 to 5 minutes, then if no burp, then no burp!) She always seemed fine. Maybe your baby just doesn't need to burp that much! As far as spit up goes, that is just a normal part of being a baby, and you just have to wait until the sphincter between esophagus and stomach develops all the way. I think you would only need to worry if your baby wasn't gaining enough weight.

Good luck!

Don't really have suggestions on the spitting up, but when our daughter had difficulty burping we would tap her side lightly just as on the back. That would helps sometimes, I don't remember where we got that info or why, but it did help.

i had the same issue...it started at 7wks and went on till about a month ago.......i asked around and everyone told me this is about the time it starts and goes on for up to 9mo.......

Our oldest was a pain to burp and if she didn't she would get gas or spit up big time. It was a process---we started with her sitting up, then would switch to laying face down on my knee, then on the shoulder. It took all 3 steps! We also found that when she was sitting up rubbing her back in a circle directly behind where her stomache should be and alternately rubbing up her back toward her head (like 3 circles three up the back) was another winner for the burp. Good luck!