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Spitting up in babies: What's OK, what's not
What can you do to reduce spitting up?
Content
What causes spitting up?
What is the difference between spitting up and vomiting?
It seems like my baby is spitting up a lot. Can spitting up affect my baby's growth?
Will my baby outgrow spitting up?
What can I do to ease spitting up?
Can spitting up be a sign of a problem?
Content
What causes spitting up?
What is the difference between spitting up and vomiting?
It seems like my baby is spitting up a lot. Can spitting up affect my baby's growth?
Will my baby outgrow spitting up?
What can I do to ease spitting up?
Can spitting up be a sign of a problem?
What causes spitting up?
Spitting up is common in babies. During their first three months, about half of all babies do it. The food backs up from the baby's stomach through the same tube that carries food to the stomach, called the esophagus. This condition is called gastroesophageal reflux, infant reflux or infant acid reflux.
A muscle between the esophagus and the stomach keeps food in the stomach. The muscle is called the lower esophageal sphincter. Until this muscle has time to mature, your baby might spit up. This happens mainly when the baby's stomach is full.
