Should You Pat the Baby’s Back When They Spit Up? Understanding the Newborn’s Stomach Structure and the Proper Handling of Spit-Up

Question

When a newborn spits up, even patting their back to burp them doesn’t seem to help. What could be the reason, and how can the problem be solved?

Answer

The newborn’s stomach is horizontally positioned when viewed from the front, not yet fully matured, and the cardiac orifice is relatively relaxed. This could be a reason for spit-up. If the baby spits up after every feeding, it is recommended to adjust the amount and interval of feedings, adopt a strategy of small, frequent meals, and help the baby burp after feeding to reduce the occurrence of spit-up.