Question
My one-month-old baby always spits up milk after feeding, and back patting doesn’t help expel gas. What should I do?
Answer
First, check if the baby has eaten too much, as overeating can lead to spitting up. If this is the case, the baby may be restless during sleep, cry, have a bloated belly, and the amount of spit-up will not be much. The stool will increase in volume and become smelly, and you may also see milk curds. If the baby is not spitting up due to overeating, it may be because of a small stomach capacity, a horizontal stomach position, eating too much or too fast, and inhaling too much air causing spitting up. It is recommended to hold the baby upright after feeding and gently pat the back to help expel gas, or let the baby lie on its right side to reduce the risk of spitting up. If using a bottle for feeding, make sure the teat hole size is appropriate, avoiding too large or too small which can cause air intake. Moreover, during breastfeeding, the mother’s diet may also affect the quality of milk and digestion. When formula-feeding, choosing an appropriate formula for the baby is also very important. Opting for a formula with a mild taste that is close to breast milk may help reduce the occurrence of spitting up. I hope these suggestions can help the baby grow healthily.