Question
A 16-day-old baby is spitting up milk, sometimes from the nose. It seems that the baby doesn’t know when it’s full, and it keeps eating. Even when burping, the baby still spits up. How should one feed the baby correctly?
Answer
Babies get hiccups due to involuntary contraction of the diaphragm. Eating too fast or inhaling cold air can stimulate the vegetative nervous system, leading to hiccups. Since the baby’s stomach and throat are not yet fully developed, milk entering the stomach can easily flow back into the esophagus, causing spitting up. Feeding should be done in a quiet and appropriate environment, with the correct posture. When breastfeeding, ensure that the baby latches on to most of the nipple to avoid inhaling too much air.