Question
My child is 2 months old and often shows signs of dry vomiting after breastfeeding, sometimes even while sleeping. What could be the cause?
Answer
This is a normal phenomenon. Newborns have a horizontal stomach position and a relaxed lower esophageal sphincter, which can cause spitting up when they ingest a slightly larger amount of milk. As the child grows older, the stomach gradually becomes vertical, and the strength of the lower esophageal sphincter increases, resulting in a decrease in the frequency of spitting up, which usually stops by 7 or 8 months. Preventing your baby from spitting up or vomiting depends on proper feeding practices by the parents, such as holding the baby at an angle during breastfeeding, not lying down to feed; if using a bottle, ensure the nipple hole is appropriately sized, and the milk is not too hot or too cold; avoid air intake; after feeding, do not move the baby around, but instead hold them at an angle against your body and gently pat their back to help expel any air swallowed into the stomach.