Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is the medical term for spitting up. It happens when stomach contents reflux or back up into the esophagus and/or mouth. Because the stomach naturally produces some acid, reflux is sometimes called acid reflux.
Reflux is a normal process that occurs in healthy infants, children, and adults. At the lower end of the esophagus, where it joins the stomach, there is a circular ring of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). When food reaches the LES, it relaxes to allow food to enter the stomach and then contracts to prevent the back-up of food and acid into the esophagus. Reflux occurs more frequently in infants than older children and adults because of naturally lower muscle tone in the LES. Most infants have brief episodes during which they spit up breast milk or formula through the mouth or nose. It does not usually bother the infant, and does not usually require treatment. Most babies grow out of reflux in the first few months of life.
When an infant spits up, it is important to know this does not necessarily mean they are full! Because reflux is due to the immature function of the LES, if there is any pressure on the infant’s stomach or even simple position changes, any amount of milk can come back up. You should continue to feed your baby per their hunger cues regardless of when or how much they spit up.
Positioning — Infants may have fewer episodes of reflux if they can be kept upright and calm for 20 to 30 minutes after a feed (i.e carried on an adult’s shoulder, not placed in an infant seat). Like all infants, those with reflux should be positioned on their back to sleep. Infants should never be placed on the stomach to sleep as this increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
As always, contact us if you have questions or would like to discuss your specific situation with us.
DISCLAIMER: We know when you surf the web for information, you can get conflicting results, and it’s not easy to know whether you are finding evidence-based, high quality recommendations. That’s part of our job here at Kodiak KINDNESS; we are here to support your informed decisions about infant feeding through your baby’s first year. We’ve done some background work, and to the best of our knowledge, this post reflects current best practices. However, the information contained in this post and any links contained herein is for your informational use only; it is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Furthermore, Kodiak KINDNESS is not responsible for the accuracy of any information contained in this post or links contained herein; it is for you to review at your own risk and discuss, as needed, with your health care professional in order to make a plan that suits your individual circumstances.