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Spitting up
Hello doctor, my baby is 5 months. ( Precisely 4 months 20 days). His weight is 6.56 kgs. Birth weight is 2.8 kg. He is exclusively breastfeeding. The main issue is my baby keeps spitting up milk after feeding. Even after burping he is taking out milk. Sometimes more of saliva he is spitting and sometimes curd like consistency. He is putting his fingers in mouth. Is it because of this habit? I'm concerned about this spitting. Is there any solution?? Please help me. Thank you
Answers (5)
It’s normal. You need not worry. Babies outgrow this. This is due to reflux due to immature sphincter or might be gag due to fingers . If baby is active, gaining weight well, not irritable, feeding well ,no abnormal posturing, soft abdomen you need not worry. Keep the baby burping in upright position for 20-30 min after feed. Feed in small quantities frequently and make sure position and latching while breast feeding is done in correct position. Putting fingers in mouth is a self soothing behaviour is a normal developmental pattern trying to explore their hands and help in oral muscles development. Only if it is interfering with feeding and if persisting vomiting you can share your concerns with paediatrician.
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seems like normal infant reflux due to an immature digestive tract.
Other possibilities include swallowing excess air during feeding or a mild gag reflex triggered by putting fingers in the mouth.
Because your baby's weight gain is excellent, this behavior shares characteristics with benign, typical "happy spitting."
To manage this, you can try keeping the baby upright for 20 to 30 minutes after every single feeding.
Offering smaller, more frequent feedings and ensuring a deep latch to minimize air intake can also help reduce spit-ups.
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Dr. Himanshu Singh
Pediatrician
1 yrs exp
Bharatpur
Hello! Spitting up milk is very common in babies below 6 months due to physiological reflux (GER).
Your baby's weight gain from 2.8 kg to 6.56 kg is reassuring.
My advice:
Continue exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months.
Burp your baby after every feed.
Keep your baby upright for 20–30 minutes after feeding.
Avoid overfeeding and excessive movement immediately after feeds.
Always place your baby flat on his back for sleeping.
Curd-like milk is normal, and putting fingers in the mouth is a common habit at this age.
No medication is usually required if the baby is active, feeding well and gaining weight.
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Dr. Venkatesh Badugu
Pediatrician
9 yrs exp
Hyderabad
That's normal only it's because of Gastric reflex
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Dr. Ankita Gahlot
Obstetrician
12 yrs exp
Bangalore
Spitting up milk after feeds, even with burping, is very common at this age and usually isn't a concern if your baby is otherwise gaining weight well and seems comfortable. The curd-like look just means the milk has partly digested in the stomach. Putting fingers in the mouth around 4 to 5 months is often teething or self-soothing, not related to the spit-up.
Next Steps
Keep feeds slightly smaller and more frequent, hold your baby upright for 15 to 20 minutes after each feed, and burp midway through too, not just at the end.
Health Tips
See your pediatrician soon if the vomiting becomes forceful or frequent, your baby refuses feeds, isn't gaining weight, or seems uncomfortable or arches during feeds.
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