Why Is Your Baby Spitting Up Clear Liquid

Babies gain weight very quickly in their first year of life and need a lot of food to do so. It can sometimes be difficult for your digestive mechanism to deal with it without any problems. Infants therefore spit up more frequently in the first few months of their lives. It is normal for a small amount of milk to come back up, about a spoonful.

Rarely does belching indicate illness. But then it is usually accompanied by other problems, for example, if the child is not growing properly. Half to two-thirds of all babies burp at least once a day by the time they are six months old. So if your baby spits up more often, there’s nothing to worry about: it may be annoying at times, but it’s normal as long as the baby isn’t having any problems. It also doesn’t spit up because it’s been fed too much or because it doesn’t tolerate the milk well.

At ten to twelve months, only 5 out of 100 babies spit up. For the others, the problem just outgrew it without any treatment. When the liquid burping stops is different for each child: Some babies still spit up regularly when they are older than a year.

When Is Medical Advice Needed?

If your baby is well-fed and thriving, a problem is unlikely. Babies who simply burp and have no other symptoms do not need to be checked. However, a doctor’s visit is necessary if your baby

-spits up very often, is noticeably pale, is not growing and is not gaining the normal weight for his age.

-is in pain, then it cries a lot, screams or arches its back.

-coughs, wheezes and clears his throat frequently. This can be a sign that the baby is irritated by stomach acid.

-spits up not only after a meal but also when sober.

In a small number of babies, burping can indicate a serious problem, such as premature babies and infants with these conditions that delay their development. Frequent spitting, for example, can then be a sign of malformations. In this case, the baby is also likely to vomit more often and have spasms that can be felt or seen. In the event of such signs, immediate attention is important. Reflux disease can also be behind the symptoms. The backflowing food can damage the esophagus or cause respiratory diseases if food gets into the lungs.