
Written by Aparna Hari
Vomiting in babies is usually short-lived and may have underlying causes such as gastroenteritis or a viral infection. Sometimes babies spit up thick milk right after feeding, which is common. It is important for mothers and caregivers to differentiate between vomiting, which needs immediate care and attention with babies’ milk spitting, which is much more common.
In many cases, babies do vomit due to indigestion. which stops within a few hours. But if the vomiting doesn’t stop, it may lead to dehydration, which may be risky for an infant’s life. In case your baby’s vomiting lasts longer, then be sure to take your infant to the pediatrician to get the necessary guidance. We’ll discuss vomiting in babies, its causes, signs and symptoms, and possible treatment in the post. So, next time you notice such things in your babies, you’ll be able to take immediate steps to protect your little one.
In This Article
Vomiting in babies can happen due to multiple reasons ranging from inability to digest to more severe infections due to bacteria and viruses. Mild cases of vomiting can be taken care of at home while severe cases need medical intervention.
Some of the reasons why a baby may vomit include
So, how to differentiate between spit up and actual vomiting? Spit-up happens before the baby burps after a feed and happens in the form of a cheesy whitish drool and may resemble curdled milk. Vomiting, on the other hand, happens like it would happen in adults, like a projectile throw up.
It is quite common for a baby to vomit after feeding, especially with newborn babies. Such spit up happens because the baby’s sphincter muscles between the esophagus and stomach are not strong as a mature baby. Moreover, overfeeding and not burping after feeding are some of the common reasons why babies do vomit.
This stops as the baby starts growing. But if they continually vomit after feeding, it can be a serious cause of concern. You can consult with your doctor to get the right treatment for the issue.
It may not always be possible to prevent your baby vomiting, especially in case of a stomach infection. On the other hand, you can keep them safe and comfortable by following a few precautions. In order to prevent your baby vomiting, you may need to understand the underlying cause for which a doctor’s advice will be needed.
A few steps you can take to prevent further vomiting and avoid dehydration include
If your baby is vomiting due to acid reflux, you can prevent this by taking a few precautions.
If your baby has started vomiting after a recent introduction of formula feed, you can either stop giving formula for some time and reintroduce or switch to another brand.
[Read : Do You Have To Burp A Baby After Breastfeeding?]
When your baby vomits, do ensue to increase fluid intake to avoid dehydration. In addition to this, you can give various home remedies to treat the baby’s vomiting. But remember that these remedies may not be safe for newborns and babies less than six months old. In such cases, talk to your pediatrician before trying them out. Some of the best remedies are as follows
Ginger is always helpful in controlling vomiting and nausea. You can grind some pieces of ginger to get the juice. Add honey into the ginger juice and give it to your kids twice or thrice a day. It would help to prevent vomiting faster.
If your baby is vomiting due to gastritis, rice water is a great remedy. You can add a pinch of salt and give it to your kids twice or four times a day. Sooner, they get relief from the problem.
[Read : 5 Amazing Health Benefits Of Rice Water For Babies]
Mint leaves are known for improving digestion and preventing vomiting issues. If your baby is constantly vomiting, give them some mint juice by adding lemon juice to it. You can also add honey to enhance the taste. This is best for treating vomiting in kids.
Cloves are usually present in Indian kitchens. If your kid (2-4 years old) has a vomiting problem, give them some cloves for chewing. It may have a pungent taste but helps control vomiting.
Fennel seeds are best known to improve digestion and treat acidity problems in kids. The seeds have antibacterial properties, which help to kill bacteria and viruses, causing digestion issues. Indigestion is also a reason for vomiting.
If your child has a vomiting problem, boil some fennel seeds in water for ten minutes. Strain them and give them to drink three to four times a day. This helps to prevent vomiting.
[Read : Fennel Seeds For Babies]
Onion and ginger are both known for their anti-bacterial properties. This mix given multiple times a day will help relieve nausea and vomiting. This helps to get relief from the vomiting faster.
Treatment options will depend on the underlying cause for the vomiting.
While home remedies are a good way to control the severity of your baby’s throwing up, it is always safe to take your child to the pediatrician, especially in the following conditions.
Timely intervention is vital to ensure that your baby doesn’t get seriously ill.
Vomiting in babies may be common and home remedies help treat them in most cases. That being said, it is important to see a doctor when the situation gets out of control.
Ondansetron and solutions like Pedialyte and ORS are best to stop vomiting in kids. However, do not give any medicine without a doctor’s consultation. It can be dangerous for the baby’s health.
Yes, overfeeding can be a reason for vomiting in babies. Their stomachs are small and don’t have enough strength to digest heavy food or overfeed. As a result of this, food expels out from the mouth.
Spitting up refers to the easy flow back of the stomach content from the mouth of babies. It is generally in thick curdy form and comes out as a drool. In comparison, vomit has more clear digestive juices along with stomach content and comes out like a projectile.
Read Also: GERD and Reflux in Babies – Causes, Symptoms & Treatment by Dr. Srikanta J T
Her experience in impactful writing combined with her background in Home Sciences makes Aparna the perfect candidate for content writing in the pregnancy and parenting niche.Read more.
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