Baby vomit solid food

Vomiting in babies | Pregnancy Birth and Baby

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From birth to 12 months, babies are known to vomit — it’s just one of their design features. However, as normal as vomiting is, it can also be worrying for parents. Occasionally, vomiting can be a sign of illness or complications, but for most babies, vomiting and reflux occurs simply because their guts are still developing.

What are the different types of vomiting

There are a few different types of vomiting and although the result is the same, the reasons are different:

Possetting is the name for small amounts of milk brought up after a feed.
Reflux happens when the valve at the top of a baby’s stomach is not tight enough to keep milk in there. A baby’s oesophagus (food pipe) is short, so when the valve opens and there’s only a short distance between it and their mouth, vomiting can occur.
Projectile vomiting is vomiting with force. Projectile vomiting can be a symptom of a blockage at the outlet of a baby's stomach. If it's happening after most or all feeds, take your baby to a doctor.

What causes babies to vomit?

Generally, mild vomiting occurs because a young baby is still getting used to feeding on, digesting and eliminating milk. On average, a newborn baby’s stomach can hold around 20 millilitres, so it doesn’t take much milk for them to fill up and vomit the excess.

How can I tell if my baby is sick?

Vomiting by itself can be reassuring. However, if your baby has a temperature, is not feeding well, has diarrhoea or a rash, or experiences any other symptoms, your baby needs to see a doctor. If your baby seems healthy and well and is bright and alert, you may just want to monitor their vomiting to see when and how often it happens — but note that the amount that a baby vomits can be hard to work out and may seem larger than it really is.

What’s the difference between vomiting and reflux?

Vomiting caused by reflux generally occurs after feeding. It can seem effortless or cause pain. Some babies with reflux constantly 'spill' after and in-between their feeds. It’s important to think about how your baby’s vomiting affects them. If your baby seems happy, is thriving and gaining weight, you could simply try changing the frequency and amount of feeds you give them. If your baby seems to be in pain and/or not thriving, take them to a doctor. Sometimes medication is necessary for reflux.

Does breast or formula feeding cause more vomiting?

Breastfed babies can vomit as much as babies who are formula fed. There's no real difference between the two. Generally, the only difference is that feeding on formula makes a baby’s vomit smell and look different to that after feeding on breastmilk.

Can solids cause vomiting?

Some babies take time to adjust to digesting solid foods. They can vomit more when solids are introduced. This can occur because of overfeeding. Their stomachs are simply too small to accommodate extra volume. Start small when introducing solids — around 1-2 teaspoons of solids are ideal.

Is vomiting a sign of allergies?

Some allergies can cause vomiting, especially allergies to cow's milk. Your baby can react to particular foods or ingredients if they’re sensitive to them. Your doctor can help guide you to decide which foods are best for your baby.

How can I treat my vomiting baby?

Most babies recover quickly after vomiting and don't need any specialised care. They can seem hungry again straight away or take a while to want to feed again. However, if they vomit a lot and have other symptoms, a doctor needs to assess them.

Generally, babies are not given medication for vomiting unless they can’t keep any milk or fluids down. Dehydration is generally managed by giving intravenous fluids.

Sometimes changing feeding positions and frequency can reduce the likelihood of vomiting. It's still important to always follow the safe sleeping guidelines when settling your baby, even if they vomit. Back sleeping is protective against choking.

When should you see a doctor?

You should take your baby to see your doctor if:

you are concerned about your baby's vomiting
your baby is showing other signs of illness
your baby seems lethargic, sleepy and not interested in feeding
your baby is losing weight and not thriving
there is blood or bile in their vomit
their vomiting isn’t stopping or getting worse

Sources:

Raising Children (Vomiting), Red Nose Australia (Will baby choke if he/she vomits while sleeping on the back?), Safer Care Victoria (Vomiting in neonates), The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (The vomiting child)

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: September 2022

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This information is for your general information and use only and is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes.

The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional.

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Baby Vomiting After Introducing Solids?

May 7, 2021

Written by Jo Charnock

May 7, 2021

Written by Jo Charnock

Is your baby vomiting after eating? Is it happening after introducing solids? Are you concerned? Don’t worry, we’ve gathered some helpful advice for you here!

Vomiting in young babies and small children is very common. This is especially true in the early weeks of introducing solids and new foods (so around 4 months old), and as their small bodies develop. A baby vomiting may seem quite scary at first, but if your baby is generally happy and healthy then there shouldn’t be anything to worry about. Vomiting can be a symptom of many different minor illnesses in babies, but it’s usually nothing serious, and they normally recover quickly. The amount of vomit can look like a lot, too much to come out of your little one, but remember it’s only what went in that’s coming out!

Types Of Baby Vomiting

There are three different types of baby vomiting which include the following:

‘Posetting’– is when your baby brings up small quantities of milk or food after a feed. Its not really vomiting as it’s normally a gentle, burp-like movement, which causes your baby no stress.
‘Reflux’– occurs when food backs up the food pipe, or oesophagus, from your baby’s stomach. This will cause your baby to vomit gently, or spit the food up. Reflux is rarely a problem and your baby should grow out of it by the time they are around 18 months old.
‘Projectile’– is when your baby is vomiting in a more forceful way rather than just bringing up small quantities of food. A baby vomiting is quite natural and can be caused by simple things like car sickness, indigestion or even something as simple as crying too much. A baby vomiting may seem scary for both you and your baby, but rest assured, it is very normal. But if your baby is projectile vomiting after every meal then we recommend consulting your doctor.

Causes Of A Baby Vomiting

A baby vomiting is often the sign of a minor illness or infection. It can be caused by:

a minor infection like the common cold,
a dose of ‘gastro’ or gastroenteritis, which is very common,
car or motion sickness caused by travelling in a moving vehicle.

More serious illnesses that can cause your baby to vomit can include the following:

urinary tract infections,
ear infections,
appendicitis,
meningitis,
food allergies.

If your baby’s vomiting is accompanied by fever or diarrhoea, it’s usually a sign of a virus infection. Plus if your baby is vomiting for more than 12 hours then dehydration will be a major concern. If your baby is showing these signs then it’s time to see your doctor.

Other Symptoms To Look Out For:

Keeping in mind that vomiting in babies is normal and mostly no cause for real concern, you should be on the look out for the following symptoms:

nausea
diarrhoea
stomach or abdominal pain
dehydration
lethargy
weight loss

While not all are a cause for any immediate action, it is important to take note, and be aware if the symptoms improve or get worse.

Treatment For Your Baby Vomiting

While a baby vomiting can be a very unpleasant experience for both you and your baby, they usually recover quickly. Vomiting can be easily treated with rest, lots of fluids and plenty of reassurance and comfort. To prevent dehydration, liquids should be given little and often. Checking your baby’s nappy will give you a good indication; if it’s drier than normal then your baby is not drinking enough.

Don’t give your baby over the counter medicine or any medication that has not been prescribed by your doctor.

Reducing Reflux Vomiting

While reflux vomiting is normal for young babies, the following tips may help to reduce his or her discomfort:

switching to anti-colic teats and bottles
holding and feeding your baby in an upright position,
trying smaller and more frequent feedings,
avoid bouncing or getting your baby excited after feeding,
trying thicker foods like cereals,
giving your baby milk or water after feeding to reduce acid and indigestion,
make sure feeding time is a quiet time with no outside stimulation.

Signs That Baby May Be Allergic To Foods

Food allergies may cause vomiting, but are often accompanied by other symptoms like diarrhoea and skin rashes or hives. Keeping a record of what you are feeding your young baby when introducing solids is recommended. If you suspect a food allergy you can consult your doctor about what may be the cause. Foods generally associated with food allergies include eggs, wheat, nuts, some berries, milk, fish and seafood. Most of these you should avoid feeding your baby until they are at least 12 months old.

When To See Your Doctor

While we’ve mentioned that a baby vomiting is normal and children will mostly get over vomiting very quickly, there will be times when you need to consult your doctor or health worker. It’s time to see your doctor when any of the following symptoms occur:

your baby has been vomiting for more than 12 hours,
there is blood or bile in the vomit,
your baby is not gaining weight,
there are signs your baby has stomach pain or a swollen abdomen,
your baby has persistent indigestion or heartburn,
your baby seems generally unwell.

Use your instincts, if your baby is showing signs or symptoms of being unwell, go and see your doctor.

Things to Remember

In general, symptoms found in babies are similar to those found in adults, so you don’t need to panic every time your baby throws up. Vomiting can lead to diarrhoea, fever, and sometimes abdominal cramps. However, the symptoms can be easily treated by allowing some time to rest, lots of rehydration and maybe some soft foods.

Please keep the following in mind:

mild vomiting is normal in most babies and improves over time,
most babies need simple treatment, or none at all,
having an upright feeding position may help,
never give any medication unless prescribed by your doctor,
after vomiting, try to give your baby a small amount of liquid or a little food,
if your child seems unwell or shows any worrying symptoms, see a doctor!

Important

You shouldn’t use over-the-counter medications to stop vomiting in children. The side effects of these medications can be very serious. Sometimes doctors prescribe medications to stop vomiting, but they do this only after a proper medical review.

Hopefully, this has helped to shed some light about the causes of a baby vomiting

Read more about our Homemade baby food recipes.
Need some more info about introducing solids to bub? Download your free Guide here!

Any questions or comments? sound off below 🙂

References

The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne

The Raising Children

Better Health Channel - Victoria State Goverment

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Chew, baby! If a child protests against solid food - Parents.

About nutrition

Photo: by_nicholas/Getty Images/E+

I don't want to, I won't!

It is important to introduce new foods gradually to prevent allergies and discourage your baby from trying new foods. At the initial stages, the food should be homogenized, that is, semi-liquid. At about 7-8 months, with the advent of the first teeth, you can move on to puree-like foods containing small pieces of 1.5 mm. About 12 months, after the eruption of incisors, canines and molars, larger lumps should be added - 3-4 mm.

As a rule, children are interested in tasting solid foods, enthusiastically biting and chewing pieces of food with concentration. However, in some cases, with the introduction of dishes of a thick, dense consistency, a child may experience rejection. So, often babies refuse piece-shaped dishes out of fear: the child is afraid that the particles are too large, he will not be able to swallow them and will suffocate. Of course, the baby is not yet able to formulate (even mentally) his fears - fear arises unconsciously.

Personal example

Good eating habits start at an early age. And parents should serve as the main example for children: if a mother, wanting a snack, takes a candy or a sweet cookie, then how can you expect a baby to agree to a piece of pear or unsweetened yogurt? The same goes for the dishes served for lunch.

The unwillingness of the baby can also be dictated by an excessively fast alternation of the diet: the mother changes the composition of foods too often, and the child does not have time to taste, adapt to new food - which causes a negative reaction in the baby. And sometimes mothers, wanting to quickly transfer the crumbs to an adult table, intensively increase the volume of solid particles added to the dish, which also causes dissatisfaction with the baby.

When introducing complementary foods, first of all, take into account the taste preferences of the child, because each baby has his own preferences: one is delighted with broccoli, the other loves potatoes with turkey. Secondly, when accustoming a child to new food, you need to act gradually, paying attention to the baby's well-being, individual food tolerance, and digestibility. Thirdly, you need to give the child time to get used to the changes in the diet and not introduce more than one product during the week.

Photo: Getty Images/EyeEm

Don't rush things

Sometimes, when trying to feed a baby with solid food, a mother encounters not just the indignation of a toddler, but a physiological rejection of food - a gag reflex. Often, such a reaction is observed with the early introduction of dense consistency dishes into the diet. The fact is that the sucking reflex lasts up to 5-6 months, and during this period the baby is not yet able to chew and even remove food from a spoon. Therefore, a premature attempt to switch to food with lumps, as a rule, ends unsuccessfully - the child spits out or burps the food.

An important nuance

During the meal, touch only the tip with a spoon, maximum the middle of the baby's tongue. And remember that the spoon should not be excessively large - no more than 2-3 ml in volume.

At an older age, the gag reflex can be caused by improper feeding technique: an inappropriate spoon size or a large amount of puree / porridge irritate the root of the tongue, which provokes a “reverse” reaction. Such processes are unpleasant, make the child angry, and if repeated often, they can cause a persistent rejection of any lumpy dishes. In such a situation, it is worth temporarily postponing the idea of introducing complementary foods and in no case should you persuade or force the baby to “swallow at least a piece” - this will only increase the protest, and most importantly, it can lead to aversion to food. Remember: those who, by hook or by crook, were regaled with soups and meatballs in childhood, felt hatred for dinners. Therefore, you do not need to press on the baby! After a couple of weeks, when the unsuccessful feast is forgotten, try again.

Photo: Getty Images/Image Source

There is a time for everything

Delaying the introduction of solid food is no less harmful than introducing it ahead of time, because with the constant consumption of exclusively liquid (or semi-liquid) foods, the gastrointestinal tract relaxes , becomes lethargic, "lazy". As a result, the blood flow to the digestive organs is reduced, the enzyme apparatus does not develop, the muscular layer of the stomach and intestines does not gain strength.

If the stomach is not trained, it will be more and more difficult to digest and assimilate dense food, to move through the intestines and get rid of it.

Control system

A good help for the mother will be a "food diary", where on the days of the introduction of new products you can record the size of the portion, the reaction of the child, allergic manifestations. Such a diary will help to study the tastes and favorite dishes of the crumbs and think over the diet, in accordance with the preferences of the child.

This threatens with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the absence of solid foods in the child's diet negatively affects the teeth: chewing muscles do not exercise, which negatively affects the formation of bite.

As a rule, all children switch to solid food by the age of 2, chewing even large pieces perfectly. However, in rare cases, and after 2 years, the child may refuse products that are dense in consistency. In such a situation, parents need to consult a gastroenterologist and a neurologist in order to identify and eliminate the pathology that interferes with the proper nutrition of the child.

Photo: Getty Images/Onoky

Working out a strategy

You can buy baby food in jars, or you can cook it yourself. Industrial food manufacturers strictly adhere to the principle of matching the size of food pieces to age categories. If the mother is preparing baby food on her own, it is important to follow the recommendations of specialists. So, making a homogenized puree, boil the vegetables, pass the meat twice through a meat grinder, add the vegetable broth and milk - mix everything together with a mixer. To obtain mashed potatoes with pieces up to 1.5 mm, turn the meat in a meat grinder only once, and then mix briefly with a blender (if you want to make a dish with large pieces, use an ordinary fork to mix the mass instead of a blender).

Bank food is divided into 3 categories:

Homogenized (for children 4–5 months)
Puree (for babies 7–8 months)
coarse months)

Try to introduce a new consistency according to age, otherwise the baby may "skip" this stage and later refuse the pieces. But if the baby is not ready, try again in 7-10 days.

Rice porridge or mashed bananas are perfect as first "adult" meals. These products are gentle, do not injure sensitive children's gums, but at the same time, banana pieces and rice are hard enough particles that must be chewed before swallowing. The initial portion can be only a third of a teaspoon, gradually the amount of food can be increased.

It is best to offer your baby new foods when he is most hungry, for example, immediately after a walk. If the mother is breastfeeding, the intake of "adult" dishes should be postponed to the end of the day, when there is little milk left. It is undesirable to give solid food together with milk - this slows down the absorption of iron from breast milk.

More useful materials about caring for a baby - in our channel on Yandex.Zen.

Maria Shishova

Regurgitation. A very rare mother can boast that her baby never burps. Usually, these little incidents happen regularly during the first months of a baby's life.

Regurgitation - passive intake of food from the stomach into the esophagus and oral cavity, due to the contraction of only the muscles of the stomach.

Observing regurgitation, we see the outflow of stomach contents from the baby's mouth. Immediately after feeding, most of all it is still milk, after a while after feeding, the milk is already curdled.

Regurgitation is based on age-related anatomical and physiological features of a young child. Regurgitation occurs in babies with an increase in intragastric pressure as a result of eating with a reduced tone of the lower esophageal sphincter.

In most children, regurgitation is a variant of the normal reaction of the body that does not cause pronounced changes in the state of health.

This is a temporary phenomenon. In the first three months, regurgitation is observed in almost 100% of children, at 4-6 months, about 60% continue to spit up sometimes, at 6-12 months about 20%, over a year - less than 2% of children. All babies spit up at different rates. There are quite healthy babies who have 20-30 episodes of regurgitation per day.

It is the passive outflow of stomach contents, rarely with force. Some babies never spit up a "fountain", and some do it regularly, but not more than 1 time per day. How can you distinguish regurgitation with a "fountain" from vomiting?

Unlike vomiting, regurgitation is an inactive process that does not affect the well-being of the child. With vomiting, there is always a contraction of the diaphragm and muscles of the anterior abdominal wall. Vomiting is preceded by nausea, pallor of the skin, salivation, sweating, increased heart rate, lowering blood pressure. With repeated vomiting, disturbances in water and electrolyte metabolism quickly develop. Vomiting is an active process regulated by the vomiting center of the central nervous system and performing a predominantly protective role, freeing the stomach from poor-quality food or toxic substances.

There are diseases in which abundant regurgitation of the "fountain" becomes frequent and the baby's well-being begins to suffer. In this situation, it is necessary to consult a doctor, remembering that if the babies are healthy, they do not spit up a “fountain” often and continue to feel good, gain weight and develop normally.

The development of the child is the main indicator of the health of the baby in the first months of life.

The baby is growing well, gaining weight, but spitting up regularly. Do you need to do something? Depends on the type of feeding the child.

If your baby is a breastfed baby, you don’t let him suck on a pacifier, you put it on your chest as often as he asks, he gains weight well and develops well, you don’t need to do anything. The regurgitation will go away when the baby grows up a little, and will practically stop when, after six months, the baby begins to eat complementary foods - more solid food.

There are babies with a very strong need to suck, and some of them do this: after pumping milk, they spit up some and continue to suck. This is also a normal variant of spitting up, often found in children who are gaining weight very well.

If the baby regularly spits up after feedings, if there is often a burp of air (aerophagia) - it is worth checking the correct attachment to the breast: the baby will not or almost will not suck in air if he correctly, deeply captures the nipple during feeding. If correcting attachment does not help, expelling air and reducing regurgitation can be helped by standing upright after a feed if the baby is awake, or an elevated position at an angle of 20 to 30 degrees for a sleeping baby. The baby sleeping in his arms is in the correct position - the body is raised.

Formula-fed babies, in addition to helping with the position, are helped by an increase in the number of feedings with a decrease in a single portion, the use of mixtures with thickeners that have an increased viscosity. Be aware of the possibility of overfeeding, as well as problems associated with feeding technique (width of the opening in the nipple, position of the bottle).