Burps and regurgitations
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Some babies burp a few times when they are fed, while others only burp once or none at all. Many also regurgitate. And that's completely normal.
Why do babies need to burp? Burping is a physiological mechanism that allows babies to expel excess air swallowed along with milk. Almost all babies burp immediately after feeding or within a few minutes, whether they are breastfed or bottle-fed.
Sometimes burping is necessary in the middle of the feeding. In this case, the baby tends to fuss and seems uncomfortable while feeding. Burping while drinking allows him to expel swallowed air and continue drinking more easily.
How to burp a baby? When you burp your baby, remember to place a cloth under his chin so that his regurgitation does not stain your clothes.
- The simplest method is to lean your baby on your shoulder, in an upright position, and gently rub or pat their back for a few minutes.
- You can also sit him on your lap, place one hand under his chin so that his head remains straight, and place the other against his back. Then, gently rub or pat his back for a few minutes.
What if the burp doesn't come? Burping can occur immediately after drinking, but also a few minutes later or sometimes not at all. Some babies, especially those who are breastfed, almost never burp because they swallow less air.
If the burp doesn't come after your baby has been leaning on your shoulder for 10 minutes, use the other method. If your baby still doesn't burp, don't push it any further.
Chances are, your baby swallowed very little air while feeding, so he doesn't need to burp.
How to burp a sleeping baby? Did your baby fall asleep on your shoulder while feeding without burping?
- You can put it to bed without any problem. If he needs to burp, he will become agitated after a few minutes.
- If this is the case, pick him up: he will burp, and you can put him back down without worry.
Why does a baby spit up? Baby regurgitation is common and harmless. They are a mixture of milk and saliva. They usually occur just after feedings, when stomach contents move up into the esophagus.
In babies, the valve ring (called the cardiac) which prevents food from returning from the stomach to the mouth is still immature. This is why regurgitation is also called simple gastro-oesophageal reflux.
They are painless and do not harm the baby's growth. Some babies spit up a lot more than others, which often worries their parents. But there is no reason to worry if the child continues to gain weight following his growth curve.
The maximum frequency of regurgitation is generally reached around 4 months. However, the child should stop regurgitating as soon as he stands more often, around the age of 9 months to 1 year.
Distinguish between regurgitation and vomiting Attention! Reflux should be differentiated from vomiting: it happens without effort.
Mainly during the first 3 months of life, any child who vomits profusely or in streams should be seen by a doctor in order to eliminate the risk of an anatomical abnormality, such as pyloric stenosis (i.e. a narrowing of the valve at the outlet of the stomach).
What to do if your baby spits up a lot? If your child spits up a lot, you might find some of these tips helpful:
- Give your baby three or four breaks during each feeding to allow him to burp and let the air out.
- Then keep it upright for a few minutes after drinking it.
- After feedings, place him in a seat that reclines backwards, or in a high chair if he is old enough to sit, for about 30 minutes.
- Baby carriers can also be a good way to keep your baby upright. Avoid putting pressure on his stomach, for example, by not tying his diaper too tightly.
- If your child is old enough to eat them, try giving them solid foods.
Gastro-oesophageal reflux
- Your baby regurgitates after feeding;
- Has pain or is irritable when or after drinking;
- Has sleep problems.
- See a doctor if your child: not gaining enough weight;
- Often vomits in streams. This could be caused by an anatomical abnormality, such as pyloric stenosis (i.e. narrowing of the valve at the outlet of the stomach);
- Has vomit tinged with bile (yellowish or greenish); presents with cough, hoarse voice, choking, pneumonia or repeated bronchospasm;
- Wets nappies less than before;
- Cries during feedings, has painful attacks or has traces of blood in his regurgitation. This could be esophagitis, which means acidic stomach fluid backs up into the esophagus and causes inflammation.
What is gastro-oesophageal reflux? Regurgitation or simple gastroesophageal reflux is more common in premature babies, in children who have had surgery for oesophageal abnormalities, in children with motility disorders of the esophagus and stomach, and in those with lung problems, hypotonia or psychomotor development problems.
The baby's spit-up is a mixture of milk and saliva. Frequent and harmless, they generally occur just after drinking, when the contents of the stomach rise towards the esophagus.
The presence of regurgitation is explained by the fact that, in babies, the valve ring (the cardiac) which prevents food from going up from the stomach to the mouth is still immature.
This is why regurgitation is also called simple gastro-oesophageal reflux. Regurgitation is painless and does not compromise the baby's growth. Unlike vomiting, it occurs effortlessly after drinking.
Some babies spit up a lot more than others, which often worries their parents. They fear that their child is not gaining enough weight. But if the baby is in a good mood and continues to gain weight according to its normal curve, there is no reason to worry.
So-called complicated gastro-oesophageal reflux:
When certain symptoms are added to simple gastro-oesophageal reflux, we speak of so-called complicated gastro-oesophageal reflux.
Your baby may then present:
- pain or irritability during or after drinking;
- Has sleep problems;
- Cough, hoarse voice, choking, pneumonia or repeated bronchospasm;
- insufficient weight gain.
- All of these manifestations are obviously not specific to so-called complicated gastro-oesophageal reflux.
- It can also be difficult to differentiate the symptoms of this disorder from those associated with other problems, such as colic or food intolerance. This is especially true if the main symptoms are crying, irritability and trouble sleeping.
- If in doubt, do not hesitate to consult a doctor.
At what age does gastro-oesophageal reflux stop? Most infants spit up a few times a day. The maximum frequency of regurgitation is usually reached around 4 months of age.
As soon as the child stands more often, around the age of 9 months to 1 year, regurgitation should decrease or stop. However, some older children may suffer from gastro-oesophageal reflux.
Non-drug treatments for relief of gastro-oesophageal reflux: Here is what you can do to relieve your baby who regularly has gastro-oesophageal reflux.
- If your baby is breastfed, breast milk remains the ideal milk for your child, even if he spits up a lot.
- Intersperse your baby's feedings with 3 or 4 breaks to allow him to burp and evacuate the air from his stomach.
- Then keep your baby upright for a few minutes after feeding.
- After feedings, place your baby in a backward-leaning seat or, if he or she is old enough to sit up, in a high chair for about 30 minutes.
- Installing it in a baby carrier can also be a good way to keep your baby upright.
- If your child is fed commercial formula: – you can try offering them those that are thickened with rice starch. They can reduce reflux if the regurgitation is significant and persistent;
- However, it is no longer recommended to thicken the contents of baby bottles with a little baby cereal; – you can try giving a hypoallergenic milk to your baby for 2 to 4 weeks, because the symptoms of cow's milk allergy and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease are similar.
- If your child is old enough to consume them, offer them complementary foods.