Ever since my almost 5 month old, formula fed baby started rolling over and scooting, he has started spitting up *quite* a bit. We're talking at least 10-12 times a day. At our pediatrician's advice we switched the formula to Enfamil AR, which has helped a little bit. He is also eating solids three times a day (currently rice cereal and yellow veggies...and LOVING them!), and according to our pediatrician, we are not overfeeding him.
Our pediatrician described him as a 'happy spitter': spits up, but is clearly not bothered in the least by the incident. He doesn't cry, fuss, draw up his legs - in other words, this is not something that is painful for him. In fact, he rather enjoys spitting up then immediately planting his face and arms right into the mess, laughing and smiling, despite holding him upright for 30 minutes after feedings.
I understand that some babies have a little more difficulty with reflux due to their digestive system taking a little longer to mature. Because of this, I'm not interested in medication, especially since he is not bothered by it nor does his mouth/throat show signs of acid inflammation.
So...mothers of 'happy spitters' do you have any advice? I've been told he just has to outgrow it - how much longer might this spitting up last? Until then, we'll keep him dressed in his ugly clothes and a bib, and we'll be armed with wet wipes and burp cloths!
Have you tried chiropractic care? Adjustments for babies are quite gentle and fix so much! I had a happy spitter also (over 11 yrs ago) and wish I would've known about this option back then -- my patients use it all the time... and have Happy Babies (minus all the spit and smell!). Warmly, T.
Hi, I am new here, but just glad to hear that your feeding your 5 month old 3x a day too! My 20 pound lil guy - needs it!
He spits up - just a little bit - if on tummy too soon, or bounced around after eating... I like the idea of old clothes, bibs, and lots of wet wipes... Good Luck to You! Kel
Hi M.!
I too had a happy spitter! Isnt it wonderful?? I had my daughter at the pediatrician more times than I care to count for this condition! They would weigh her and since she was gaining they werent concerned. The doc gave me a precription for Zantac, but like you I wasnt interested in putting her on any meds if she wasnt really affected by it. I switched her bottles to the Dr. Browns with the vent contraption and it helped A LITTLE, not much. She didn't outgrow the happy spitting until she was a year. So, keep him comfy in the old clothes, and bibs!!!
Goodluck,
H.
I'm the mom of a non-happy spitter and I have a suggestion for you. Instead of using the normal "burp cloths" found in stores, we had to start using receiving blankets. It could be used more than once, and it shielded OUR clothing from getting puked on too.
I have an 11 month old baby boy, who was a happy spitter. He was spitty from birth, and we were always told nothing was wrong with him. He has recently out grown it, and I am sooo relieved. I never found a way to stop the spit up but I always had plenty of bibs and burp cloths (big thick ones, like the cloth diapers). The only advice I can give you is to hang in there. It is tough and frustrating, but it is such a relief when they stop!! It really gets better once they start stage 3 baby foods.
Hi,
I understand the concept on not using medications because spitting up does not bother him. But, in the long run it may. He may not even show it on the outside, he may stay happy. However, his insides could be totally different. I would question your doctor if it continues for very long. My son is 18mths old now and did the same thing. He has GERD and eosinophilic esophagitis. Which can at times be very painful. However, for the longest time I never knew he was in pain. When he had his first EGD scope his esophagus and stomach were horrible. Spitting up to him was something neat. Just like babies want to play in the dogs water bowl or try to play in the toilet. They don't know its wrong. I am not saying that there is or will be anything wrong with your child. I'm just saying don't blow it off. Keep an eye on it. No offense to you at all but think about if it were you. How long could you take spitting up that way. Eventually it would take a toll. Sorry if I sounded negative. I just don't want people to end up going through what myself or my son has went through. Good luck. T.
i have twins who were happy spitters until i changed their formula one settled on isomil, but the other continued to spit up regularly so she ended up on alimentum. the doctor did not want me to switch to alimentum she wanted me to give my 5 month old zantac. are you kidding me! medication before trying out all formula alternatives. anyway on the alimentum she completely and immediately stopped spitting. so i don't know what the enfamil ar is but you may just want to try another formula.
My daughter is almost 8 months old & does something similar. It isn't as often, but she then thinks it great to play in it. I haven't done anything new (ie: no formula change or food change). She is also eating 3 times a day with a bottle in between. I always just assumed that it was that she was becoming so much more active. Like you can make her sit still for 30 minutes at any given time (lol). It has just gotten slowly better over time. It used to be a couple times every day, now it's once a day or every other. It does get better. Like you, I just keep wipes handy & rinse any stained clothes right away.
You're doing everything right. Ugly clothes, many, MANY bibs, burp cloths, and baby wipes will be essential for a few more months. My daughter did this until just before her first birthday. My son did it only until he could crawl.
Hang in there! You're doing fine! This, too, shall pass.
My daughter- now two, had an allergy to milk, and she went through alot of formula testing- and she still had alot of spitting up, in fact she still sometimes has issues now- I have been told not to worry about, She has no irritations from this either. So just keep up cleaning up the messies lol- No all is well if the doctor check it out then he is fine. IF you are really worried try nutrimagin formula- alot more expensive, but that helped alot with my daughter- Good Luck
