My 8 Week Old Spits up Sooo Much!

Updated on July 14, 2007
D.J. asks from Berlin, NJ
12 answers

My 8 week old seems to be spitting up much more than my other two kids did. at first he was on regular Enfamil but seemed gassy and wasn't going to the bathroom other than once every 3 to 4 days so then I tried goodstart which my older son loved but Ryan's spit up became very thick and he became congested so I recently put him on Isomil. He is also breast fed alot I just supplement with formula but he is even spitting up breast milk. I am not sure if he is just over eating or what but I am getting a little concerned if it's normal.

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So What Happened?

I want to Thank everyone sooo much for the help. I actually added a tiny bit of rice cereal to his bottles and he didn't spit up as much! Thankfully he seems to have outgrown it a little which is great! Thanks soo much for everyone that gave me some ideas!

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D.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

MY son was like that also when he was around that age. We tried 3 or 4 differendt formulas and it was that he has acid reflux. I know this sounds strange and like it is too early but try putting him on Nutramagen. It is a formula that is hypoallergenic and easy for them to digest and also put 1 teaspoon of rice cereal per ounce of formula in his bottle. That thickens the formula so that it can stay down. ALso try not laying him straight on his back after he eats. Put him in his bouncy chair if you have one or even his infant seat will work. We had to roll towels and put them under the mattress in the bassinet so that he would be elevated. It does work. GOod luck and let us know what it is.

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H.F.

answers from Pittsburgh on

It may be nothing. Some kids do spit up more than others. However, a Mom should always go with her instincts. If your instincts are telling you to be concerned, please call your doctor. Speak to one of his nurses on the phone and explain what is going on. As I said, it may be nothing. It may be normal for Ryan. However, it is always best to check with the doctor. Also, they can put your call and the information you give them in his record so that if the spitting increases or become vomiting, they'll be able to tell from his records when the problem started With my nephew, who is 3 months old now, he actually needed to have surgery on his stomache to correct a problem that started with some constipation and spitting up and then progressed to vomiting.

Try not to worry unless and until your doctor tells you that you have somethng to worry about. Give them a call and let them know what is going on. It could be something simple or it could be normal. It is better to be safe and have it checked. That has been my rule of thumb for both of my kids (7 1/2 and 3 in two weeks) and for the one I'm currently pregnant with. If you are feeling some concern, then even if it turns out to be nothing, you are saving yourself some anxiety by talking to the doctor.

Good luck with your little ones.

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J.B.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Talk to your doctor about him possibly having acid reflux. Your doctor could put him on a test run of Zantac or Prevacid (both of my kids did better on Prevacid- my son is still on it). It may completely eliminate the spitting up. As for your bathroom issues, try a low iron formula. Regardless of what the doctors say, Iron does constipate. My entire family is living breathing proof of it. I breastfed partially. Both of my children were very sick on regular Iron formulas. We went through Similac, Enfamil, Isomil, Nutramigen, Alimentum,and GoodStart. None of them worked. The only formula that my children could digest was Enfamil Lipil Low Iron. I strongly suggest that you try it. Good Luck.

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H.R.

answers from York on

My son was also like this (exclusively breast fed). His ped wanted to have him checked for pyloric stenosis and reflux at 8 weeks. At 8 weeks, he got to drink a think white fluid out of a bottle and have X-Rays taken of his abdomen. Thank goodness it was only reflux and we treated it right away. He's since grown out of it and eats what ever...when ever.

His ped also suggested having him sit up during feedings. It helps the digestion process. If you are extrememly worried, call his dr. They can order tests if need be.

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J.S.

answers from Pittsburgh on

My daughter also spit up every single time she ate, often times projectile. They checked her for acid reflux too, but she was never treated for it. We made sure anyone who fed her knew to burp her on every ounce, which was sometimes difficult, but helpful. She was a very small baby, and she seemed to just sort of outgrow it. Although it seemed that she was spitting up everything she ate, she kept putting on weight so the doctors weren't hugely concerned.

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A.D.

answers from Reading on

Changing formula too quickly can also cause some of these issues but I woudl take him in and see if it isn't reflux. Very easy to solve and my girls were only on the med for a few weeks to calm the reflux down and then we got off of it. I don't liek to give meds unless I really have to. It was a miracle for us.

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M.S.

answers from Philadelphia on

Add alittle bit of rice cecearl in his bottle, that should do the trick!!

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S.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

Hey there,

My sons did the same thing, unfortunately my Dr. did not switch formulas and just said it would eventually stop. Not liking that answer to much, I had to invent a burp cloth to protect myself and baby from wearing the spit up. They helped me out a ton. If you would like to see my mom-invented burp cloth for no longer wearing spit-up, you can see them at http://www.LovePrints.net Just let me know if you want to get some and I will give you a discount code. They were the only thing that saved me during that time. My boys spit-up every meal! Hope this info helps a little!
S. McGoldrick
Mom-inventor, Designer & Owner
http://www.LovePrints.net

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J.M.

answers from Pittsburgh on

My son started spitting up more that what i thought was usual when he was about that same age. I didn't really notice a difference between when he nursed or I gave him formula either. I asked the doctor about it and she said that he might have acid reflux. Which is very usual now for babies. The only way to find out was to give him medicine and see if it helps. It did and he was on the medicine until he started eating solids. It was like a miricle he just stopped being so fussy and spitting up so much.

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M.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

I had this problem with both my kids. My son was the worse and sounds very similar to your little man. I swore there was something else wrong with him other than Acid Reflux and I was upset with my pediatrician for letting me feel like an over concerned parent. But, 3 doctors later, the only other addition to acid reflux was cholic. So he had both and was absolutely miserable, gassy, hard stomach, threw up after every bottle or breastfeeding. Now I was told that even though breast is best, that Breastmilk is lighter than Formula so it comes up alot easier in a baby with acid reflux. I actually had to put a tablespoon of oatmeal per ounce of formula for my daughter. My son was able to hold down a bottle with only one tablespoon oatmeal in a 6 oz bottle. He has grown out of it for the most part. When he's having a normal feeding day with his jar food, his belly is fine. If he's not feeling well or teething and doesn't eat much jar food then he spits up. They will either grow out of it, have to take medication or won't be bothered by it once they start jar food.

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K.S.

answers from New York on

the isomil might not be helping your situation. soy is very hard for babies to digest. i use enfamil gentlease and am not having any more problems. it has 1/4 the lactose as regular formula nad it has partially broken down proteins which make it easier for your baby to digest. also, are you using powder formula? if so, make the formula in a shaker first, then pour it into a bottle. i found that making it in the bottle and shaking it caused him to spit up more. if all else fails, enfamil makes a formula for babies who spit up. it's enfamil a/r. check with your dr first though b/c it has something in it that thickens it. rice, maybe? good luck and let us know what you decide and how it works out.

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R.G.

answers from York on

D.,

I am a stay home mom of 3 little ones myself. My oldest is 5, then there's my 3 1/2 yr old and my little guy who's 18 months.

You are right to be concerned. Babies should not be spitting up after they eat, and as one mom said "I asked the doctor about it and she said that he might have acid reflux. Which is very usual now for babies." There is so much wrong with this I don't know where to begin. Babies are formula fed at such an alarming rate over breast milk today than ever before. Breast milk is a living food. Formula is not. Many of these formulas are chemical in nature, and the vitamins they contain are not in their natural state. And bottle feeding (regardless of contents) is synonymous with overeating, since the bottle is designed to almost force the feeding reflex by placing a slow but constant drip into the babies mouth, and down into their throat. Most babies can't help but finish all of what's offered to them in a bottle unless they are constantly burped throughout the feeding, to be able to recognize their bodies natural signals that they are full. Who doesn't get an upset tummy after a nice big Thanksgiving dinner? Remember that their stomachs are only as big as their fists.

It is entirely possible that your son is overeating. You also mentioned that you supplement your breastfeeding with formula. Without knowing the specifics of your supplementation I can't comment as to how that might be affecting his nursing sessions as well. I'd be happy to talk some more about it with you if you PM me.

I would suggest for now to eliminate as many of the formula feedings as you can (and/or) Reduce whatever you're feeding him at each formula feeding in half, keeping him upright during his feedings. All babies including breastfed babies need a good burping after each feed. If he goes down for a nap after any of his meals, try keeping him awake and upright for at least 15 minutes before putting him down.

Best wishes that your little guy finds relief and that you find the answers you need.

Blessings,
Rolinda
Wife, Mother, Friend

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