An infant who spits up a lot

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by Gary Emmett, MD

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The question:
Our two month old baby seems to spit up a lot. Is this normal? Is there anything we can do?

The Pediatrician Answers:
The question is: what do you mean by spitting?

a) If the baby spits up a small stain with almost every feeding, is gaining weight well, and is not having any lung problems, then that spitting is normal.

b) If the baby is spitting more than an ounce (covers the area of a large dinner plate or more) with each feeding, and is not gaining weight well or is having lung problems (wheezing, chronic bronchitis, persistent wet cough), that is abnormal, and is probably gastro-esophageal reflux (GER). This usually requires medication.

c) All the situations in-between? Consult your practitioner, but if the child is gaining weight, then there is usually not serious disease.

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About the author: Gary Emmett, MD, is the Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is Director of General Pediatrics for the Jefferson Health System and Director of the Well Baby Nursery for Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Methodist Hospital, as well as President of the Philadelphia Pediatric Society. The father of four teens, Dr Emmett still sees at least 100 office visits weekly.