4 Month Old Spitting Up Vomiting Excessively

by Elise
(South Carolina)

My 4 month old son is spitting up/vomiting what looks like pieces of milk and saliva and then sometimes just white formula.

He has spit up since 4 weeks but once he hit 4 months and when we began cereal/solids if we only give him formula he spits up/vomits 4/5 times before the next feeding.

I told the ped about it but she didn't seem concerned or anything. He is sometimes in pain after eating from what seems like gas but when he actually spits up/vomits he does not seems to be in pain or discomfort.

At times it seems to even make him feel better.

Does he need to eat more solids? Is it just because he is more active now?

Baby Help Line:

Possible Reflux When Baby Spits Up

Your son might have a mild form of acid reflux. This is very common and usually not treated unless the baby is in pain or doesn't gain weight as he should.

Some babies just spit up more.

In most cases they grow out of it during their first year, and the more solid foods they eat the less spitting up. Also, the more time they spend in an upright position, the less spitting up.

Since your baby is now 4 months old, he will within a couple of months be able to sit up as well as start slowly to solid foods. So the problems are likely to diminish.

Other possible reasons for the spitting up could be food intolerance, but that seems less likely since he has had these problems since he was newborn.

If you do feel that your baby is in pain or not gaining weight or could have some sort of intolerance, make sure you talk to his pediatrician about the possibility. The doctor can then give advice as well as, in severe cases of relux, medication.

Since I am not a doctor, this is not a medical advice. But I hope it might point you in the right direction. You can also search this site for more information about acid reflux. There are several other questions and answers among parents going on on the topic.

Good luck!

Paula

Comments for
4 Month Old Spitting Up Vomiting Excessively

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Dec 01, 2009

Pyloric Stenosis
by: Anonymous

My son was vomiting a lot when he was 2 weeks old, and I mean vomiting, not spitting up. The doctor had me change formula, change bottles, and put him on prevacid. When he was 4 weeks old, he was diagnosed with pyloric stenosis and had to have surgery. After this surgery, he has been able to eat so much better and does not vomit anymore, although he ocassionaly spits up. Just thought this might be something to check in to.

Oct 25, 2010

son spitting up
by: Lisa

My son just began spitting up more frequently and more has been coming up. We just started him on cereal and apples. He goes to the doc this week and like your son, the vomit doesn't seem to bother him. He laughs and gets very active after. What did your doc say was the problem? I am also being told because he's teething, he's swallowing more saliva which is making more acid in his stomach...Help!!

Jan 25, 2011

Throwing up and vomiting
by: Mina

My daughter is 4 months old and she stopped breast feeding for different reasons after just one and half month so the only solution was to go for the artificial milk, so since two and half month my child is on such milk and she started throwing up what she has in term of yogurt so i had to consult a doctor and the prescription contained "STUGERON"

what should i do?

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