Patient's question:
My little baby is eighteen and a half months old. He loves to vomit when eating solid food, sometimes spitting out a few mouthfuls, and sometimes spitting it all out. However, he does much better with milk, rarely vomiting. When he vomits while eating solid food, it helps if I tease him or give him a toy. Could this be a psychological or physiological reason? Also, why does he sometimes hold food in his mouth and not swallow it?Additional Information:
1. The baby's food:
- Around 7:00 AM, he wakes up and drinks 180 ML of milk.
- Around 11:00 AM, he eats one steamed egg, with a small amount of salt and oil added.
- Around 1:00 PM, he eats 150–180 ML of porridge (cooked into a paste, as it's easier to vomit if not) with a small amount of vegetable puree, meat puree, oil, and salt.
- Around 3:30 PM, he drinks 180 ML of milk.
- Around 6:30 PM, he eats 150–180 ML of very soft noodles (as it's easier to vomit if not) with a small amount of vegetable puree, meat puree, oil, and salt.
- Around 8:30 PM, he drinks 180 ML of milk and then goes to sleep.
- He also gets fruit puree (about half an apple's worth) twice a day, in the morning and afternoon.
2. Feeding habits:
- If the actual amount eaten differs significantly from the recommended amount, various methods are used—either coaxing or forcing—to ensure he eats as much as prescribed.
- If he starts to vomit, giving him a toy or teasing him helps.
- If vomiting occurs, he may be scolded or even hit, and feeding continues.
- If he holds food in his mouth and doesn't swallow, feeding continues.
- If he spits out food he's holding in his mouth, feeding continues, and he may also be scolded.
Doctor's answer:
Hello: It is normal for infants and young children to experience spitting up due to their immature physiological and anatomical structures. You should pay attention to the correct feeding posture, gently pat the baby's back after feeding, and offer some warm water to rinse the baby's mouth. This can help reduce spitting up. If the baby spits up after waking up, it may be due to indigestion. Taking a small amount of infant stomach-strengthening granules can help with digestion and alleviate the issue.