What is spitting up?

Spitting up, also called reflux in babies, is when a baby spits food back up (or regurgitates her stomach's contents) after or during feeding. Normal spitting up is effortless and does not cause discomfort. Unlike vomiting, which is more foreceful, spitting up can occur in healthy babies. Common causes of spitting up include overfeeding, taking in too much air, or poor closure of the valve between the stomach and the esophagus. Some infants spit up occasionally for no apparent reason. Call your doctor if your baby --

• cries when he or she spits up
• cries often
• has diarrhea
• vomits
• doesn't gain weight
• seems to be in pain
• has fewer wet diapers than normal
• spits up brown or green liquid
• acts or looks ill in some other way, as these can be signs of a more serious problem.