Before becoming a parent you were probably warned to buy lots of burp cloths and to have one draped over your shoulder after every feed. What you might not have been prepared for is a stream of milk running out of your baby’s nose. Although this can be surprising and sometimes terrifying, it’s most often a perfectly normal part of being a baby. Show
Milk coming out of baby’s nose won’t usually bother your baby and is unlikely to have any side effects beyond extra laundry. However, if it’s becoming a problem, there are things you can do to reduce it. There are also some warning signs to look out for, as some cases of nasal regurgitation may require a trip to the pediatrician. Why Does Milk Come Out of My Baby’s Nose?Since your baby’s mouth and nasal passages are connected, sometimes spit-up that was headed for their mouth takes a detour and comes out of their nose instead. So, the reasons for nasal regurgitation are mostly the same as those for the classic, burp cloth over the shoulder, baby spit-up. These can include common feeding issues, an immature stomach valve, allergies, coughing and sneezing, or a cleft palate. Taking in too Much Air While FeedingIf your baby is really hungry for a feed they might drink too quickly or start swallowing with an incorrect latch. This will cause them to swallow air at the same time as their milk. As the bubbles try to escape, the milk comes with it, leading to spit-up. OverfeedingIf your baby just loves their milk, they might ignore the signs that they’re full and keep drinking. When your baby’s stomach becomes too full, it’ll literally overflow and milk will come up through their mouth and nose. Distracted FeedingSometimes babies get distracted during feeding and forget to swallow. When their mouth gets too full they’ll suddenly choke on the milk and it might flow out of their nose. Immature Stomach ValveOften, when babies are first born, the flap between their stomach and esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter muscle, isn’t fully developed. This makes it easy for milk to flow up, out through the esophagus, and into their nose. AllergiesRarely, your baby’s reflux could be caused by allergies. If they seem to be constantly spitting up, are struggling to gain weight, or seem to be in a lot of discomfort after a feed, it might be worth seeking professional medical advice about a potential cow’s milk allergy. This can affect breastfed babies as well as those who are formula-fed, as the cow’s milk proteins can make it into the breast milk if they’re included in the mom’s diet. Coughing or Sneezing While Spitting UpYour baby may have just been unlucky and happened to cough or sneeze at the same time as spitting up. This forces the milk out of their nose. Cleft PalateVery rarely, nasal regurgitation can be caused by a submucous cleft palate. Having a cleft palate means the tissues making up the roof of the mouth haven’t joined completely during pregnancy. Submucous cleft palates aren’t always immediately obvious in a newborn baby and are often diagnosed late. Contact your baby’s pediatrician if milk comes from their nose after every feed. Is Milk Coming Out of My Baby’s Nose Normal?Regurgitation of milk or gastroesophageal reflux is common, affecting 67% of all four-month-olds. It can be scary to witness, especially as your baby might be shocked and struggle to breathe until the milk is cleared, but it has no long-term side effects. spit-up from the nose is no more of a worry than spit-up from the mouth. What to Do When Milk Comes Out of Your Baby’s NoseWhen your baby spits up, they’ll look to you for cues for how to react. So stay calm and smiley as you clean them up. Be as gentle as possible—you don’t want to create a negative association with feeding. For example, a soft cloth will be more pleasant on your baby’s face than a cold, wet baby wipe. If your baby is upset by spitting up, a cuddle and some skin to skin contact is a great way to calm them down, and you’ll probably need to change your shirt anyway. How to Prevent or Reduce Spit-UpsSpitting up is completely normal, but there are a few things you could try that might reduce or even stop your baby spitting up.
When Do Babies Stop Spitting Up?Rest assured, this messy baby phase doesn’t last too long, and spitting up and nasal regurgitation should start to decrease around 6 months. Most babies outgrow reflux between 7 months and a year old. By this age they’ll be spending more time in an upright position, their digestive system and stomach valve will be more developed, and they’ll have started eating solid food. How Can I Tell if the Milk Coming out of Baby’s Nose is Spit-Up or Vomit?Babies’ spit-up looks just like breast milk or formula and usually flows out fairly gently without causing too much distress.Vomit, on the other hand, is forcefully expelled by their stomach muscles contracting, so it will come out faster and there’s often more of it. Vomiting is usually caused by a stomach bug or motion sickness. It may not be spit-up if it:
When to Call a DoctorRarely, babies can develop severe gastroesophageal reflux disease, acid reflux or an intestinal blockage in their digestive system that will require professional medical assistance. Call a doctor immediately if:
Should I Try a Different Sleeping Position for My Baby to Reduce Spit-up?No, your baby should always be placed on their back to sleep. This is one of the most important things you can do to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The information WonderBaby provides is not intended to be, and does not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. Always consult with a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances. What causes milk to come out of baby's nose while sleeping?When your baby swallows air along with breast milk or formula, the air gets trapped in with the liquid. The air has to come up, and when it does, some of the liquid comes up too, through your baby's mouth or nose.
What happens if milk comes out of your nose?Reflux in infants is when milk comes back up from a baby's stomach and out the mouth or nose. It usually isn't a serious problem, and it can happen in healthy babies several times per day, though it's less common after 18 months (1).
What to do if baby spits up while sleeping?If you're concerned about spit-up during sleep, you can elevate the head of your baby's mattress or crib a few inches to keep their head higher than their stomach. Following every feeding, hold the baby in an upright position for 20 to 30 minutes.
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