It is normal for a baby to swallow during the first year of life due to the still immature gastrointestinal tract and small size of the stomach and, in most cases, the swallowing disappears by 12 months of age.
However, baby’s gulf, also known as reflux, can sometimes be indicative of problems such as gastroesophageal reflux disease or infections, especially if other symptoms such as fever, refusal of food and weight loss appear. Understand better what reflux is in babies and its causes.
In case of baby gulf, it is important to consult a pediatrician especially if other symptoms appear. To avoid swallowing, some precautions may be taken, such as avoiding giving bottles that are too full or when the baby is not hungry.
Is it normal for a baby to swallow?
In most cases, it is normal for the baby to gag due to an immature gastrointestinal tract and the size of the stomach, which is small and fills quickly when the baby is fed. Find out how big your baby’s stomach is each month.
It is normal for babies to start gulping around 2 to 3 weeks of age. The gulfs tend to intensify until the 4th or 5th month and gradually disappear until 12 months of age, as the gastrointestinal tract matures and the stomach increases in size.
Although it can be uncomfortable, a baby’s gulf, which is considered normal, does not cause other symptoms, such as intense crying or irritability, nor does it cause the baby to refuse food. Furthermore, the baby tends to grow and develop normally despite gulping.
When the gulf can be a problem
Baby gulf may be indicating a problem in case of:
- Gulfs with a greenish color or with blood;
- Start of gulfs after 6 months;
- Persistence of gulfs after 1 year of age;
- Refusal of food and/or difficulty gaining weight or losing weight;
- Irritability and/or intense crying, especially after swallowing;
- Abnormal head growth;
- Developmental delay.
In these cases, it is important to consult a pediatrician, who is the best doctor to assess the baby’s growth and identify changes in its development. Furthermore, if symptoms such as bloody sputums, belly swelling, seizures, fever or excessive sleep appear, it is recommended to seek an emergency room for evaluation.
If you want to make an appointment, you can find the doctor closest to you using the tool below:
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How to avoid snorting
To avoid baby gulping, it is important to avoid giving a bottle or breastfeeding when the baby is not hungry or giving large amounts of milk at once, and allowing the baby to take breaks to burp during feeding.
In addition, other precautions to avoid gulping include burping the baby after eating and ensuring that you only lay him down after 30 minutes, and it is not recommended to rock the baby excessively after feeding. Check out more tips to reduce baby’s gulping.
Bibliography
- MOUSA, Hayat; HASSAN, Maheen. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Pediatr Clin North Am. Vol.64, n.3. 487–505, 2017
- HEALTHYCHILDREN.ORG. Gastroesophageal Reflux & Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Parent FAQs. Disponível em: <https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/GERD-Reflux.aspx>. Acesso em 13 jun 2023
- HEALTHYCHILDREN.ORG. Why Babies Spit Up. Disponível em: <https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Why-Babies-Spit-Up.aspx>. Acesso em 13 jun 2023
- ROSEN, Rachel et al. Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Clinical Practice Guidelines: Joint Recommendations of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) and the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, an. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. Vol.66, n.3. 516–554, 2018
- BURNS, Dennis A. R. et al. Textbook of Pediatrics of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics. 4th ed. Barueri, SP: Editora Manole, 2017.
