02/18/2026
The vast majority of babies will spit up at least once a day as their little guts grow and adjust to being eating humans — in fact, research shows that nearly 1/2 of all infants spit up with most of their feedings in the first few months of life, with most cases resolving completely by 12 months.*
If you’ve ever Googled “Is this normal or is this reflux?” at 2 am while cleaning up a spit-up covered onesie, we’re here to help — in collaboration with our friend Kimber Tichota, RD
Spit-up alone doesn’t mean something is wrong. But there are a few key differences between typical spit-up and reflux:
🧑🍼 Typical spit-up
– Usually happens right after feeds
– Small amounts
– Baby is generally content
– Gaining weight well
🚩 Reflux / GERD
– Frequent or forceful spit-up (sometimes projectile vomit)
– Discomfort during or after feeds
– Arching, screaming, or refusing to eat
– Poor weight gain
– Sleep disruption or breathing concerns
One messy burp cloth doesn’t mean there’s an issue, but regular patterns of discomfort, poor weight gain, and refusal to feed are signs your baby may need additional support.
Here’s some reassurance: research shows that most spit-up and reflux-like symptoms in babies resolve on their own by 12 months, and in many cases, what looks like reflux may actually be related to how a baby is swallowing or tolerating feeds, not a medical condition that needs medication. That’s why having a feeding therapist and a registered pediatric dietician in your corner early on matters so much.
If you’re noticing ongoing fussiness during feeds, talk with your pediatrician about getting a referral to a feeding therapist and registered pediatric dietician team, who can assess what’s happening at feeding time and offer guidance for happy, healthy, full tummies.
🍼 Reach out to for additional feeding support
*Sources:
Kearns, G.L. et al. “Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Infants and Children.” American Academy of Family Physicians, 2015.
Goldani, H.A. et al. “A Multidisciplinary Approach to Infants With GERD-Like Symptoms: A New Paradigm.” PubMed, 2023.
