Babies certainly put adults on the fastest learning curve they have ever experienced. There are some things which you expect to have to learn about with a new baby; breastfeeding, nappies, sleep, … and then there are the things which catch you by surprise. Then having survived one child you decided to do it again and think that you will be a little better prepared. Well, you are better prepared, but as no two children are the same, neither are your experiences as a parent.
My first son was a diabolical sleeper, but a good eater and very good natured. My second son appeared to be very similar, but without all the sleep issues. I am not sure when I realized quite how much of a vomiting baby my second child was. It may have been when I started to feel all the muscles in my body tense as people asked to hold him and I would think ‘do I tell them he is a vomiting baby, or should I just pray?’
Dealing with vomiting babies is a frame on mind. There are several things to accept before you get too stressed:
* It really is very common
* It doesn’t hurt your baby
* It will not affect your babies attitude to food
* Your child does not need to have a warning stuck to his head
If someone picks up your baby they have to expect the risks, and any baby can vomit on someone. Your guest does not need to know that your baby vomits on everyone! If you do go for the warn them route, which I did, everyone still wanted to pick up the baby. You have to remember that they know that will be passing the baby back, and that dealing with vomiting babies is not their 24 hour a day job.
Why are some babies vomiting babies?
I have asked this question of so many parents and health visitors. There seem to be two basic answers. Firstly, they are greedy and simply eat too much and then just vomit up the excess. The second theory is that their digestive system is slightly immature and when it develops the problem will sort itself out.
Weaning vomiting babies
Weaning can sometimes help vomiting babies as the extra bulk in the tummy can help to bind the milk and may reduce the amount which is brought back up. Do not however, pin all you hopes on this, as it may not stop it altogether, but it will probably slow it down a little.
When will vomiting babies get over it?
Some babies and children will get high temperatures every time they are ill, while others will get through most of their lives without suffering from fevers. It is a bit the same with vomiting babies, they may always have the tendency, as a toddler and as a child towards vomiting. But don’t panic, as a baby it may be many times a day, by the time they are toddler's, it may just be a couple of times a year.
So long as your baby is gaining weight, is happy and interacts well, don’t worry about the vomiting. One day it will stop and you will wonder why you were so bothered by it. They will grow out of being vomiting babies.
|
