Symptoms and Diseases
What you need to know
Constipation in children
Acute diarrhea in children over 3 years of age
Pain in children
Ear pain and otitis in children
Red baby bottom or diaper rash
Childhood fever
Sore throat and angina in children
Motion sickness in children
Children's tummy aches
Teething
Lice and nits in children
Regurgitation and vomiting in infants
Rhinopharyngitis in children
Childhood cough
Regurgitation and Vomiting in Infants Distinguishing Regurgitation from Vomiting A rejection of milk that is not curdled or is curdled, often accompanied by a small burp, is not vomiting but regurgitation. This phenomenon is extremely common in infants and is generally due to feeding too quickly or too abundantly. Fortunately, it can be remedied with a few simple adjustments. What You Need to Know The antireflux valve, located between the esophagus and the stomach, is often immature in infants, which allows milk to easily flow back up. This issue is exacerbated by the liquid texture of the diet and the child's generally lying position. What to Avoid: Do Not Confuse Rejection and Vomiting - Rejection (regurgitation): It is passive, without effort, and does not cause crying, screaming, or discomfort. - Vomiting: It is a sudden, abundant, and explosive rejection of all or part of the feeding. It can be liquid or mucous, occur right after breastfeeding/bottle-feeding (or later), and be accompanied by crying, agitation, or pallor. Do not neglect vomiting if: - It persists without stopping. - It contains blood. - It projects in a jet without effort. - It is associated with other symptoms, such as: - Bloated belly for more than 24 hours (see Child Constipation). - High fever (above 38.5 °C). - Diarrhea (see Child Diarrhea). In all these cases, consult your doctor or pediatrician immediately. Good Practices to Avoid Rejections - Check the size of the nipple hole and take breaks during feeding to allow the child to burp. - Thicken the bottle with pectin if necessary. - Position the child semi-upright during bottle-feeding and maintain this position for at least 1 hour after feeding. Medications GELOPECTOSE® can be used to thicken bottles and reduce regurgitations. Vomiting in Children Vomiting is common in children, as in adults (see Nausea and Vomiting). It can have various origins and always requires medical advice, especially if it is abundant, persistent, associated with other symptoms (fever, headache, abdominal pain), or recurrent. In case of vomiting without apparent severity: - Clean the child with a damp cloth. - Lay them on their side (recovery position). - Do not give any medication, but offer small amounts of sweetened water to rehydrate. - Stroke and speak to them gently to reassure them. (Note: GELOPECTOSE is mentioned as an option for regurgitations; consult a healthcare professional for any use.)