You've just changed them and then suddenly they bring their milk up all over their clean sleepsuit and whoever’s holding them: this is regurgitation.

It's nothing to worry about, as it's actually perfectly normal for babies to regurgitate. This happens when a little milk comes back up from the stomach, often mixed with saliva. It occurs because a baby’s digestive system has not yet fully matured.

What is the best anti-regurgitation position for babies? We take a look below.

Why do babies suffer from regurgitation?

 Regurgitation in infants occurs because their digestive system is still in the process of developing and, therefore, still immature.

The main culprit for regurgitation is the cardia, a valve which connects the stomach and oesophagus and closes once food has passed through, this prevents stomach contents from coming back up. As the cardia valve is not yet closed properly in infants, a backflow of milk occurs

This is why, in most cases, regurgitation is only a temporary problem that disappears on its own once the baby is a few months old.

Regurgitation usually happens immediately after feeding, but it can sometimes occur a few hours following a feed. In the first instance, any milk that is posseted will be more of a liquid as it has not yet been digested, in the second case, however, it will be more solid and frothy.

 

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Infants and regurgitation: when to worry?

In most cases, regurgitation is completely normal and causes no real health problems.

Seek advice from your doctor if you have any concerns.

How to prevent regurgitation

Old habits such as winding your baby after a feed or lying them on their side or tummy don't help, and some of them may even be unsafe for your baby.

Babies should always sleep on their backs: it's the safe sleep position recommended by international guidelines. This position is also helpful for regurgitation. Whereas, by lying on their back (in thesupine position), it is physically impossible for any spit-up to enter the airwaysas the trachea (where air passes) is positioned above the larynx (where food passes).

How can you prevent regurgitation?

• Keep your baby upright for about 15 minutes at least after a feed
• Try to feed your baby slowly, perhaps with a few short breaks.

Anti- regurgitation position for breastfeeding

The best position for breastfeeding if your baby suffers from regurgitation is in the Koala position. This is when your baby sits straddling your thigh, or on your hip, with their spine and head upright as they feed.

This position is easier with older babies who are already sitting up on their own, whereas newborns obviously need a lot of support from their mum.

Night-time regurgitation: which position should a baby sleep in?

What should I do if my baby possets milk during the night? The safest position for sleep is always on their back, on a flat, firm mattress in their crib or cot.

Your baby should always lie on their back. This is, first and foremost, the safest position for your baby to sleep in. The second reason is that by lying on their back (in thesupine position), it is much more difficult for the spit-up to enter their airways. It’s a physical matter, when on their back, the trachea (where air passes) is positioned above the larynx (the tube which connects the mouth to the oesophagus).

On the contrary, in the prone position (on their stomach), the digestive tract is above the airway and the risk of aspiration, in the event of regurgitation, increases.

The safest position for infants is on their back, at least until they learn to roll over by themselves. This is the reason why the World Health Organisation strongly recommends that babies should always be placed on their backs.