No, spitting in the newborn period -- what is called reflux -- is very common and usually goes away with no treatment after a few months. It is only a concerning symptom if it causes growth failure, recurrent pneumonia due to aspiration or breathing in the vomited material, or intractable esophagitis due to irritation of the esophagus from stomach acid. Fortunately, all these complications of reflux are rare.
William Klish, M.D.
Pediatric Nutrition
William J. Klish, M.D., is Professor of Pediatrics, Head of Pediatric
Gastroenterology at Baylor College of Medicine and Chief of the Nutrition
and Gastroenterology Department at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.
Dr. Klish has served as chair of the Committee on Nutrition of the American
Academy of Pediatrics.
