Your baby has been crying, and just when you think that it could not get more nerve-racking as a parent, she throws up. If your baby does not have other signs of illness, like a fever or lack of appetite, then this symptom can be perplexing. Usually, as adults, we only throw up if we feel nauseous or have a stomach bug. Consult a doctor immediately if your baby throws up often or has other symptoms of illness.
Activating the Gag Reflex
Some babies have a more sensitive gag reflex than others. Prolonged or violent crying, such as during a tantrum, often activates the gag reflex, and your baby throws up. A reflex is a quick involuntary response. The gag reflex gets activated when something touches the back of the throat or palate. The brain triggers rapid contractions of the muscles in the back of the throat, called the pharynx, in an attempt to eject or get rid of whatever is entering the esophagus. This pharyngeal, or gag, reflex helps us from choking. Also, if your baby puts her hands in her mouth to self-soothe she might jam her fingers far enough back to trigger the gag reflex.
"Cry It Out" Approach to Sleep Training
If your baby has thrown up after crying she should be picked up and soothed, even if you are trying to sleep train her. A child who is crying to the point of throwing up is under distress and needs to be comforted. The "cry it out" approach is meant to give your baby an opportunity to practice self-soothing. You sallow your baby to cry and not pick her up right away. The hope is that over time, your baby will learn how to go to sleep on her own, without rocking or holding or swinging. However, this method does not work for all babies, and should not be tried for babies younger than six months of age.
Overfeeding vs. Distress
It is important for you to note what happened first— did your baby spit up and then start crying or did your baby cry and then throw up? Babies often spit up milk or formula after feeding or overfeeding. Spitting up causes no discomfort, which makes it different from throwing up or vomiting, which is more forceful. When your baby throws up, the contents from her stomach come back up her esophagus and out of her mouth. Babies can throw up for a variety of reasons, including excessive crying.
Special Considerations
If your baby younger than 10 weeks old consult a doctor to rule out a more serious condition if your baby keeps throwing up. Vomiting, especially projectile vomiting, in the first months of life can indicate a more serious underlying condition like a blockage at the end of the stomach.
In older babies throwing up is usually not a cause for long-term concern. A viral illness may be to blame, however. If your baby’s vomiting is associated with other symptoms like fever, diarrhea or lack of appetite, consult your child's health care provider immediately. A baby can quickly become dehydrated from excessive vomiting.
