Burping, Spitting Up, and Vomiting

Burping
While your baby eats, alongside milk, he swallows air whether breast or bottle fed. Burping the baby, thus easing this air out of his will make him more comfortable. Some babies need to be burped at the end of a meal; others need a burping break while eating. If your baby seems uncomfortable it may be a sign that he has taken in a lot of air. Stop feeding and burp him, after which there will be more room in his stomach to continue feeding him comfortably. If the baby is not showing signs of discomfort, there is no need to interrupt his meal. When burping the baby, there is no need to wait for a burp for more than 4 minutes. If the baby hasn't burped in this period of time, he may not have taken in excess air, and you can lay him down safely.

Spitting up
Common among babies, especially those who are bottle fed, spitting up is caused when the baby has eaten more than his stomach can contain. Usually overfeeding or too much air intake is the reason for this. This occurs less often to babies who are breast fed.
Spitting up is also caused by pressure on the baby's stomach or as a result of holding the baby in a way which is uncomfortable for him.
If your baby has spit up, you do not need to worry, he is not in any danger, and will not suffocate from such a small amount even if this happens in his sleep. In any case, it is preferred that you lay him to sleep on his side. In most cases spitting up ceases to occur when the baby is 6-7 months old or when he is able sit on his own.

Vomit
Vomiting usually occurs after a meal, and larger amounts of fluid will come out than when spitting up. This takes a lot of effort from the baby. If your baby is vomiting more than once a day, you should seek medical attention, since vomiting causes him to lose meals that are vital to his development. Vomiting can be a result of intolerance to some components of formula, food coming up from the stomach to the esophagus after a feeding, and in rare occasions also in food leaving the stomach. Treatment of situations like this is important. If vomiting persists and a cause has not been established, consult with a psychologist specializing in infants to make sure that the baby is not having difficulties adapting and bonding, and that he is not suffering from any emotional difficulties.