Colloquially, most parents and pediatricians make a distinction between “spit up” and “vomit.” Spit up happens when an immature esophagus can’t keep its little trap door closed and it just oops back out. You’ll see videos of babies sitting very peacefully and milk just dribbles back out— there’s no diaphragm action that forces it the stomach to empty entirely. Vomit, on the other hand, is forceful and reactive, usually in response to illness.
Latest Answers