Baby Spitting Up (Posseting): What's Normal | Parenting Hub
Posseting — small spit-ups after feeds — is part of normal newborn life. How to tell happy spitters from reflux, and when to mention it to your nurse.
Tiny mouthfuls of milk after feeds (posseting) are completely normal in healthy, thriving babies. Here's how to tell when it crosses into reflux.
What posseting is
Posseting is small, effortless spit-ups of milk after feeds. It happens because the muscle between the food pipe and stomach is still maturing. It can look like a lot but is usually only a teaspoon or two.
If your baby is gaining weight, having plenty of wet nappies and seems content between feeds, posseting is a laundry issue — not a medical one.
What helps
Small tweaks reduce the mess without medicating a happy baby.
- Feed slowly and upright; burp halfway and at the end
- Keep baby upright for 20–30 minutes after feeds
- Use bibs and a muslin over your shoulder — accept the laundry
- Avoid overfeeding from a bottle — pace the feed
When it might be reflux instead
If spit-ups are large, very frequent, painful or coming with poor weight gain, feed refusal or arching, your baby may have reflux that needs review. See our reflux article for more.
When to see a doctor
Mention any change in pattern to your maternal health nurse at your next check.
When to seek urgent care
Green vomit, blood, projectile vomiting or poor weight gain are not posseting — see your GP the same day.
When to seek help
- Forceful, projectile vomiting
- Green, yellow or bloody vomit
- Poor weight gain or weight loss
- Refusing feeds or coughing/choking with feeds
Common questions
Will my baby grow out of posseting?
Almost always — most babies stop posseting once they're sitting up well and eating solids, usually by 9–12 months.
How much spit-up is too much?
Volume matters less than weight gain and comfort. A baby who's gaining well and content is fine even if they spit up after every feed.