My Baby Keeps Spitting Out Medicine
Medically reviewed by Dr. Michael Okonkwo, MD, FAAP · Board-Certified Neonatologist
Content reviewed against published AAP, NIH, Mayo Clinic guidelines
Last reviewed:
If your baby has been diagnosed with or you suspect keeps spitting out medicine, here is what the evidence says.
The short answer
It is extremely common and frustrating when babies spit out their medicine. If your baby spits out the medicine immediately (before swallowing), you can re-administer the full dose. If they swallow it and then vomit within 15-20 minutes, you can usually give the dose again. If they vomit after 20 minutes, the medication was likely absorbed and you should NOT re-dose. Key strategies include: using a syringe aimed at the inner cheek, giving small amounts slowly, mixing with a small amount of food (with pharmacist approval), and trying the medicine cold for better palatability.
Key takeaways
- It is extremely common and frustrating when babies spit out their medicine. If your baby spits out the medicine immediately (before swallowing), you can re-administer the full dose. If they swallow it and then vomit within 15-20 minutes, you can usually give the dose again. If they vomit after 20 minutes, the medication was likely absorbed and you should NOT re-dose. Key strategies include: using a syringe aimed at the inner cheek, giving small amounts slowly, mixing with a small amount of food (with pharmacist approval), and trying the medicine cold for better palatability.
- Usually normal when: Your baby making disgusted faces at the taste of medicine
- Call your doctor if: You accidentally gave a double dose because your baby spit out the first dose and you were not sure if they swallowed it
- Varies by age — see the age-by-age breakdown below
“Fever itself is not an illness — rather, it is a sign or symptom that the body is fighting an infection. Fever stimulates certain defenses, such as the white blood cells, which attack and destroy invading bacteria.”
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What Parents Should Know
According to AAP, NIH, Mayo Clinic guidelines, it is extremely common and frustrating when babies spit out their medicine. If your baby spits out the medicine immediately (before swallowing), you can re-administer the full dose. If they swallow it and then vomit within 15-20 minutes, you can usually give the dose again. If they vomit after 20 minutes, the medication was likely absorbed and you should NOT re-dose. Key strategies include: using a syringe aimed at the inner cheek, giving small amounts slowly, mixing with a small amount of food (with pharmacist approval), and trying the medicine cold for better palatability. At 0-3 months, young babies may spit out medicine due to the taste or tongue-thrust reflex. Place the syringe tip inside the cheek between the gum and cheek, not on the tongue (where taste buds are concentrated). Depress the syringe slowly - rapid squirting can cause gagging or choking. Give medicine before feeding when your baby is hungry and more likely to swallow. It is generally considered normal when your baby making disgusted faces at the taste of medicine. However, you should contact your pediatrician promptly if you accidentally gave a double dose because your baby spit out the first dose and you were not sure if they swallowed it.
Normal vs. Concerning
When to Seek Immediate Care
- You accidentally gave a double dose because your baby spit out the first dose and you were not sure if they swallowed it
- Your baby chokes or has difficulty breathing during medication administration
- Signs of an allergic reaction to the medication
By Age
What to expect by age
0-3 months
Young babies may spit out medicine due to the taste or tongue-thrust reflex. Place the syringe tip inside the cheek between the gum and cheek, not on the tongue (where taste buds are concentrated). Depress the syringe slowly - rapid squirting can cause gagging or choking. Give medicine before feeding when your baby is hungry and more likely to swallow.
3-6 months
If your baby consistently spits out medicine, try these techniques: blow gently on their face after squirting - this triggers a swallow reflex. Gently hold their mouth closed (not their nose) for a moment after giving the medicine. Immediately offer breast or bottle to chase the taste. Some parents find giving medicine during a feeding works well.
6-12 months
Once your baby eats solids, you may be able to mix medicine into a very small amount (1-2 tablespoons) of a strong-flavored food like applesauce or mashed banana. Use only a small amount of food to ensure they get the full dose. Check with your pharmacist first, as some medicines should not be mixed with certain foods or dairy.
12-24 months
Toddlers are often the most resistant. Ask your pharmacist about flavoring the medicine (many pharmacies offer flavoring services). Try different temperatures - some medicines taste better cold. Use a medicine cup instead of a syringe if your toddler prefers it. Never force medicine into a crying baby's mouth as this increases aspiration risk.
2-3 years
If your child absolutely refuses oral medication, ask your doctor about alternatives: suppositories, transdermal patches, injectable forms, or different medications with better taste. Some antibiotics come in chewable or dissolvable forms. A pharmacy can sometimes compound the medication in a different flavor or form. As a last resort, some medications can be administered rectally.
What to Tell Your Pediatrician
- Describe when you first noticed keeps spitting out medicine and how it has changed over time.
- Note your baby's current age and which age-specific patterns you are seeing.
- Mention if your baby consistently vomits medications and you cannot get doses in.
- Mention if you are not sure how much medicine your baby actually swallowed.
- Let your doctor know if you have noticed any related concerns, such as changes in feeding, sleep, or movement patterns.
- Bring a list of any questions or observations you want to discuss at the appointment.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your baby making disgusted faces at the taste of medicine
- Needing several attempts to administer the full dose
- Some dribbling of medicine from the corners of the mouth
- Your baby crying or fussing during medicine time
- Your baby consistently vomits medications and you cannot get doses in
- You are not sure how much medicine your baby actually swallowed
- You want to discuss alternative medication forms or flavoring options
- You accidentally gave a double dose because your baby spit out the first dose and you were not sure if they swallowed it
- Your baby chokes or has difficulty breathing during medication administration
- Signs of an allergic reaction to the medication
What You Can Do at Home
- Keep track of when you notice keeps spitting out medicine — noting the time of day, duration, and any triggers can help your pediatrician.
- Remember that your baby making disgusted faces at the taste of medicine — this is generally within the range of normal.
- At 0-3 months, focus on observation rather than intervention unless your pediatrician advises otherwise.
- Follow any care instructions from your pediatrician. Keep a written log of symptoms to bring to appointments.
- While monitoring at home, seek immediate care if you accidentally gave a double dose because your baby spit out the first dose and you were not sure if they swallowed it.
Related Conditions
Tips for Giving Medicine to My Baby
Giving medicine to babies and toddlers can be challenging. Use the syringe or dropper provided with the medication for accurate dosing - never use a kitchen spoon. Aim the syringe toward the inside of the cheek (not the back of the throat, which can cause choking). Give small amounts at a time, allowing your baby to swallow between squirts. Medications can sometimes be mixed with a small amount of food or milk to improve taste, but check with your pharmacist first. Always use weight-based dosing, not age-based.
Why Must My Baby Finish the Full Antibiotic Course?
It is important for your baby to complete the full course of prescribed antibiotics, even if they seem better after a few days. Stopping early can leave surviving bacteria that are more resistant to the antibiotic, potentially causing a relapse that is harder to treat. Common side effects like diarrhea and diaper rash are manageable and do not mean you should stop the medication. If you are concerned about side effects, call your doctor rather than stopping on your own. Probiotics may help prevent antibiotic-related diarrhea - ask your pediatrician.
How Do I Know If My Baby Is in Pain?
Babies cannot tell us when they hurt, but they communicate pain through behavioral and physiological signs. Key pain indicators include: a distinctive high-pitched, intense cry that differs from hunger or tired cries; facial grimacing (furrowed brow, squeezed-shut eyes, open mouth); body tension or rigidity; pulling away from touch; changes in feeding and sleeping; and increased heart rate. Healthcare providers use validated pain scales (like FLACC or NIPS) to assess infant pain. As a parent, you know your baby's baseline behavior best and can often sense when something is wrong.
Related Resources
Vomiting Decision Tree
Evaluate vomiting severity and decide when to call the doctor.
Medicine Dosage Calculator
Calculate correct Tylenol and Motrin doses by your baby's weight.
Month-by-Month Development
Detailed monthly development guides from birth through 24 months.
When to Call the Doctor
General guide on when to call the pediatrician, visit urgent care, or go to the ER.
Frequently asked questions
Is keeps spitting out medicine normal?
When should I call the doctor about keeps spitting out medicine?
When is keeps spitting out medicine normal?
What causes keeps spitting out medicine?
What should I mention to my pediatrician about keeps spitting out medicine?
Is keeps spitting out medicine normal at 0-3 months?
Is keeps spitting out medicine normal at 3-6 months?
Should I go to the ER for keeps spitting out medicine?
Does keeps spitting out medicine go away on its own?
References
- [1]American Academy of Pediatrics. Medicine and Your Child. HealthyChildren.org. AAP
- [2]National Library of Medicine. Oral Medication Administration in Pediatric Patients. NIH
- [3]Mayo Clinic. Children and Medicine Safety. Mayo Clinic
Doctor Visit Checklist
Bring this checklist to your next pediatrician visit to discuss My Baby Keeps Spitting Out Medicine.
Things to mention
- Describe when you first noticed keeps spitting out medicine and how it has changed over time.
- Note your baby's current age and which age-specific patterns you are seeing.
- Mention if your baby consistently vomits medications and you cannot get doses in.
- Mention if you are not sure how much medicine your baby actually swallowed.
- Let your doctor know if you have noticed any related concerns, such as changes in feeding, sleep, or movement patterns.
- Bring a list of any questions or observations you want to discuss at the appointment.
Observations to share
- Your baby consistently vomits medications and you cannot get doses in
- You are not sure how much medicine your baby actually swallowed
- You want to discuss alternative medication forms or flavoring options
Urgent signs to report immediately
- You accidentally gave a double dose because your baby spit out the first dose and you were not sure if they swallowed it
- Your baby chokes or has difficulty breathing during medication administration
- Signs of an allergic reaction to the medication
My notes
From ismybabyalright.com — free, evidence-based baby health guides
All content follows our editorial policy and is reviewed against published clinical guidelines.
2,705 evidence-based guides6 authoritative medical sources5 medical advisory board members
Related Resources
Bottom line
Most cases of keeps spitting out medicine are normal. Talk to your pediatrician if you accidentally gave a double dose because your baby spit out the first dose and you were not sure if they swallowed it.
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician. Worrying about your baby means you care — that is a good thing.
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Related Medical Concerns
Tips for Giving Medicine to My Baby
Giving medicine to babies and toddlers can be challenging. Use the syringe or dropper provided with the medication for accurate dosing - never use a kitchen spoon. Aim the syringe toward the inside of the cheek (not the back of the throat, which can cause choking). Give small amounts at a time, allowing your baby to swallow between squirts. Medications can sometimes be mixed with a small amount of food or milk to improve taste, but check with your pharmacist first. Always use weight-based dosing, not age-based.
Why Must My Baby Finish the Full Antibiotic Course?
It is important for your baby to complete the full course of prescribed antibiotics, even if they seem better after a few days. Stopping early can leave surviving bacteria that are more resistant to the antibiotic, potentially causing a relapse that is harder to treat. Common side effects like diarrhea and diaper rash are manageable and do not mean you should stop the medication. If you are concerned about side effects, call your doctor rather than stopping on your own. Probiotics may help prevent antibiotic-related diarrhea - ask your pediatrician.
How Do I Know If My Baby Is in Pain?
Babies cannot tell us when they hurt, but they communicate pain through behavioral and physiological signs. Key pain indicators include: a distinctive high-pitched, intense cry that differs from hunger or tired cries; facial grimacing (furrowed brow, squeezed-shut eyes, open mouth); body tension or rigidity; pulling away from touch; changes in feeding and sleeping; and increased heart rate. Healthcare providers use validated pain scales (like FLACC or NIPS) to assess infant pain. As a parent, you know your baby's baseline behavior best and can often sense when something is wrong.
My Baby's Head Shape Looks Abnormal
Many babies develop temporary head shape irregularities that are completely normal. A cone-shaped head from vaginal delivery reshapes within days. Mild positional flattening (plagiocephaly) from sleeping on the back is very common and usually improves with repositioning and tummy time. However, head shape changes involving ridges, a persistently bulging fontanelle, or rapid head growth changes should be evaluated to rule out craniosynostosis.
Achondroplasia (Dwarfism) in Babies
Achondroplasia is the most common form of short-limbed dwarfism, affecting about 1 in 15,000 to 40,000 births. It is caused by a mutation in the FGFR3 gene and is usually apparent at birth with characteristic features including short limbs, a larger head, and a prominent forehead. Intelligence is normal. With monitoring for specific complications and supportive care, children with achondroplasia lead full, active, and independent lives.
Adenoid Hypertrophy and Breathing
Adenoids are lymphoid tissue located behind the nose that help fight infection in young children. When adenoids become enlarged (adenoid hypertrophy), they can block the nasal airway, causing chronic mouth breathing, snoring, nasal speech, and sleep-disordered breathing. Enlarged adenoids are most common between ages 2-7 and are a leading cause of obstructive sleep apnea in young children. Treatment ranges from watchful waiting and nasal steroids to surgical removal (adenoidectomy) if breathing or sleep is significantly affected.