Spitting up vs. throwing up

[atenea]

NAK
How do you know when your baby is spitting up (cause that's what babies do) or vomiting because they are sick? My baby is a little over 5 months, and we've started to feed her some baby food, but she still nurses like crazy. Earlier today, she had what I took for a very large spit up, she was coughing a little before, I think because she doesn't always know how far she can put her fingers in her mouth. I was just a little worried, cause it came out in a few waves. She was happy ans playing a little while later, so I don't think she's sick, but how would I know if this was some sort of reaction to what she had eaten (some apples and cereal, nothing new today).
Thanks

[Xerxella]

I think that if it's more of a dribble (or faucet) it's spit up. If it's projectitle, it's vomit. If they're happy while doing it (for the most part) it's spit up. If they're in distress, it's more likely vomit. Spit ups the norm. When it's vomit, the baby looks and acts different. Trust your mommy instincts.

[CrunchyKnitter]

In our case (with reflux) vomit has been down in his tummy awhile and stinks (think curdled milk) while spit up is less thick and comes usually right after eating - it's just milk.

[dahlialia]

my lo can puke quite easily from coughing. it could just be that?

[Madalyn]

My son has only done it twice since he was born and it was more projectile than spit up. Both times were after he'd nursed a TON so I was thinking he ate too much and made himself sick.