Baby spitting

Hi,
A baby in my care is always spitting.  He exhales while making a pppp sound- blowing raspberries.  He's a great kid, well developed and good natured.  But he's constantly blowing saliva and baby food all over the place.  Is there a kind, gentle way to modify this behavior?  Thank you.
Anne

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Anne,

You really have only two choices. First, you can simply be sure not to reinforce the behavior by displaying any interest in it, or by permitting others to do so (e.g., by laughing at it). Second, you can indicate your displeasure in a calm, but definitive manner. This may not have much influence if the baby is very, very young, so don't expect too much. It's a behavior that babies spontaneously change in any case.