Baby Reflux - Tips for Relief for Acid Reflux in Infants

Here, you will learn about acid reflux in babies, or what we will call "baby reflux" for short.

Did you know that babies suffer from acid reflux much like adults do? In fact, many cases of colic are now thought to be commonly caused by acid reflux.

Now, before you decide that your baby has acid reflux, you should know a couple of signs and symptoms and what causes the reflux, so that you can take the right steps toward helping your baby feel more comfortable.

What you need to know

First and foremost, you should know that while baby reflux might be a cause of colic, it is not colic.

Acid reflux in infants is fairly common. In fact, you might be surprised to find that an estimated 40% to 60% of all infants suffer from acid reflux. This might be caused in part by the fact that when babies are born, many of their stomachs are not completely developed, which can make them more sensitive to the acid being produced to digest formula or breastmilk.

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of baby reflux may be rather different from acid reflux symptoms in adults, and may include gulping with a look of pain on the face, projectile vomiting, poor weight gain, or rapid weight gain, frequent hiccups or cough, outbursts of painful crying, frequent spitting up, poor sleep habits, poor feeding habits, and always wanting to be upright or held.

Now, if your child has a couple of these symptoms, you may want to check with your pediatrician to see if your baby has acid reflux.

A point to note, a baby with acid reflux might not always spit up (in fact, it may not spit up at all). Instead, it could just cry frequently, and be difficult to nurse, with reactions such as arching its back and pulling up its legs.

If you suspect that your child suffers from this condition, you might want to try keeping your baby in a more upright position and talking to your doctor about other ways to ease the pain of acid reflux.

Treatments and Remedies

The good news about baby reflux is that most infants will eventually outgrow the condition.

In the meantime, there are some techniques which you can use to help make your baby more comfortable, such as using a "feeding wedge", which will help to prop your baby up during feeding and reduce the chances of acid climbing back into its esophagus.

Also, if you feed your baby formula, you might want to consider switching to a milder brand, which can help to reduce the acid his or her stomach produces.

If you breastfeed, you may want to consider a milder diet (for yourself) for a while, so that your milk is less acidic and will likely not affect your baby's stomach as much.

You might also find that your baby may feel better if you can keep him or her upright for at least a half hour after feeding. If you tie your baby's diaper changing time to feeding timing, you may want to change his or her diaper before you feed him or her, so that you don't have to lay your baby down immediately after he or she has eaten.

If you think that you have a case of baby reflux on your hands, it's very important to try to make changes that will make your baby more comfortable and happier. If these methods don't work, ask your pediatrician about what else can be done. You could also consult a qualified natural health practitioner, like a homeopathic practitioner or traditional chinese medicine practitioner, if you prefer more natural and holistic help for your baby.

While your baby will likely outgrow his or her acid reflux problems over time, it's important not to ignore the condition. Efforts should still be made to reduce its occurence and relieve your baby's discomfort, as some babies can suffer from side effects in the long term.

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