Most babies spit up at some point, but for some babies, the inability to keep milk or formula down can be the sign of a bigger problem. Crying after a feeding, fussiness while eating and refusing to eat can all be signs that a baby has acid reflux. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for parents to help ease the pain of an infant's acid reflux.
Infant Reflux
Infant acid reflux, also known as infant gastroesophageal reflux or GER, develops when a baby cannot keep the contents of the stomach from moving back up into the esophagus. Acid reflux in a baby differs from normal spitting up behavior in that the reflux can be painful for the child. Most babies with acid reflux are otherwise healthy and continue to gain weight and thrive. Most babies outgrow acid reflux by their first birthday.
Feeding Strategies
Feeding a baby with acid reflux more frequently but offering smaller amounts can help reduce the infant's symptoms. Keeping the infant seated upright during and for 30 minutes after a feeding instead of placing him lying down on his back can also help. Because breast milk is digested more quickly than formula and acts as a natural antacid in the stomach, breast-feeding is the best choice for a baby with reflux. Babies on formula may need to switch to a hypoallergenic formula in order to try and reduce reflux episodes. Frequent burping may also help prevent infant reflux.
Medication and Herbal Remedies
In severe cases of infant reflux, such as when the baby loses weight or cannot eat properly, a doctor may prescribe medication to treat the problem. Commonly used medicines for infant reflux include H-2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors in doses appropriate to the baby's age and weight. Unfortunately, the use of these medications in infants may raise the risk of respiratory and intestinal infections, according to MayoClinic.com. Some parents prefer to try herbal remedies instead of medication. You should discuss any medication and herbal remedy options and their risks with a doctor before giving them to your baby.
Additional Considerations
While adding rice cereal or other thickeners to expressed breast milk or formula has been used in the past as a remedy for infant reflux, this method is generally not recommended any longer due to the increased risks associated with the early introduction of solids, such as an increased incidence of allergies, respiratory infections, ear infections and Type 2 diabetes. In breast-fed babies, the addition of thickeners to feedings also introduces the additional risk of early weaning.
