When your toddler has acid reflux, you'd do anything to ease his pain and suffering. Fortunately, a change in diet can often help reduce the incidence of acid reflux in young children. Because a toddler's diet is completely in the hands of his parents and caregivers, its easy to eliminate problem foods and encourage the consumption of helpful options.
Reflux in Toddlers
Acid reflux, which is also known as gastroesophageal reflux, or GER, occurs when the contents of the stomach travel back up the lower esophageal sphincter, which is the valve that normally keeps food and gastric juices securely in the stomach. A toddler with acid reflux may be unable to describe the problem, but parents often notice signs of fussiness after eating, respiratory problems, swallowing difficulties, bad breath, cavities, excessive drooling and poor weight gain. If left untreated, GER can cause ulcers in the esophagus.
Foods to Eat
The best foods for a toddler with reflux are those that pass rapidly through the stomach. Smoothies made with fruit and yogurt, which provide plenty of nutrients, are easily digested. Blending or pureeing vegetables can reduce their digestion time. If you are still breastfeeding your toddler, breast milk is better than formula or cow's milk for acid reflux, since it gets digested more easily than either of these substitutes. Breast milk also acts as a natural antacid that has no negative side effects for a developing toddler.
Foods to Avoid
Avoid serving a reflux-prone toddler fatty or fried foods, since these can aggravate gastroesophageal problems. Acidic foods, such as tomatoes, citrus fruit and onions, can also increase the risk of acid reflux in toddlers. Some children have trouble with stringy vegetables and fruits, spicy food, carbonated beverages or juices that are high in sorbitol, such as prune, pear and apple juices. Different toddlers may react to different food triggers, so if your child seems to frequently have acid reflux episodes after eating a particular dish or ingredient, you should limit her access to that food.
Methods of Eating
Encourage your toddler to chew his food carefully to help avoid episodes of acid reflux. Thoroughly chewed food leaves the stomach quicker, minimizing the chance of regurgitation. Feed your toddler frequently, but in smaller amounts. Five to six little meals and snacks throughout the day is better for preventing reflux than two or three large meals. Avoid feeding your toddler just before a nap or bed time, since lying down with food in the stomach can lead to acid reflux.
