It's not unusual for your baby to have acid reflux--most babies do sometimes, and the most common symptom is spitting up. Also known as gastroesophageal reflux, or GER, acid reflux occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. Luckily, it does not bother most infants, and it usually only lasts until a child's first birthday; if it persists or symptoms are severe, it may be the more serious gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. However, in the majority of cases, treating GER in babies is fairly simple and can often be done naturally.
Smaller Feedings
Reflux is aggravated by overeating, so you're less likely to see spit-up or wet burps if you feed your baby smaller amounts at each feeding but feed her more frequently throughout the day. Ask her doctor what an appropriate amount for her age is. Also be sure to burp her several times during each feeding--either after she's had 1 or 2 oz. of formula, or while switching sides during breastfeeding.
Thickened Feedings
Check with your baby's doctor to see if it's OK to add cereal to his bottle, whether it's formula or breast milk. If so, mix up to 1 tbsp. of dry rice cereal into every 2 oz. of milk and enlarge the bottle's nipple opening or cut a small "x" in the top if the food doesn't flow through freely. This thickened mixture is usually easier for a baby to keep down.
Change Feedings
Food allergies can be an issue with GER, so your baby's doctor may suggest switching what she eats. If she's on formula, you might try a soy-based one rather than dairy, or vice-versa. If you're breastfeeding her, you may be asked to modify what you eat for a week or two, which might involve removing both soy milk and cow's milk from your diet. Your baby's reactions to the changes will need to be noted, so this should be done under a physician's guidance.
Elevated Position
Since lying down makes gravity work against the digestive system and allows the contents of the stomach to flow backward more easily, you can limit the effects of reflux by keeping your baby upright for at least 30 minutes after he eats. The best way to do this is to hold him in your arms; if you use an infant seat, make sure he doesn't slouch forward and that the safety belt isn't too tight around his abdomen. Also consider raising the head of his bassinet or crib; the most effective way to do this is by putting planks or blocks of wood, about 6 to 8 inches high, under the top legs of his bed. You can also try a wedge-shaped stabilizer designed for that purpose, or let your baby sleep in a car seat or infant swing.
Medication
In a study by Dr. Cornelius W. Van Niel published March 12, 2008 in Journal Watch Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 78 percent of infants with reflux improved when treated conservatively with the above measures. In addition, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), "most infants don't need medication and outgrow reflux by 1 or 2 years of age." However, as a last resort, your baby's doctor may prescribe medication on a trial basis to reduce his level of stomach acid. This may be an H2-blocker, which is available in liquid form and keeps acid from regurgitating into the esophagus, or a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI), which blocks stomach acid production.
