Babies who cry, as if in pain, and who seem especially restless at night may suffer from a condition known as acid reflux. This potentially harmful condition can allow gastric juices to irritate and damage the upper gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus and throat, causing pain and misery for the baby. A pediatrician can determine whether a baby has a reflux problem and recommend remedies. Common remedies include careful, selective feeding and proper positioning at bedtime.
Definition
Acid reflux occurs when stomach acids escape from the stomach and make their way upward into the esophagus. According to Medical News Today, the esophagus lacks the protective layer enjoyed by the stomach walls, so these acids can damage the esophagus while causing the pain commonly known as heartburn. If the valve between the stomach and esophagus allows this to happen, adults and babies alike may experience sleepless nights as well as discomfort from complications during the day.
Symptoms
Babies commonly spit up after meals without any discomfort, but a baby may have a tendency toward acid reflux if the baby seems to experience pain, cries constantly in the crib or displays respiratory distress. Babies with acid reflux may appear happy and comfortable while in an upright position because the acid that causes the pain remains down in the stomach where it belongs. When the parent puts the baby to bed, that acid rises into the esophagus and throat, creating intense pain that prevents the baby from sleeping. Other symptoms that may persist into the waking hours include sore throat, hoarseness, ear infections and asthma-like wheezing.
Diagnosis
Parents who suspect their baby’s nighttime fussiness stems from acid reflux issues should get a proper diagnosis from a pediatrician. Ask Dr. Sears recommends that parents observe and record the baby’s sleep habits, restlessness during sleep or crying patterns to help the pediatrician make the diagnosis. The pediatrician may perform a variety of tests to confirm the problem. These include barium-assisted fluoroscopy, the insertion of a tube into the baby’s esophagus to measure acid levels or check for damage, or the feeding of radioactive milk to see whether the stomach empties its contents at a normal rate.
Remedies
Proper feeding practices can make all the difference between peaceful sleep and painful wakefulness for a baby. Parents must avoid giving their baby fatty, spicy, fibrous, acidic or caffeinated foods, all of which can contribute to acid reflux. Tobacco smoke also increases gastric acid production, so parents should not allow smoke anywhere the baby. Holding the baby upright and administering small, regular feedings may help. At bedtime, elevating the head of the crib also may help relieve symptoms. Some companies make special wedges and slings designed to hold a sleeping baby in positions that discourage reflux.
