Acid reflux in babies is an extremely common condition, causing more stress in parents than in their infants and often resulting in numerous trips to the doctor. Acid reflux causes the same complications to an infant as it does adults--a small portion of gastric acid is regurgitated into the esophagus. "Spit up" is more likely to occur right after your baby is fed, but it can also happen whenever your child coughs or cries. In a December 2001 article published in American Family Physician, Andrew Jung, M.D., of the University of Kansas School of Medicine, explains that while the causes of infant acid reflux have yet to be defined, it often peaks in babies between 1 and 4 months of age and goes away by the time children are 6 to 12 months of age. Unless acid reflux is so pervasive it causes failure to thrive, home remedies and lifestyle adjustments are sufficient treatment.
Milk/Formula
If you're bottle-feeding your baby, the hole in the bottle's nipple may be too large or too small, causing your infant to take in air--this contributes to acid reflux. Mayo Clinic experts advise holding a full bottle upside down; only a few drops of milk or formula should drop from the nipple at one time. You can also thicken your baby's milk or formula using a little bit of rice cereal, if your child's pediatrician is on board; however, you may need to enlarge the hole in the bottle's nipple to allow the milk or formula to flow through.
Feedings
Try smaller feedings at increased intervals to reduce acid reflux. The Mayo Clinic advises feeding your infant around 1 oz. or even less or restricting breast-feeding to only one breast. Make sure to burp your baby right after she's been fed. The Mayo Clinic cautions you against putting your baby over your shoulder, as this puts additional pressure on your baby's tummy; rather, position her upright while holding her head with your hand.
Positioning
Post-feeding positioning can also decrease instances of acid reflux in your baby. The Mayo Clinic recommends sitting your child upright using a front pack, backpack or baby seat for 15 to 30 minutes after each meal (the American Academy of Pediatrics advocates upright positioning for a full 30 minutes). This permits gravity to work in your baby's favor by keeping gastric acid in his tummy, not his esophagus. Make sure not to jostle your infant while his meal is still digesting.
Sleep
Mayo Clinic experts advise adults suffering from acid reflux to sleep with their head elevated, and this strategy is helpful for babies, too. While it's always important to put your child to sleep on her back to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, sleeping "flat" can exacerbate acid reflux. Raise the head of your child's crib slightly, Mayo Clinic experts suggest.
Cautions
Jung points out that there is a difference between infants who experience common gastroesophageal (acid) reflux (GER) and those suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), "a less common, more serious pathologic process that usually warrants medical management and diagnostic evaluation." Babies with GERD may show signs of persistent acid reflux, weight loss and failure to thrive, and irritability, feeding difficulties and pain. Schedule an appointment with your baby's pediatrician if you suspect that acid reflux is caused by a more serious medical condition.
