Acid Reflux Disease and Babies

Acid reflux is uncomfortable for everyone. Obviously, adults have more control over preventing and treating their own acid reflux symptoms. Acid reflux in babies, however, can be more difficult to diagnose. However, it can be minimized if parents follow the following tips.

The first step in minimizing acid reflux in babies is to make sure they are sitting straight up after a feeding. By keeping a baby upright for a half hour or longer after feedings, you are allowing gravity to assist in keeping the food down into the stomach. Also, it helps to reduce the baby’s movement as much as possible for the first half hour after feeding.

The second step is to evaluate the different feeding options for babies. Breastfeeding is the ideal choice for reducing acid reflux in babies. However, breastfeeding isn’t always possible, nor is it feasible for every mother. Talk to your pediatrician about different baby formulas. Sometimes, switching to a lactose-free brand or a hypoallergenic brand can help with acid reflux treatment. If you are breastfeeding, try taking certain foods out of your diet one at a time. Dairy products can be a culprit in acid reflux in babies. Also, try cutting out spicy foods and caffeine products. Eliminate one food at a time for a period of seven days each. Introduce the food back into your diet after a week and see if there is a change in the baby’s symptoms. This exercise will allow you to learn what foods agree with your baby and which foods to avoid.

Third, feed the baby smaller portions of food spread throughout the day. By feeding the baby smaller portions, there is less food in the stomach that can potentially reflux into the esophagus. As well, burp her in more frequent intervals. By doing so, you get the air out of their stomachs, reducing the pressure in the abdominal area. Finally, try using infant-approved oatmeal to thicken their food. This adds weight to the food, causing it to stay down. Before making any changes to your baby’s diet, always consult your child’s pediatrician.

The fourth way you can help reduce acid reflux in babies is to be aware of pressure put on their stomachs. For example, the positioning of the child’s car seat can place undue pressure on their abdomen. The safety belts on the car seat when the babies are slouched over can put pressure on their stomachs, worsening the acid reflux. Ensure that the seat is positioned properly so as not to cause slouching when your baby falls asleep. Car seats need to be somewhat reclined, but not so much that the seat is fully reclined.

Lastly, you can lessen the acid reflux in babies by encouraging them to suck. When a baby is sucking, they produce more saliva. The baby swallows the saliva and it neutralizes the acid. Using a pacifier can help tremendously with acid reflux in babies.