Treating Acid Reflux in Infants

Over half of all infants experience the effects of acid reflux disease during the first three months after they are born. The symptoms they exhibit can include vomiting, spitting up, irritability, coughing, bloody stools, and not wanting to eat. The majority of infants do not experience anything more then mild symptoms and fortunately most infants begin to grow out of it at around 12 to 18 months.

For those infants who are not fortunate enough to outgrow the effects their symptoms may become more severe over time. Many times if GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) does not go away in an infant it is the result of some other disease or disorder which needs to be evaluated by a doctor. More severe symptoms of GERD in infants includes slow or stunted growth, refusing to eat or failure to keep food down, and even blood loss from the burning of the esophagus.

Be on the alert for projectile vomiting that is green or yellow in appearance. Also check to see if it looks like there are coffee grounds or blood in the vomit as well as your child having difficulty breathing or finds it painful to swallow. These are all the signs of reflux and need the immediate attention of a doctor.

The first thing any good pediatrician will recommend for an infant with acid reflux is a change in diet and how the baby is being fed. In fact just holding a baby in a more upright position during feeding can make a big difference. Over feeding also needs to be avoided as it will exacerbate GERD. A smaller amount of formula fed more often through out the day is the best way to avoid symptoms in infants.

Here’s a quick tip you can try when feeding your infant: Take one tablespoon of rice cereal and mix it with 2 ounces of baby formula or milk in your baby’s bottle. After this is fed be sure to burp the baby and hold the baby in an upright position for up to 30 minutes after burping.

In addition to dietary changes your child’s pediatrician may also prescribe medications to further treat the symptoms. These medications are available either over the counter or through a prescription and come in two forms; H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors. The primary goal of using acid reflux medications is to reduce the amount of acid in the stomach.

The good news as stated earlier is that most infants will outgrow this disease. Acid reflux in infants is usually short lived with very few carrying their symptoms into their adolescent and teenage years. The best place to start if you suspect your baby has acid reflux is a visit to your pediatrician.

To learn more about the symptoms of acid reflux in babies please visit the website Acid Reflux Disease by clicking here.

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