Acid Reflux in an Infant

It might be unthinkable in the minds of many adults, but acid reflux in an infant does occur. If you have a newborn baby, you might also wonder if your infant suffers from this disorder and if he does, how to treat this as well. Read on for some useful information on how to identify the symptoms of infant acid reflux  and how to treat this as well.

The first symptom of infant acid reflux is vomiting. This is much more severe than the common spit-up that occurs daily. Vomiting in acid reflux is excessive and occurs throughout the day and into the night. If you notice significant vomiting in your baby daily, please seek medical help.

Aside from vomiting which is the most obvious symptom of infant acid reflux, other signs are far more subtle and this makes them difficult to spot. Another symptom is if your child develops a cough that does not go away or has difficulty with his breathing.

Other symptoms of infant acid reflux include stomach pain and heartburn, but these are extremely difficult to determine because the baby cannot communicate what he is feeling. Be on the lookout for gas or stomach pain, which the baby will often manifest through being fussy and crying a lot usually during and immediately after being fed.

Also, another symptom of infant acid reflux is if your baby finds eating difficult. Choking and coughing as you attempt to feed him are also signs of colic. On this note, it is essential to see the relation between colic and infant acid reflux may be related at some point.

So now we come to answer this question: How do you treat infant acid reflux? In most cases, the baby will outgrow this condition but in the meantime, it is always prudent to seek the advise of a pediatrician. While waiting for that doctor’s visit, here are some tips you can do:

Elevate the head of your infant. This does not mean piling a whole stack of pillows under his tiny head, but putting raisers under the mattress on his crib or basinet. You can find inexpensive raisers that are also easy to install.

Remember that it is very essential to keep your baby’s head elevated since acid reflux is a problem associated with the stomach contents coming up and entering the esophagus. Hold your baby upright for 30 minutes after you feed him and ensure his stomach has already settled down before making him lie down on his bed.