Acid reflux has long been thought of as a condition that only adults can suffer from. But, did you know that your little one could be suffering from reflux as well? Read on for some information about this condition, as well as infant reflux symptoms to look out for in order to preserve your baby’s health.
Similar to adults, infant reflux occurs when your baby is not able to digest food properly, and the hydrochloric acid in the stomach flows into the esophagus. This can happen for a number of reasons, so you will want to monitor your infant closely if you suspect acid reflux.
If you take your child to the doctor and your physician notices that stomach acid frequently finds its way to the baby’s throat area, this is definitely a symptom of infant reflux, and should be treated right away. There are certain medications you can get from your pediatrician, but you may want to try these tips first.
Be sure to position your baby in a way that will allow him to breast feed or eat from a bottle without having to lie down. This can alter the digestion process, and cause your baby to choke or spit up. You should also make sure that you are not feeding your baby too much at one time, since this could cause infant reflux to flare up as well. This makes it harder for your little one to digest the formula or breast milk, and could cause him or her to have trouble sleeping.
After you have fed your baby, don’t put her to bed right away. Also, don’t rock your baby right after feeding since this makes it easier for the stomach acid to end up in the esophagus. If you put your infant to sleep right away, there is not time for the nutrients in the breast milk or formula to turn into energy into the baby’s system, and this could make for a very irritable little one, especially during the wee hours of the morning. Babies tend to fall asleep while they are feeding, so if you notice that your little one is dozing off, gently wake him so that you can finish feeding. Be sure to burp your infant after feeding as well, in order to get rid of any air pockets in the stomach that could cause discomfort later.
Even as your baby grows, you should still pay special attention to what your little one is eating, even though infant reflux symptoms tend to subside in infants after about twelve months. Whole fruits and vegetables, and minimal fried and processed foods will help your baby to be free of infant reflux, and you could adopt some healthy habits as well, as you strive the maintain the comfort of your baby.