Reflux in babies (2024)

FAQs

Why do so many babies have reflux now? ›

GER is common in infants because they have a liquid diet and spend a lot of time lying down. They may outgrow this as they get bigger. If GER is more severe and longer lasting, it is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Check if your baby has reflux

coughing or hiccupping when feeding. being unsettled during feeding. swallowing or gulping after burping or feeding. crying and not settling.

It usually starts around the 2 to 3 week mark, peaks around 4 to 5 months, and typically goes away by about 9 to 12 months. Reflux is more likely to happen if a baby's belly is too full, if they're moved too quickly from laying to sitting or if they're experiencing pressure on their tummy after feeding.

Reflux happens in healthy infants many times a day. As long as your baby is healthy, content and growing well, reflux is not a cause for concern. Sometimes called gastroesophageal reflux (GER), the condition becomes less common as a baby gets older. It's unusual for infant reflux to continue after age 18 months.

When your baby brings up milk, or is sick during or after feeding, this is known as reflux. Reflux is quite common and babies usually grow out of it by the age of 1.

It's a common belief that using a dummy helps soothe babies with reflux. With acid reflux this is another big no no! Apart from teaching your baby the wrong association; sucking creates wind, stimulates stomach acid and adds fuel to the fire with reflux.

Babies who are not latching effectively for breastfeeds may have reflux. This can be because they are taking in air when feeding or when crying. Sometimes, babies just need to be in a slightly different position to latch more deeply. Sometimes it can be a result of physiological issues such as a tongue tie.

OTC gas remedies for babies made with ingredients like simethicone may not specifically help with reflux, but they can relieve gas symptoms that could make the problem worse.

Does gripe water help with reflux in babies? ›

Smaller but more frequent feedings, changing position or interrupting feedings to allow time for burping may be all that is needed to get reflux under control. Many moms have found gripe water to be effective in helping to contain reflux and calming the digestive process.

That's actually been studied! A study of 71 mother-baby duos found that burping babies did not reduce the rates of colic but did increase the rates of regurgitation or spit-up compared to not burping babies. It makes sense to me, and to Jones, that “hitting a baby with a full stomach on the back will cause vomiting.”

Because food intolerances or allergies can cause reflux, changes to your diet may help ease your baby's symptoms. Cow's milk protein (not the lactose, but the protein in dairy products) is the most common issue, but if you're not sure what the problem food is, start jotting down what you eat and when.

If your baby has concerning symptoms that might be related to acid reflux, such as severe irritability, feeding refusal, or poor weight gain, talk to their health care provider.

About 70 to 85 percent of infants have daily regurgitation by the age of 2 months. Most children no longer have GER symptoms by the time they are 12 to 14 months old.

Acid reflux, the backward flow of stomach acid also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a common condition in adults and infants. In fact, as many as 60 to 70 percent of babies between 3 and 4 months old experience infant reflux.

In fact, it's estimated that more than half of all infants experience acid reflux to some degree. The condition usually peaks at age 4 months and goes away on its own between 12 and 18 months of age. It's rare for an infant's symptoms to continue past 24 months.