What exactly is “acid reflux”?
It’s extremely common for infants to “spit up” following mealtimes and those spit ups are referred to as gastroesophageal reflux (GER). When an infant is experiencing frequent vomiting – especially when combined with weight loss or issues feeding – that becomes something more serious known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Children that are suffering from GERD often experience frequent vomiting, persistent coughing, difficulty eating (choking/gagging), heartburn, abdominal pain, crying & fussiness and difficulty gaining weight.
Usually, a discussion with the concerned parent(s) is enough for a doctor to diagnose GERD, as most cases can be determined by looking at the child’s feeding schedule & growth history, but occasionally, further tests are recommended.
The good news? Almost all cases resolve themselves by one year, with only 5% of children having issues into their toddler years.
Both of my children suffered from reflux and required medication as they were having issues gaining weight. Reflux is common, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t serious and a huge source of stress for both the parents and the little one(s) affected.
Based on our research and discussions with both our pediatrician and ENT, my husband and I were able to find techniques that worked to provide our children with relief from their discomfort AND help get them weaned off the medication before their first birthdays. I urge you to do your own research and, most importantly, speak with your pediatrician if you think your child is suffering from GERD. For those with diagnosed cases, this is what we found helped us:
- Elevating the head of the crib or bassinet using a crib wedge
- Holding baby upright for 20-30 minutes after each feeding
- Adding infant rice/cereal to bottles (WITH PRIOR APPROVAL FROM YOUR PEDIATRICIAN)
- Switching formula brands/types
- Not putting any pressure on the belly following mealtimes (i.e. no tummy time, holding them upright & avoiding a seated position, etc.)
- Keeping them as still as possible following mealtimes (not passing them around family member to family member, no swing or rocker, etc.)
- Medication (Famotidine) – as recommended by our pediatrician
If you are currently dealing with infant reflux, please remember that it WILL get better. It is so incredibly hard watching our little ones deal with pain & discomfort, especially when you yourself are still healing and dealing with postpartum hormones. If you ever need to vent, please send me a message. I’m always here to talk ♥
