Infant Reflux Symptoms

Acid Reflux occurs when acid and/or food travels back into the esophagus from the stomach during or it can be after a meal. Normally the lower esophageal sphincter, which is a ring of muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, will open to allow food to enter the stomach, and it also opens to release gas in the form of burps. However, when the sphincter opens in infants, it allows the contents of the infants stomach to go back into the esophagus, and then often the mouth where it is vomited out of the mouth.

Obviously, vomiting is one symptom to look out for in your infant, but as this occurs in most babies and infants, it is nothing to be too concerned about, unless it is happening constantly, or the infant is losing weight, or writhing in pain. If you infant arches his or her back frequently while feeding, this could be a sign of pain and distress in the infant. Or if there is constant or sudden bouts of crying, or there are symptoms like colic. Acid reflux can cause sleeping problems in infants, just like it does in children or adults.

Wet burps could also be a symptom, or frequent hiccups.Now most acid reflux clears itself up in infants as they grow older and their nutritional needs change more toward regular food rather than just milk. However, while they are in the spitting up phase there are a few things you can do to try to lessen this.

First of all, try to keep the infant as upright as possible during feeding, and afterward for about 30 minutes, so that the stomach’s contents will not be able to flow back up the esophagus as easily. Do not rock your infant, for the same reasons. You do not want food to flow up the esophagus while you are rocking them, and you often rock the babies, while they are lying down.

If possible, feed your infant more often with smaller meals, rather than fewer larger ones. The stomach can cope with smaller amounts of food much more easily, and there will be less chance of the food being forced back up into the mouth. Sometimes, just thicken your infant’s food with a little rice cereal make all the difference, with the thicker food being unable to travel up the esophagus as easily.

Now of course, if you have any concerns about your infant, you should be seeing a medical doctor as soon as possible, and especially if your infant is not gaining weight, or you suspect a food allergy.

So, if you have any concerns about your infant, and you suspect that there are infant reflux symptoms present, see your health professional as soon as possible.