Baby Acid Reflux: Determining if Your Baby is at Risk

Most babies suffer from mild cases of reflux, with most doctors diagnosing it as colic. There are many symptoms to consider, but the most recognized symptom is spitting up, especially after meals. Minor "spit up" does not necessarily mean that your little one is suffering from baby acid reflux.

The mild reflux symptoms generally go away by 7 months. That is generally the recognized time period for the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) valve to develop completely. The LES valve is muscular in origin, resides at the base of the esophagus at the entrance to the stomach. The valves main job is to open enough to let food in, then "snaps" closed to keep the stomachs contents, including the acid, in the stomach where it belongs. When this valve malfunctions, then the stomach contents regurgitate (reflux) into the esophagus.

Have you ever had even simple heartburn? Remember how uncomfortable you felt? Imagine how your sweet baby feels, especially when he/she doesn't know what is going on, or tell you how they feel. All they can do is cry. Don't you think they get scared when all of this happens? Of course they do.

So how do you know if your baby is suffering from baby acid reflux? The best way, of course, is to speak to your doctor about your concerns and have him/her run some tests to find out for sure.

In the meantime, there are some things you can do to give your baby some comfort. That is what you want to do, isn't it? Thought so!

Breast feed if at all possible:

Studies have shown that your baby does better on Mother's milk. If, for some reason, breastfeeding is out of the question, other studies have pointed out that thickening the formula helps. Unfortunately, since every situation is different, there has not been a designated amount specified. What to do? Experiment of course. Start with a small amount and gradually increase it untill the proper amount for your child has been reached. Oh, by the way, rice cereal seems to work best.

Hold your baby as upright as possible while feeding:

This allows gravity to help the milk stay in your baby's stomach.

Try feeding your baby less, but more often:

This allows your child's stomach to handle the food better. Common sense really. The less food in the stomach, the less likely it is to come back up.

Burp your baby frequently:

This relieves the pressure in the tummy.

Keep your small one upright for at least half an hour after feeding:

Again, this allows gravity to help.

Elevate the head of the crib or bed 4 to 6 inches:

Exhaustive studies with both babies and adults have concluded that this is the ideal sleeping position to help reflux. You can try placing a pillow under the mattress to try this out.

So, is your infant at risk? All babies are at risk. Don't take anything for granted. Baby acid reflux is real and very uncomfortable for your child. One thing to keep in mind, however. Some physicians and pediatricians prescribe medications that can actually do your baby more harm than good. Please try every natural remedy you can before resorting to potentially dangerous prescription medication.

Knowledge is your best weapon against baby acid reflux. One article can just get you started however. Get your "clicking finger" ready and click here for more information about acid reflux and baby acid reflux.