Fifty percent of babies experience some degree of infant acid reflux. In most cases, the main symptom of acid reflux in infants is spitting up food.
Infant acid reflux. For new parents, the term sounds ominously medical, implying something is horribly wrong with their baby. In most cases, fortunately, acid reflux in infants is no cause for alarm. In fact, the condition is so common fifty percent of babies exhibit the most common symptom of acid reflux in infants: they spit up.
A baby with infant acid reflux, or infant gastroesophageal reflux, spits up stomach contents, sometimes with amazing frequency. After feeding is the most common time for spitting up food, although babies may also spit up while coughing, crying, or during bowel movements. (Some parents are willing to swear clean clothes—on themselves of the baby—triggers infant acid reflux, but medical evidence for the connection is, oddly enough, non existent!).
Infant Acid Reflux Symptoms
Spitting up isn't the only symptom of acid reflux in infants, but it is the most common. Other infant acid reflux symptoms include crankiness while feeding and poor feeding habits. While quite common, not every baby with infant acid reflux experiences these symptoms.
Spitting up certainly doesn't have an adverse effect on most babies (other than on their appearance). A baby with infant acid reflux can spit up frequently and be perfectly healthy. Sticky, but perfectly happy.
Infant Acid Reflux Complications
As long as a baby gains weight, is happy, and doesn't appear uncomfortable, infant acid reflux is not a health concern. In most cases infant reflux causes self-resolve as the baby matures.
In a few cases, however, infant acid reflux symptoms cause pain or distress. In such cases, acid reflux may indicate more serious health conditions, such as pylonic stenosis or baby GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Potentially serious infant acid reflux symptoms include projectile spit-up, green-brown spit-up, and a lack of weight gain despite regular feedings.
Infant Acid Reflux Treatment.
Time is the best treatment for infant acid reflux: by twelve to eighteen months most cases of infant reflux have resolved, and baby's spit up is nothing more than a sticky memory (and perhaps one or two residual clothes stains).
There are a number of natural treatments for infant acid reflux parents can use as the condition runs its course, including shorter, more frequent feedings and changes in feeding position. Baby GERD treatments may include medication, and in severe cases, surgery, but overall Baby GERD treatment outcomes are very positive.
Disclaimer: The information contained within this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute in any way for care and treatment by a qualified health professional.
