"Understanding Baby Reflux: Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Solutions for Comfort

What are the signs of reflux in babies?

If your baby spills after every feed, is irritable, uncomfortable, cries/screams, arches their back during feeding, wakes frequently at night and is not making typical weight gains, they may have (gastro-oesophageal) reflux.

Your baby could have acidy smelling breath. Their bowel movements could smell acidic too. They may have choking episodes and unexplained coughing and/or crying episodes. Some babies may fight or refuse feeding, it may be that they are associating drinking with pain or discomfort.

At times babies can appear to never be content, always moving, grizzling, and have persistent hiccups. They may make gargling noises, gag often and wheeze a lot. Often they will show all the signs of hunger, but don’t want the milk when it’s offered – this can be incredibly frustrating for parents.

What causes reflux?

The oesophagus is the tube connecting the throat to the stomach. At the top of the stomach, below the oesophagus, is a ring of muscle called a sphincter. The sphincter (flap to stomach) keeps milk/food down in the stomach after it is swallowed.

Reflux or silent reflux occurs when the sphincter doesn't close correctly and allows the contents and stomach acids to come back up into the oesophagus. For young babies, this acid can be very unsettling and cause discomfort. If you had heartburn during pregnancy you will know what it is like.

How long will my baby have reflux?

Reflux is common in newborn babies as they have a shorter oesophagus and their sphincters are not fully developed. Often by 3 months old, as the baby grows and the ‘stomach flap’ develops, reflux can subside, or completely resolve.

What can I do to help my baby’s reflux?

Always contact your GP or health care provider if you think your baby has reflux, or if you feel that the pain they are experiencing is getting in the way of your baby being able to feed and sleep as they normally would.

Some things you can do to assist your baby until you see your medical professional:

• Feed your baby in an upright position

This may help you control the flow of milk so that your baby isn’t drinking too much too fast. Drinking quickly can cause your baby to have trapped air which can worsen reflux. For bottle feeding, check that the hole in the teat is not too big, creating a fast flow.

• Wind your baby often

I don’t believe you can burp your baby too often. This will help baby release any trapped air, which will help them to take more of a full feed. Sometimes your baby may wake up because of air in their tummies making them uncomfortable. It can be helpful to take a video of when your baby is in pain to show your doctor.

• Baby upright after feeding

Once your baby has finished drinking, hold them upright for 15-20 minutes (or longer) so their milk has a better chance of digesting. This can minimise the reflux and the associated pain. Try not to handle your baby too much after a feed, keep them nice and still – and upright. You may find that smaller, more frequent feeds may help with digestion too.

• Burp cloths & towels

Dealing with reflux in babies is no fun. You will want to keep a lot of cloths and towels nearby to protect your clothing (and your furniture!)

• Breathe

This too shall pass.