Acid Reflux in Babies

Every new mother dreams of the day she can bring home her cute little newborn. Unfortunately, that dream is often punctuated with the baby’s endless crying and constant need for care. Until the age of three months, infants often spit up and have digestive problems. Usually those problems disappear as the baby grows and no treatment is necessary - just a lot of patience on the part of the parents. But for a small number of babies, the symptoms of acid reflux are so severe that they may need medical treatment to help them feel better.

Up until the age of a year or so, many babies experience a number of acid reflux symptoms. It’s common to hear new moms discuss their infant’s irritability and crying, especially around feeding time. Some babies spit up almost continuously, others arch their backs as though in pain when eating. It’s a concern to a mother when her small child refuses to eat very much and sleeps fitfully.

For those infants who suffer severe acid reflux, the problems take on even larger proportions. Their symptoms range from difficulty swallowing to respiratory problems to frequent ear and sinus infections. These babies don’t gain weight as they should, their voices are sometimes hoarse and they often have a sore throat. Is it any wonder they cry so much?

Less common and extremely terrifying are the short episodes when a baby with acid reflux is unable to breathe. Although less than twelve seconds without a breath, to an anxious mother it seems an eternity. A baby alarm set to ring when the baby stops breathing can give a sense of control in those cases.

If your baby is constantly vomiting, rarely sleeps well, seems in pain unless held upright, or fails to gain adequate weight, there are blood and urine tests that can identify whether the problem could be acid reflux. If necessary, tests of the baby’s esophagus can also be performed.

Should the doctor find that your baby is suffering from the symptoms of acid reflux, you may need either to give him an over-the-counter antacid or a prescription medication. Your doctor will know which treatment is best for your infant. Regardless of the advice of others, trying home remedies without consulting a medical professional could be dangerous for a small child. It may take time, but with the right care, you can begin to enjoy life with your baby.