Infant Reflux Remedies

It is not an uncommon occurrence for an infant to suffer from reflux. Reflux occurs when the contents of the stomach make their way up through the esophagus, and sometimes out of the mouth. Due to recent medical advances, we now know about reflux and how to treat it effectively. Some common symptoms include fussing while eating, spitting up, projectile vomiting, back arching, unexplained irritability and poor sleeping habits. If you think your baby suffers from reflux, it is important to see your pediatrician or a GI doctor as soon as you can. Below, are some ways in which reflux can be treated, ranging in methods from natural to medical.

The first thing you might consider doing if your baby has reflux is switching their formula. Some doctors recommend pre-thickened formula, such as Enfamil A.R., which assists in keeping the food in the stomach, while others recommend hypo-allergenic formula, such as Similac Alimentum, since many babies with reflux tend to have protein sensitivities. It is okay to try a couple of them to find out what works. Your doctor will most likely be glad to guide you through the process and be there to answer any questions you have.

If you do not put your baby on a pre-thickened formula, as mentioned above, your pediatrician or GI doctor may recommend thickening your baby's bottles with rice cereal or another form of thickener. The thickness will help to keep the food in your baby's stomach so that they do not spit or vomit. This is an excellent remedy for babies who are not gaining enough weight due to excessive vomiting.

When you feed your baby make sure he or she is sitting upright while you are feeding them, so that the food goes right down. In some babies, the food comes up during feeding, which can be dangerous, as well as extremely uncomfortable for the baby. Also, after the feeding, hold the baby upright for about a half hour to ensure the food stays down.

In order to help your baby sleep better through the night, do not give him or her a bottle right before bed. Instead, try one hour before bed. This will keep your baby from being uncomfortable while they sleep. Babies tend to wake up due to the burning sensation, which makes life uncomfortable and inconvenient for your the baby and yourself.

You can further assist your baby's sleep by propping him or her up while they sleep. Being upright is definitely the best position for those with reflux. You can prop them quite a few ways. You can put blankets under their mattress, use books under the wheels of the crib or buy a wedge at a store, such as Babies 'R' Us or Target. Sleeping wedges are specially made to accomodate those with reflux. They are truly a wonderful creation.

If all of the above fail, then your baby most likely has severe reflux and requires medication. Simply let your doctor know that you want to try medicine and they prescribe it for you. Generally, the doctors start with Zantac and if that does not work, they work their way up to other medications. For example, if Zantac does not work, they may try Prilosec or Prevacid. Sometimes doctors will prescribe a combination of medicine if just one drug does not work.

Reflux can be traumatic and life changing for moms, babies and the rest of the family. It is very important to get your infant evaluated and treated immediately if you suspect reflux. Years ago, reflux was unheard of in infants, and babies suffered without comfort of modern remedies and modern medicine. There is no shame in resorting to medicine if natural remedies do not work out for you. It is very important to keep your baby comfort and for your to keep your sanity.