Tips to get acid reflux babies to eat are not numerous. It is one thing for an adult to experience acid reflux, and quite another for an acid reflux infant. Adults can learn what causes the problem, and deal with its symptoms. Acid reflux symptoms in infants are just another form of pain, with no understanding of what is causing them.
Brief Consideration of Acid Reflux In Babies
Acid reflux is when the band of muscle, called a sphincter, at the bottom of the esophagus fails to close, or reopens too quickly, allowing stomach juices to reflux (back-flow) into the esophagus. This lower esophageal sphincter is often called the LES, and when weak, will be forced open when it should be closed.
Every infant has a little bit of LES weakness. Their muscles, including the LES, need time to mature. That's why we use burp cloths when burping a baby that has just finished nursing.
Acid reflux infants, however, do this a lot. Eventually, the stomach juices that flow back into the esophagus are not those that have just been diluted with a bottle of milk. The milk has been gone for a while, sometimes for hours, and the LES is allowing strong acid to flow into the esophagus.
Acid reflux is painful to the baby, and can cause extended crying and/or vomiting. This can rapidly become a vicious cycle: the baby feels pain, cries, vomits, and does not want to eat. Parents, siblings, and daycare providers are all pressed to the limits of their knowledge and patience.
Tips to Get Acid Reflux Babies to Eat
The tips given here are not from a medical professional. They are intended for educational purposes only, but they may help your get your acid reflux baby to eat and get necessary nourishment.
1. Schedule frequent, small meals for your baby. Keeping the stomach less full gives it opportunity to digest food without pressuring the LES and risking acid reflux. If acid reflux does occur, there will be little food to come up. If you have been nursing or giving a bottle every 4 hours, offer food every 2 hours for a while. Do not let the baby continue nursing to the point of being full. Small meals are better.
2. Always be sure your baby is in an upright position for nursing or drinking from a bottle. Avoid pressure against the baby's stomach while feeding. This will give the LES maximum ability to function as it should, to keep milk in the stomach.
3. After feeding your baby, continue to hold him or her upright. This will help keep the food in the stomach where it can be digested. Hold the baby up to your shoulder, and pat to be sure the baby is burped very well. Every little air bubble is potential pressure on the weak LES, and potential acid reflux. Avoid bouncing the baby while burping. It is better to sway back and forth, comforting with the motion while patting the back.
4. Check your infant's clothing frequently to be sure diapers and other clothing around the waist is comfortably loose. Pressure at the waist is often a contributing factor in acid reflux.
5. Never shake your baby for any reason. You are only encouraging acid reflux, and may cause your infant to connect your action with the pain.
6. NEVER allow anyone to smoke around your infant. Tobacco smoke only further weakens LES muscles, and causes acid reflux symptoms in infants to worsen.
7. Be sure that anyone responsible for your infant's care knows that extra care and attention are needed, as are extra patience and understanding.
Words of Encouragement for You!
It is important for all concerned to remember that an acid reflux infant will usually stop having symptoms by age 1. The LES strengthens, and the baby is able to enjoy eating normally.
Brief Consideration of Acid Reflux In Babies
Acid reflux is when the band of muscle, called a sphincter, at the bottom of the esophagus fails to close, or reopens too quickly, allowing stomach juices to reflux (back-flow) into the esophagus. This lower esophageal sphincter is often called the LES, and when weak, will be forced open when it should be closed.
Every infant has a little bit of LES weakness. Their muscles, including the LES, need time to mature. That's why we use burp cloths when burping a baby that has just finished nursing.
Acid reflux infants, however, do this a lot. Eventually, the stomach juices that flow back into the esophagus are not those that have just been diluted with a bottle of milk. The milk has been gone for a while, sometimes for hours, and the LES is allowing strong acid to flow into the esophagus.
Acid reflux is painful to the baby, and can cause extended crying and/or vomiting. This can rapidly become a vicious cycle: the baby feels pain, cries, vomits, and does not want to eat. Parents, siblings, and daycare providers are all pressed to the limits of their knowledge and patience.
Tips to Get Acid Reflux Babies to Eat
The tips given here are not from a medical professional. They are intended for educational purposes only, but they may help your get your acid reflux baby to eat and get necessary nourishment.
1. Schedule frequent, small meals for your baby. Keeping the stomach less full gives it opportunity to digest food without pressuring the LES and risking acid reflux. If acid reflux does occur, there will be little food to come up. If you have been nursing or giving a bottle every 4 hours, offer food every 2 hours for a while. Do not let the baby continue nursing to the point of being full. Small meals are better.
2. Always be sure your baby is in an upright position for nursing or drinking from a bottle. Avoid pressure against the baby's stomach while feeding. This will give the LES maximum ability to function as it should, to keep milk in the stomach.
3. After feeding your baby, continue to hold him or her upright. This will help keep the food in the stomach where it can be digested. Hold the baby up to your shoulder, and pat to be sure the baby is burped very well. Every little air bubble is potential pressure on the weak LES, and potential acid reflux. Avoid bouncing the baby while burping. It is better to sway back and forth, comforting with the motion while patting the back.
4. Check your infant's clothing frequently to be sure diapers and other clothing around the waist is comfortably loose. Pressure at the waist is often a contributing factor in acid reflux.
5. Never shake your baby for any reason. You are only encouraging acid reflux, and may cause your infant to connect your action with the pain.
6. NEVER allow anyone to smoke around your infant. Tobacco smoke only further weakens LES muscles, and causes acid reflux symptoms in infants to worsen.
7. Be sure that anyone responsible for your infant's care knows that extra care and attention are needed, as are extra patience and understanding.
Words of Encouragement for You!
It is important for all concerned to remember that an acid reflux infant will usually stop having symptoms by age 1. The LES strengthens, and the baby is able to enjoy eating normally.
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