5 solutions for acid reflux in babies (GERD)

This common condition makes babies spit up often and may cause a lot of discomfort. Luckily, there are solutions.

All babies spit up, right? That’s true — but only to a certain extent.

When a baby just can’t seem to stop spitting up, that’s a strong sign of gastroesophageal reflux in babies, which is surprisingly common, even in healthy infants. Your pediatrician can help you determine whether your baby’s spit up is in the normal range, or whether it might be caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly called GERD.

Causes of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)

What causes reflux in babies? Lay the blame on the lower esophageal sphincter — that’s the part of the body just above the stomach that clamps down and keeps the food you eat from coming up. It is looser in babies, and their stomach contents can pass into the esophagus up to 30 times a day.

However, parents don’t notice every event. Sometimes, the milk will just hit the lower esophagus, then go back down into the stomach. Other times, you’ll see some partially digested milk in your baby’s mouth or dribbling down the chin. There shouldn’t be any other colors to the milk, unless your baby is eating solid food.

“Gastroesophageal reflux becomes GERD, which stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease, when reflux causes issues such as poor growth or breathing problems,” said Dr. Laura D’Aoust, a pediatrician at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

When to talk to your pediatrician about GERD

So, if lots of babies have this problem, when should you talk to your baby’s pediatrician about GERD? In a word, always. Your doctor wants to know about any problems your baby is having to better help your family.

However, do not expect your baby’s doctor to start ordering a bunch of tests.

“Most likely, your pediatrician will want to get a good sense of when the episodes happen and what your baby is eating,” D’Aoust said.

“As long as your baby is gaining weight, eating well and not acting very upset, he or she will fall into the majority of infants who have ‘uncomplicated’ reflux,” D’Aoust said. This means they don’t have any worrisome symptoms other than the spitting-up episodes. “These babies will have fewer episodes of gastroesophageal reflux as they get older and will eventually outgrow their reflux,” D’Aoust said.

Tips for dealing with acid reflux in babies at home

However, having a baby with uncomplicated reflux still isn’t a walk in the park. No one wants to see his or her baby uncomfortable, not to mention all the wardrobe changes parents have to manage! So, what helps with acid reflux in babies?

1. Make sure baby is not overfed.

Infants’ tummies are small, and if you stuff them too full, they will leak out the top.

2. Feed smaller amounts of formula or breast milk more frequently.

This will allow baby to get the same amount of calories, but will put less stress on their tummies.

3. Keep your baby upright after feedings.

This means upright on your shoulder, not partially upright in a swing. This may keep the milk from escaping the stomach and will allow some milk to quickly pass into the lower intestinal tract, creating more room in the stomach.

4. If your baby is 4 months or older, add some oatmeal cereal for reflux to the bottle.

Adding oatmeal cereal for reflux (1 teaspoon per ounce of formula or breast milk) has a double benefit. It gives the feedings more calories while taking up less space and may make food less likely to escape the stomach. However, keep an eye on your baby’s weight gain, as you may end up feeding too much.

5. If you are breastfeeding, consider limiting the amount of spicy foods you eat.

This may help make your breast milk easier to digest.

Medications can be helpful as well. “Your child’s doctor might prescribe these for GERD in babies if an infant’s reflux prevents them from wanting food and gaining weight,” D’Aoust said. “Antacid medications will cause the milk coming up from the stomach to be less acidic, but it will not cause the reflux to stop.”

Most importantly, parents should still continue to put the baby on his or her back while sleeping. Belly sleeping is a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS.

Good luck — and remember, white onesies never go out of style.

Quality care after hours

Vanderbilt Children’s After-Hours Clinics offer the convenience of a walk-in clinic with care provided by Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt experts. These clinics offer urgent care for non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries in children of all ages. No appointment is necessary, but it is recommended that you call your pediatrician first.

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