The best way to burp a baby experiencing reflux is by holding them with their tummy side against your chest and burping them over your shoulder. This will allow for removal of trapped gas and acid from your baby's system before giving them further milk to drink.
If the baby does not burp after 5 minutes of trying, gently lie them down on their back, either in their crib or on another safe surface, such as a playpen. After a few minutes, carefully pick the baby up and try burping them again. Sometimes, lying down helps move the air bubbles around, making them easier to release.
There are things parents and caregivers can do to help ease tummy troubles associated with reflux. Common strategies include: Burping frequently: Instead of waiting until your child reaches the end of the bottle, try burping after each ounce of milk or formula.
Always burp your baby when feeding time is over. To help prevent the milk from coming back up, keep your baby upright after feeding for 10 to 15 minutes, or longer if your baby spits up or has GERD. But don't worry if your baby spits sometimes. It's probably more unpleasant for you than it is for your baby.
Baby Reflux FAQs
Pacifiers may stimulate saliva and the downward push of the esophagus, both of which may help to get fluids back into the stomach sooner rather than later. However, doctors are still not recommending pacifiers as a treatment.
Reflux usually starts before a baby is 8 weeks old and gets better by the time they're 1.
Feed your baby a little bit less than usual if you're bottle-feeding, or cut back a little on nursing time. Take time to burp your baby. Frequent burps during and after feeding can keep air from building up in your baby's stomach. Put baby to sleep on the back.
Feeding your baby too much can make reflux symptoms worse. Their doctor or health care provider will tell you how much they should be eating with each feed. If vomiting or reflux symptoms occur, give less at each feeding.
An overfed baby might be diagnosed with reflux (gastro-esophageal reflux disease or GERD) if he regurgitates milk or 'silent reflux' if he doesn't.
Many parents swear this is the only way to get their babies to burp. If patting doesn't work, see if rubbing his back does the trick. Move your hand gently but with enough pressure from the bottom to the top of his back. And finally, try sitting him on your lap and gently bouncing him up and down.
Not all babies burp every time they're winded, and some find it easier than others to let out all that trapped air. If you've tried winding your baby but he or she is still showing signs of uncomfortable wind you could try laying your baby down on a safe, comfortable surface and gently massaging his or her tummy.
The best sleeping position for a newborn baby with reflux is on their backs (supine position), even better if they lie on a surface with an incline angle of about 30 degrees. If their head and chest are elevated slightly in relation to the rest of their body, the backflow of milk from their stomach is reduced.
Burp Your Baby Frequently During Feedings
Sit your baby upright on your lap and gently pat or rub their back until they burp. You can also put your baby up on your shoulder and gently pat or rub their back until they burp. It is always a good idea to have a burp cloth or towel ready when burping to soak up any spit up.
For babies with reflux, upright or semi-upright positions are best, like the koala hold or laid-back position, since gravity will help with digestion, Sriraman says. “If baby is reluctant to nurse because of reflux, try standing or walking while breastfeeding,” Nguyen says.
An aggravation of reflux symptoms
This is perhaps explains why many families find that their reflux baby seems worse after using this remedy. It is for this reason why I recommend families to stop using Infacol, if their baby presents with reflux symptoms.
Reflux can be worse at night for 3 reasons (3): Acid concentration in the stomach is higher at night. The baby is likely lying down, so there is no assistance from gravity to help keep the contents of the stomach down. While sleeping we don't swallow.
The cause of reflux
Most parents are taught that the majority of symptoms above happen because of acid moving up the oesophagus. That baby is born with an immature digestive system, and this has the sphincter muscle at the bottom of the oesophagus allowing acid to travel upward and burn the oesophagus.
If your baby has reflux, you can and should continue with tummy time. Try the positions where your baby is more upright such as on your chest, over your legs or on a gym ball. Remember to leave 20 to 30 minutes after a feed before placing your baby on their tummy to reduce vomiting and discomfort.
Back to sleep―even with reflux!
Though parents are often concerned that their baby may vomit and choke while sleeping on their back, it is a total myth! Babies automatically cough up or swallow fluid that they spit up or vomit because of the gag reflex, that naturally prevents choking from happening.
Symptoms of GERD
Infants with this problem cry numerous times per day. They also act very unhappy when they are not crying. They are in almost constant discomfort.
If you are planning to cure acid reflux then going for cold milk is the best, but if you are looking for a remedy to cure body pain or treat sore throat or cold, or induce sleep then going for warm milk is the best. Also, if you have lactose intolerance, then it is best to avoid drinking regular milk.
It usually starts around the 2 to 3 week mark, peaks around 4 to 5 months, and typically goes away by about 9 to 12 months. Reflux is more likely to happen if a baby's belly is too full, if they're moved too quickly from laying to sitting or if they're experiencing pressure on their tummy after feeding.
But contact your midwife, health visitor or GP if reflux begins after six months of age, continues beyond one year, or your baby has any of the following problems: spitting up feeds often or refusing feeds. coughing or gagging while feeding. frequent projectile vomiting.