Signs of reflux in babies can include the following: Bringing milk back up during or after feeds. Vomiting that often shows no clear pattern in terms of timing or amount. Persistent hiccups and coughing.
If GERD isn't treated, your baby may not eat well or gain weight. It can also cause symptoms like coughing, noisy breathing, and vomiting.
Tears are your baby's way of communicating that they're in pain. However, many babies with reflux won't cry; instead, they'll be difficult to calm or get to sleep. But first, it's important to remember that just because your baby is crying a lot doesn't mean they have silent reflux.
More than 50% of babies spit up regularly in the first months of life. Reflux usually peaks at 4 – 5 months of life and stops by 12 – 18 months.
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.
While dummy use is often controversial as they have known advantages and disadvantages, some infants with reflux seem to benefit from using a dummy. Dummy use is a personal choice and this may be one option you could consider.
Acid reflux in babies typically begin between weeks 2 and 4. Newborn acid reflux tends to peak around 4 months, and the symptoms finally subside around 7 months. Keep in mind that every baby is different and the acid reflux can last shorter or longer depending on your baby.
Baby reflux symptoms
Symptoms of baby reflux include: constant or sudden crying when feeding. regularly bringing up milk during or after feeds. frequent ear infections.
Reflux can be quite concerning for parents, but it's very common and usually gets better on its own. Reflux usually starts before a baby is eight weeks old, improves by six months, and has usually stopped by the time a baby is one year old.
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.
With a baby that vomits or spits up a lot, it's relatively easy to understand that the baby may have reflux, where as a baby that might just have excessive bouts of crying but is rarely sick and still gains weight would often be deemed to just have 'colic'.
In babies, the main symptom of reflux and GERD is spitting up. GERD may also cause symptoms such as: Arching of the back, often during or right after eating. Colic - crying that lasts for more than 3 hours a day with no medical cause.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that the back sleeping position be recommended in the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux for mild to moderate cases 5.
Babies suffering from silent reflux will probably not be great sleepers. They'll often take ages to settle to sleep, and once asleep, may wake up after a small window of a few minutes, often screaming rather suddenly. You may find that your baby only settles when lying upright, either on you or in a baby carrier.
Many babies with reflux find it uncomfortable to lie down, and difficult to sleep because the pain in their body is keeping them awake. Colic is a subset of reflux, that is focused on digestive discomfort and it seems that babies “grow out of it” by the age of 12 weeks.
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.
You can help ease your baby's reflux by making small changes to the way you feed them. If you talk to your midwife or health visitor about it, they might suggest the following: Continue to breastfeed, if possible, because breastmilk is easier to digest.
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.
Back Sleeping
The American Academy of Pediatrics confirms that babies use their automatic gag reflex to cough up or swallow fluid. As such, placing your baby on an incline or in a swing is not recommended, back sleeping on a hard surface is best, even for babies with reflux.
It is important to understand that newborns have immature respiratory and digestive systems, which can cause them to grunt, squirm, and even make noises while they sleep. These behaviors are often normal and do not necessarily indicate any problem or discomfort.