Infant Acid Reflux

Some Adult Remedies can Help Infant Acid Reflux

Infant acid reflux is a fact. Acid reflux knows no gender, race or age barrier. While the disease does seem to increase in adults over age 40, there are cases of infant acid reflux reported.

Infant acid reflux is caused the same way it is in adults. The esophagus connects the throat and stomach. In sufferers of acid reflux, the end of the esophagus that meets the stomach either relaxes too often or is weak. The weakened end of the tube lets stomach acid seep back up into the esophagus.

If your baby suffers from infant acid reflux, you'll find www.infantrefluxdisease.com to be a helpful website. Maybe you'll find comfort in knowing that most babies outgrow their reflux, but if your baby requires treatment, the website offers a variety of information, including message boards and weekly chats. These will be especially helpful to families that live in communities without support groups. The website also features personal stories and frequently asked questions that parents of a baby with infant acid reflux will find useful.

Your pediatrician may prescribe medication to treat infant acid reflux, but may instead suggest trying some lifestyle changes first. The doctor may suggest raising the head of the baby's crib about 6 inches. Never lay the baby directly on pillows intended to prop him/her up. Pillows increase the risk of suffocation, especially if you're stacking them up. Instead, try placing them between the springs and the crib mattress. Tilting the bed in this way helps keep the stomach acid in the stomach, where it belongs. When baby lies flat, the acid has a better chance of being regurgitated back into the esophagus.

If the doctor says it's okay, add a little cereal into the baby's formula or pumped breast milk. And if your baby is old enough to eat, take into consideration foods that typically cause heartburn in adults. Don't serve those to the baby. These small lifestyle changes may make a big difference if your baby has infant acid reflux.

Your baby may suffer from infant acid reflux (without complications) or from infant acid reflux disease. Symptoms may include frequent spitting up or vomiting, colic like symptoms, frequent ear or sinus infections or a chronic hoarse voice. If you suspect infant acid reflux, talk to your doctor about ways to make your little one feel better.

For more acid reflux information, be sure to visit our other pages with more detailed acid reflux disease information, including acid reflux diet, acid reflux cause, and acid reflux remedy.