Reflux 101

Reflux is a fairly common ailment in infants, and is not of concern if your baby is thriving (gaining at least 150g/week) and if they are a ‘happy spiller’, or the pain resolves after winding and a little spill.

Symptoms of reflux causing issues you may recognise in your baby: 

• Spilling large amounts

• Lower than ideal weight gains

• Appears to be in pain from the spilling

• Has acidic smelling breath 

• Pulls their knees up towards their chest when crying

• Is not happy lying flat on the floor even after a nap - long after a feed

• Develops a feeding aversion

Reflux can appear as a result of an immature esophageal tract - the sphincter muscle at the bottom of the esophagus isn’t strong enough to hold the stomach contents down.  This is most common, and usually resolves itself as your baby gets older, more mobile and stronger.

Reflux can also develop due to an allergy, and this is something to be explored with your GP or Pediatrician, who may recommend medication, and/or an elimination diet if breastfeeding. Or if formula feeding, switching to a hydrolyzed formula, along with medication.

There are ways we can help reflux without medication:

• Split feeds - smaller feeds more frequently

• Holding your baby upright after a feed

• Finish feeding at least 15 minutes before a nap

• Assisting your baby to sleep to prevent overtiredness - overtiredness exacerbates reflux symptoms

If you are bottle feeding with a thickened formula, ensure you are using a larger teat size than recommended for their age, or a variflow teat so your baby isn’t having to work too hard to feed - this will burn up calories and frustrate your baby, possibly leading to development of a feeding aversion.