Acid Reflux Infants - 4 Things You Should Know

When most of us think about heartburn we rarely consider acid reflux infants, but this condition (heartburn, acid reflux, gerd) is quite common in babies. In fact, more than half of all infants experience acid reflux within the first three months of their lives. The good news is that only a small number of infants experience the more serious symptoms.

Here are four things you should know about acid reflux infants:

1. What To Look For

Obviously, infants can't explain where it hurts or how they're feeling. This can make it difficult to know when your baby may be experiencing acid reflux. There are clues that should point you in the right direction, however. Here are some of things you should look for:

- Is your infant experiencing sleeping problems?
- Is your infant coughing even though there's no evidence of a cold?
- Has your infant experienced weight loss?
- Has your infant exhibited a lack of appetite?
- Does he or she spit up frequently?
- Does he or she exhibit unusual irritability?
- Is there chest pain?
- Is there a sore throat?
- Does your baby have bad breath that's reminiscent of vomit?
- Is your baby crying for no apparent reason?

2. What's Going On

Acid reflux infants can be in incredible pain, as you'll probably understand if you've ever experienced heartburn for yourself.  The pain is the result of stomach acid rising into the esophagus. For an infant, this commonly occurs during or after a feeding.  The pain is the stomach acid irritating the esophagus lining and sometimes the back of the throat.

3. Acid Reflux Infants - Causes

There are several causes of acid reflux in babies. These are generally exacerbated by the fact that infants mostly consume liquids, while spending most of their time throughout the day lying on their backs. It's easier for liquids to rise back up into the esophagus than solids. And the process of lying down adds pressure to the esophageal sphincter which normally keeps the stomach contents confined to the stomach.

Other potential causes to be aware of include poor eating habits, being overweight, and food allergies.

4. Consult With Your Pediatrician

If you have a suspicion that your infant may be experiencing acid reflux, even a minor case, you should consult with your pediatrician. Be prepared to explain the symptoms you've noticed, the eating habits of your baby, and any other clues that you believe to be relevant.

Acid reflux infants are not unusual and there's no cause for concern as long as you're aware of the situation and you've taken the time to consult with your pediatrician. Often the condition can be rectified simply by changing some basic eating and sleeping habits.