How to Treat Acid Reflux in Newborns

Many newborns experience acid reflux, which is when food backs up from her stomach and causes your baby to spit up.^{[1]XResearch source} Acid reflux, also called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is generally not serious and often stops by 18 months old;^{[2]XResearch source} however, seeing your newborn experience discomfort from acid reflux can concern or upset you.^{[3]XResearch source} By making some lifestyle changes or using medication, you can treat your newborn’s acid reflux.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Making Lifestyle Changes

Download Article

1
Recognize symptoms of acid reflux. Watch your baby to see if she exhibits symptoms of acid reflux before making lifestyle changes. Typical signs of acid reflux in newborns are:
- Spitting up and vomiting
- Refusing to eat
- Having difficulty eating or swallowing
- Being irritable during feedings
- Burping or hiccuping wet liquid
- Failing to gain weight.^{[4]XResearch source}
2
Adapt bottle feedings. Try changing the ways you feed your baby with a bottle. These may help relieve or prevent acid reflux in your newborn.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Increase the frequency of your baby’s feedings but reduce how much you give him at each feeding so that there is less pressure on the muscle that keeps food from refluxing.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Make sure your baby’s bottle and nipple is the right size. This allows your baby to get the right amount of milk from the nipple without swallowing air.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Try a different brand of formula, but only after discussing it with your baby's doctor.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Thicken the formula with some rice cereal with your pediatrician’s approval and directions.^{[9]XResearch source}
Advertisement
3
Modify breastfeeding techniques. Babies who are breastfed may experience slightly less reflux because breastmilk is digested faster than formula.^{[10]XResearch source} Similar to bottle feeding, changing your breastfeeding technique may help treat your newborn’s reflux.
- Reduce the amount of milk in your baby’s stomach by breastfeeding for less time each feeding, but more frequently throughout the day.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Eliminate different foods from your diet to see if this eases your newborns reflux.^{[12]XResearch source} For example, you may want to avoid dairy, beef, or eggs to see one of these causes the reflux.^{[13]XResearch source}
- Thicken expressed breast milk with rice cereal in small increments.^{[14]XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source}
4
Burp your baby more frequently. Interrupt your baby’s feedings to burp her.^{[15]XTrustworthy SourceJohns Hopkins MedicineOfficial resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins HospitalGo to source} More frequent burping may relieve pressure in her belly and prevent reflux. Use the following schedule as a guideline for burping:
- Avoid feedings two hours before bedtime if possible.
- Burp your baby every one to two hours after a feeding to help relieve gas and prevent reflux.
- Interrupt bottle feedings every one to two ounces.
- Burp breastfed babies whenever they pull off of your nipple.^{[16]XResearch source}
5
Hold your baby upright. Keeping your baby in an upright position can help relieve and prevent reflux because gravity keeps the contents of his stomach down. Make sure to keep him upright for 20–30 minutes after you feed him.^{[17]XTrustworthy SourceNational Health Service (UK)Public healthcare system of the UKGo to source}
- Place your baby on your lap with his head resting on your chest.^{[18]XResearch source}
- Try and keep your baby quiet while holding him upright.^{[19]XResearch source}
6
Change her sleeping position. Doctors recommend that babies sleep on their backs to minimize the risk of sudden infant death syndrome;^{[20]XResearch source} however, this position may cause problems for babies with moderate to severe reflux and your doctor may suggest putting your baby to sleep on her side or stomach, but this is rarely recommended.^{[21]XResearch source}
- Make sure to speak with your baby’s doctor before changing her sleeping position.
- Place your baby in her crib on a firm mattress with no blankets, bumpers, or stuffed animals that might suffocate her. Gently turn her head to the side so that her mouth and nose aren’t obstructed.^{[22]XResearch source}
- Consider elevating the mattress slightly with a foam block or wedge pillow under the head of the mattress.^{[23]XResearch source} Avoid using a pillow on the mattress, which could suffocate your baby. If you elevate the head of the bed, you can often continue to put your baby to bed on her back, which is usually the safest.
- Put your baby on her left side, which keeps the stomach inlet higher than the outlet, and may help keep food down.^{[24]XResearch source}
7
Consider natural remedies. There are natural products called “gripe water” that many people use to soothe reflux and colic. There is no scientific evidence that gripe water is effective, but try it after consulting with your doctor.^{[25]XResearch source}
- Be aware that the World Health Organization doesn’t recommend giving gripe water to babies under six months.^{[26]XTrustworthy SourcePubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGo to source}
- Make sure to speak to your doctor before giving your baby gripe water.^{[27]XResearch source}
- Look for products with fennel, peppermint, lemon balm, chamomile, or ginger.^{[28]XResearch source}
- Stay away from products with sodium bicarbonate, sucrose, fructose, or alcohol.^{[29]XResearch source}

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Getting Medical Treatment

Download Article

1
Visit your pediatrician. If making lifestyle changes doesn’t ease your newborn’s reflux or his symptoms get worse, schedule and appointment with his pediatrician.^{[30]XResearch source} You should also see your baby’s pediatrician if he has the following symptoms:^{[31]XResearch source}
- Inability to gain weight
- Projectile vomiting
- Vomit or spit up that is green or yellow
- Vomit or spit up that contains blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
- Refusal to eat
- Stools that are bloody
- Chronic cough or difficulty breathing
- Irritability after eating
2
Get a diagnosis. Your baby’s pediatrician will examine her and ask you questions about her symptoms. Depending on her She also may recommend further testing to confirm a diagnosis of acid reflux. Your doctor may order one of the following tests:
- Ultrasound
- Blood or urine tests
- Esophageal pH monitoring
- X-rays
- Upper endoscopy.^{[32]XTrustworthy SourceMedlinePlusCollection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of MedicineGo to source}
3
Give your baby medication. Depending on the outcome of your doctor’s visit and possible testing, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and/or prescribe medication.^{[33]XResearch source} Be aware that reflux medications aren’t generally recommended for babies with uncomplicated reflux as they could rarely cause health problems or prevent nutrient absorption.^{[34]XResearch source}
- Follow your doctor’s dosing instructions. Most medications given to babies for reflux are dosed specifically for them.^{[35]XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source}
- Give your baby drugs to reduce the acid. She’ll likely get either a proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole (Prilosec or Prevacid) or an H2 blockers like Tagamet or Zantac.^{[36]XResearch source}
- Avoid giving over-the-counter acid blocking drugs to your baby.
In very rare cases, some babies may need surgery to tighten the muscle that blocks food from coming back up.^{[37]XResearch source} The procedure, called fundoplication, is generally only done on babies that have severe breathing problems with their reflux.^{[38]XResearch source}