In a newborn infant, a common concern for many parents is infant reflux (GERD). It can be a scary event, when your baby may appear to choke, gag, or spit up during a reflux episode. As frustrating as it can be, there are several ways to help improve reflux in a newborn infant.
- Position after feeding - This is one of the most important factors, as it involves keeping your baby upright for as long as 30 minutes after eating. It is also a good idea to keep your baby's activities to a minimum. The idea behind this is that by being held upright, the breast milk or formula can continue downward into the stomach. By staying in the stomach, it can be digested easier and quicker, reducing the chance for reflux. Babies that are formula fed may need a longer period of time in this position, as formula can be more difficult to digest.
- Sleeping Position - Sleeping position is also very important in regards to helping improve reflux. Babies often fall asleep after a feeding, so it is not uncommon for an infant to have a reflux episode during this time. All babies are recommended to sleep on their backs by the American Academy of Pediatrics, however, some babies with reflux may require sleeping at an incline. Some cribs and bassinets can accommodate this, while a wedge can also be used. A wedge is just what it sounds like, usually creating an incline around 30 degrees for the baby to sleep on. This has the same affect as positioning mentioned above, letting gravity help keep the milk or formula in the stomach.
- Tight Clothing - Try to avoid tight clothing if your baby has reflux. Loose fitting clothing is ideal, reducing the chance that tighter clothes will apply pressure to the area around the stomach, increasing the chance of reflux.
- Thickening Feeds - Another option that works for some babies is to thicken feeds using rice cereal. This will make for a heavier feed, increasing the likelihood that it will stay in the baby's stomach.
- Burping - It is always important to burp a baby after feedings, but even more so when the baby has reflux. This may help reduce the chance of reflux if done several times during a feedings.