Your Baby and Reflux

1. Normal reflux

With normal reflux, your baby regularly spits out food or liquids.

2. Silent reflux

With silent reflux, your baby’s stomach content does move up from the stomach, but he/she does not spit it out. Your baby transports the food up into the throat, for example, and then it flows back down again.

During the first year of your baby’s life, the sphincter muscle between the esophagus and the stomach increases in strength. As a result, the risk of reflux decreases over time as your baby grows older. Most complaints disappear completely during the first year of life.

After drinking, your baby may spit out or drool a mouthful of milk. Your baby may also regurgitate food while burping or when your baby has hiccups. Or your baby may cough a little. This is quite normal in itself, and if your baby is otherwise cheerful and flourishing, there is no need to worry. Many babies experience reflux. If your baby shows the following symptoms, it is advisable to contact your doctor:

• If your baby cries after feeding,
• If your baby spits and vomits a lot,
• If your baby coughs a lot after feeding,
• If your baby sleeps poorly,
• If your baby is growth retarded.

If your baby suffers from reflux, the following tips may alleviate his/her complaints:

• After feeding, keep your baby upright for at least twenty minutes.
• Allow your baby to eat or drink small portions more often.
• If you bottle feed your baby, let him/her burp every three minutes during a feeding session.
• Allow your baby’s food to settle. Don’t engage in very active or wild games immediately after feeding.
• Slightly thicken the food with, for example, carob seed flour. You can add this ingredient to a bottle with formula or to a bottle with expressed breast milk. Ask your GP or consultation agency for advice in this regard.