Infant reflux is a normal condition occurring within a baby’s digestive process, characterized by the splitting up of the stomach contents, soon after being fed. It is a regular eating habit of children under 18 months, because the lower esophageal sphincter, the muscle between the esophagus and the stomach is not fully developed, and the stomach contents may easily flow backward.
The symptoms of the infant reflux are spitting up followed by vomiting, which occurs after a feeding, or even during crying, straining, or coughing.
This condition is triggered by the incomplete development of the digestive tract, by the baby’s lying position, the liquid consistency of their food as well as air bubbles swallowing or, it is just due to fast eating.
Rarely, do the symptoms of infant reflux mark the presence of a more serious ailment, such as allergic gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (known as GERD), eosinophilic esophagitis, or obstruction. So, get prepared to call the pediatrician whenever your baby has difficulty breathing, has blood in the stool, refuses food, spits up a green or yellow liquid, is not gaining weight, or begins vomiting at 6 months or older than that.
Natural Remedies good for Infant Reflux
- Try to feed the baby with smaller quantities of food, more frequent.
- Keeping an upright position of the baby’s body while feeding him/her represents a natural remedy for infant reflux, as the inertia helps the stomach contents to stay where they should.
- Allow the baby to burp, by interrupting the feeding, because, in this way, the reflux becomes less likely to occur.
- Thickening feedings with some cereals is another acknowledged natural remedy for infant reflux. Organic rice cereals are usually preferred.
- Do not stimulate your baby 30 minutes after eating, because crying or laughing may trigger the condition abovementioned.
- Do not place the baby flat on his/her back. A natural remedy for infant reflux is left positioning the baby after eating, but not only.
- Nursing women should alter their diet so that the reflux is avoided. If you are breastfeeding, stop consuming dairy products, caffeine, cigarettes, and acidic and spicy foods.
- Do not put the baby in tight diapers or clothing which may pressure his/her stomach.
Natural Remedies for Infant Reflux: Side effects
Natural remedies for infant reflux are generally safe.
When thickening the milk with cereals, you should ask the pediatrician first, so that he provides some medical advice first.
Natural remedies for infant reflux should be learned by parents, as well as by parents-to-be so that you soothe the digestive processes of your child and keep him/her out of discomfort.