how do you calm a baby with acid reflux?

Answer 1

Here are the symptoms and treatments for GER or Gastroesophageal Reflux.
http://heartburn.about.com/od/infantschildrenandreflux/a/refluxininfants.htm

Baby Mylicon for gas:
http://www.drugstore.com/qxp10502_332828_sespider/mylicon/infants_gas_relief_drops_non_staining_formula.htm

Here is an article.
http://www.stjohnsmercy.org/mmg/mmghealthinfo/childrenadolesence/medicalconditions/pediatricgastroesophageal.pdf

Answer 2

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Answer 3

My daughter had acid reflux and she was on Zantac. Acid reflux can scar the babies esophagus if not treated, so if yours isn't on medication you will want to get that.

But there are a few things that you can try to help. I had to do this with mine, even on the medication.

After feeding the baby, either put them in a swing or bouncer to help keep the baby up right after feeding for about 30-45 minutes. If you put the baby in a swing don't turn it on or turn it to the slowest setting.

When you burp the baby, wait about 20-30 minutes and burp the baby again. Laying the baby across your lap works great.

I also found that giving my baby Mylicon (baby gas drops) about 5 minutes before she ate helped alot, the same with her medication.

You may also want to change his/her formula. There are special formulas for babies with acid reflux, but ask your pediatrician so they can help you pick the best one. If you are breastfeeding, try avoiding dairy because it could just be an allergy. Even with my daughter on medication I couldn't eat dairy. You can check with a lactation consultant to find out the other foods that maybe triggering it or giving her excess gas. Your pediatric an can give you the number of one.

I hope this helps, just remember it will get better, the baby will probably grow out of it. My daughter did at about 9-10 months.

Hope this Helps!

Answer 4

GROAN, bless your heart, I had 2 with reflux. That's why I only have TWO children rather than the 4 I wanted - two screaming puking infants were enough! [I do love my kids, they are precious to me and I wouldn't trade them for a million dollars, but I couldn't do that baby with reflux thing again!!]

Okay, there were medicines a decade ago that would help an infant. The over the counter stuff did not help.

What we did that helped the most was fennel tea. You take one tsp of fennel seed [yes, the kind you get at the grocery store in the spices section] and boil it in 1 cup of water. Let it cool. Strain it. Either try to get your child to take it from a bottle [if they are breastfeeding] or use it with formula powder, just in place of the regular water. If you do it this way, put 2 ounces of fennel tea in the place of two ounces of water in each bottle.

That is my best tip. Others are, keep baby upright and distract them as much as possible. When my first one was one month old I would carry a rattle in the diaper bag and I'd have to shake it constantly in the car or store to keep her mind of her hurting tummy.

Don't put baby on his tummy on the floor. Putting him on his tummy will force the food back up which will burn. The other side of that is, baby won't develop upper body strength, so you need to work with baby on that - put baby on his back and take his arms and SLOWLY pull him to a standing position. [The pediatrician did that to my second child when he was a month old and I about died because I'd never have done that, but after that I did it a lot and it helped him develop.] Rock with him standing on your lap and you holding his arms. Etc. You'll find ways.

Don't let other people take care of baby. For some reason I could not get a SINGLE PERSON to keep my babies upright.

One position my babies found particularly comforting was [don't know if I can explain this!] to be face down in the crook of my arm, so their face was looking down over my elbow, and their tummies were not being pressed on by anything. I would also pat their backs in this position and they really were soothed by that. For both of them I would also put them against my shoulder and pat them harder on the back than you would a normal baby, and this soothed them too.

Remember that you will get through this. ALL babies who have reflux outgrow it. If you have more questions please email me through my profile.

Answer 5

My son had that as well. It's tough, I know. Try to keep the symptoms down by elevation, gas drops, frequent burping, and medication if your doctor prescribes it.

As far as calming them: Hold him upright and walk/pace with him while burping. You can try soft music, singing, shushing or humming. You can try rocking him. One thing that helped my son a little was the sound of the vacuum cleaner--strange but true. Good luck, I know what you're going through.

(edit) Also, look into baby massage. Especially on how to massage the stomach area to relieve gas. I did this sometimes. Massage a half-moon from the lower right side of baby's stomach, up and then back down to the lower left side. Sorry, I can't explain it too well, but it's worth a google.

Answer 6

There's a medication called mylicon you can buy over the counter, you can even give it to new borns. Follow the directions. It's kinda like baby mylanta. Also try keeping the baby in a sitting position for 30 minutes after you feed it, and burping it more frequently.

Answer 7

Burp it alot more. My son had acid reflux, or so the doctor said. He put him on all sorts of medication that didn't work. I started burping him twice on each breast and he stopped having the problem. Good luck!

Answer 8

How do you know the baby has acid reflux? The baby shouldnt be eating any food with acid in it. It probably just has Colic.

Answer 9

my 7 week old has this problem and was giving gavsicon by his doctor it seemed to help but then my son would get the runs after words but he also had the runs every day with each bowl movement. but come to find out its some thing else and had his formula changed but he still has gerd that didn't change. but with the formula changed he don't have the runs anymore. and he don't need the gavscion as much.

Answer 10

Taker him/her to the doctor and get them on Pepcid or Zantac or some such drug. Don't lay them flat, always elevate their head that way the acids don't come up so much. My niece has this and that's what we have to do with her.