Dealing with reflux in babies can be stressful for both mother and child. Oftentimes, this condition leads to many stressful demands while feeding and in most cases, many moms don’t know how to ease the baby’s obvious discomfort.
Thankfully, that’s why you’ve got us!
This article contains all you need to know about reflux in babies; the mechanics, causes, diagnostic tests, and several easy home remedies.
Reflux is a medical condition characterized by an improper function of the muscle above the stomach, resulting in the rise of stomach contents into the esophagus. This could ultimately lead to spitting up or vomiting.
It’s a common condition in babies which is relatively harmless in most cases. However, understanding why your baby has reflux isn’t always as straightforward as many of us want. Although the condition is rarely serious and becomes less common as a baby gets older, it’s unusual for infant reflux to persist for over 18 months.
Babies have a smaller esophagus and weaker muscle tone than adults. This means that the valve that guards the lower end of their esophagus (lower esophageal sphincter or LES) is weaker, making some babies susceptible to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
As the lower esophageal sphincter opens, ingested milk can come back up the esophagus to the throat, possibly leading to gag, or choke reflexes in the baby.
Infant reflux occurs when food moves back up to the throat from a baby’s stomach. In a healthy infant, reflux can occur multiple times a day due to a poorly coordinated gastrointestinal tract.
In most cases, babies with this condition are healthy; it’s just that their digestive tracts are still developing.
The esophagus is the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. There is a valve at the top of the stomach that keeps food from going back up into the esophagus. If this valve is underdeveloped or opens at the wrong time, the stomach contents can move back, or “reflux,” into the esophagus.
1. Tomatoes & Tomato sauce
Tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C, antioxidants & provitamin A for healthy breastfeeding babies. However, they are also very acidic, which can lead to a very gassy, uncomfortable, and irritable baby.
As a result, tomatoes increase the production of acid in the stomach, leading to reflux.
2. Spicy Foods
Sure! You can’t afford to miss your Kimchi, chorizo potato, green chile omelet. Although these meals are nice & spicy, they shouldn’t be a part of your baby’s diet, as they are known to trigger acid reflux.
3. Peppermint, Chocolate & Caffeine
Although we understand that babies love sweet things, these foods relax and keep the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) open for longer periods, causing the contents of the stomach to reflux.
4. Fatty foods
Fried foods, high-fat meats, pastries with frostings, fish, chips, and cheese take longer to digest because they contain fat. Therefore they also increase the risk of reflux.
5. Fruits & Fruit Juice
Fruits like oranges, apples, and bananas exacerbate reflux in babies and should be avoided or taken in minute quantities. Sometimes, fruit juice can be helpful, but it’s important to regulate the quantity.
Normally if your baby is growing healthy, there is usually no need for diagnostic tests.
However, in cases of persistent weight loss, your pediatrician may order any of the following tests:
As usual, we’re here to help with several easy & reliable tips:
It’s important to know that reflux is common in infants and your little one is going to be fine. Follow the tips above, avoid risky meals and report any disturbing symptoms to your pediatrician.
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