Tips To Settle An Acid Reflux Baby

There is virtually nothing a parent can do to settle an acid reflux baby. In many cases, it is very important to understand that a baby who suffers from acid reflux is often inconsolable during certain bouts. With this being true it doesn’t mean that you should simply give up.

First, an infant who suffers from acid reflux will likely be very uncomfortable in a prostrate position (lying down). This can often cause so much distress in your baby that he or she will not want or be able to eat. To settle your baby so that feeding may be more successful, position your child in an upright (seated) position.

This should help alleviate some of the reflux. It's also a good idea to keep your baby in this position for at least 30 minutes after each feeding, if possible. Doing this may help to settle an acid reflux baby. An infant with acid reflux may be difficult to settle for sleep at night, as well.

This is because when the child is laid on its back, the stomach acid can easily reflux back into the esophagus, causing discomfort. Every parent knows, an uncomfortable baby is a VERY unhappy baby! Fortunately, there are a variety of products on the market that can help with this.

First, a crib wedge can be used to slightly elevate the head of the crib so that when you baby is sleeping, gravity works to help keep the acid from refluxing back up into the child’s throat. Alternatively, the child may benefit from the use of a sleep positioner that is designed for this purpose.

These positions have soft "bumpers" that hold the sleeping child in place while a wedge fits underneath the child to, (much like the crib wedge), keep the child on a slight incline.

It's a good idea to get a positioner with a "seatbelt" feature, as a very young child will slide down the wedge while sleeping and will end up lying prostrate once again, thus defeating the purpose.

While it is tempting to put your baby to sleep on its side in order to alleviate reflux, this is not recommended. Babies with acid reflux are already at a higher risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and putting them to sleep on their sides or stomachs increases this risk.

Finally, some children with acid reflux will be settled after a dose of gripe water, (available at any drug store). Read the label carefully to determine the correct dosing information.

Have you tried using antacids to settle your baby? Sometimes different diets and lifestyle changes may not work. If you've tried some of these things and nothing has seem to work, try antacids. Click here, to learn more.

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