Acid reflux in infants is a condition in which digesting contents and stomach acid flow back into the throat and esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that connects the throat and stomach.

It’s a common problem in babies, especially those three months old or younger, and manifests in breastfed and formula-fed babies.

If your little one is bottled-fed, finding a suitable baby formula that will alleviate all worries and is nutritionally balanced can be challenging, to say the least.

1. What is Acid Reflux in Babies?

2. How Common is Reflux in Infants?

3. What are the Symptoms of Acid Reflux in Infants?

4. What Is Silent Reflux in Babies?

5. Infant Reflux- Diagnosis and Treatment

6. Best Baby Formulas for Acid Reflux

7. Baby Reflux: Support and Relief

8. Frequently Asked Questions                

Everyone has a muscle (the lower esophageal sphincter) that acts as a valve between the esophagus and stomach. When you swallow, this muscle relaxes to let food pass from the esophagus to the stomach. This muscle typically stays closed, so the stomach contents don't flow back into the esophagus.

When the lower esophageal sphincter muscle is not fully developed, this valve allows stomach contents back up the esophagus. This causes regurgitation or spitting-up.

It is not unusual for an infant with acid reflux to spit up several times after feeding. Depending on the severity, it may start to affect your child’s development and growth.

Reflux is prevalent in infants during the first few months of life. About half of all babies spit up many times a day in the first three months of their lives. Reflux rarely lingers past 18 months.

The main symptom of reflux is spitting up. Generally, acid reflux is not a cause for concern and only causes minor irritation of the throat or esophagus and causes symptoms.

Babies with silent reflux may not spit up after feedings, making it more challenging to discern. Infants with silent reflux also often present with feeding difficulties, which can slow weight gain and even cause weight loss. In extreme cases, this can result in undernutrition.

The symptoms of silent reflux may be exhibited very similar to traditional reflux diseases, such as fussiness or poor feeding habits. One notable difference is that babies do not spit up; because of this, silent reflux symptoms are often mistaken for colic.

The options for treating acid reflux in your baby depends on their age and the severity. As with any feeding trouble, we recommend talking with your pediatrician to ensure that there are no other concerns.

Your child's healthcare provider will be able to determine whether your baby's symptoms are manageable with changes at home or if medical intervention is needed.

Small changes at home are usually the best to alleviate symptoms in babies with reflux.

Formula-fed infants can go longer stretches between feedings. However, this is also not ideal for babies with reflux. Reducing the number of ounces and increasing feeding time to every two to three hours while your little one is awake can help to reduce abdominal pressure.

Holding your baby upright during feedings and for 30 minutes after will help reduce the symptoms of reflux.

Placing your baby down too soon after a feeding increases the likelihood of fussiness and spitting up associated with acid reflux.

Burping your little one after every ounce or two will minimize gastric pressure and the discomfort it can cause. The best way to burp a baby experiencing reflux is by holding them with their tummy against your chest and burping them over your shoulder. This will allow for the removal of trapped gas and acid from your baby's system before giving them further milk to drink.

Your doctor may recommend a formula change if your baby needs acid reflux. A baby formula with an easier-to-digest protein or thickened consistency may bring relief to your infant.

It is essential to choose a formula designed to nourish your infant well with the best ingredients. Each component must be designed and sourced in a specific way that will give your baby all the clean energy for cognitive growth and physical development and all soothing digestive worries.

Choose a baby formula that does not contain ingredients that can aggravate little tummies or cause an allergic reaction. Non-lactose sugars, toxic metals, and preservatives top the list of ingredients to be avoided.

Containing hydrolyzed proteins that have been partially broken down to make them easier for infants to digest, hydrolyzed formulas are recommended by pediatricians when there are milk protein sensitivities.

Hydrolyzed formulas effectively reduce acid reflux because they move quickly through the digestive system and have less chance of spitting up. When choosing a hydrolyzed formula, look for powdered nutrition packed with crucial minerals and antioxidants that infants need to meet growth milestones for immunity, bone strength, and brain development.

Specialized formulas that are thickened formulas help make stomach contents heavier and harder to regurgitate, which means they're less likely to come back up.

When choosing a thickened formula for your little one, the best relief starts with organic ingredients. This will ensure clean nutrition without further digestive worries.

Pure, clean nutrition that stands out for infants who struggle with digestive worries, allergies, or alternatives to lactose-based formulas is our specialty.

My Organic Company carries European baby formulas that meet your growing baby’s physical, cognitive, and gastric needs. We are here for you.