Infant Reflux - Treatment

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Infant reflux treatments are determined by the severity of the reflux specific to each child. Treatments can vary from simply changing the mother’s diet to something as invasive as surgery.

A child with relatively minimal discomfort from the reflux could benefit from a few lifestyle modifications for the infant and mother. For a breastfed child, the mother can remove any dairy products or cow’s milk from her diet. For a bottle-fed child, thicken the formula by either adding rice cereal to the formula or switching to a formula with rice cereal already added, such as Enfamil AR.

Another tactic for comforting the child with reflux could be to feed the child in an upright position (sitting up not laying flat on his back) and leave the child in a sitting position or at least elevated for 30 minutes after feeding. Also try letting the child sleep in an infant seat, bouncy seat, or swing following feeding instead of putting him on his back in a crib or bassinet. Testing different bottles/nipples (i.e., Dr. Brown Natural Flow bottles) might improve your child’s discomfort as well.

For a child with a more severe case of infant reflux, parents should have the infant checked out by the pediatrician. When the lifestyle modifications have not improved the child’s condition then the pediatrician can determine if medications are needed. Acid reducing medications are becoming more and more common in treating infant reflux. One class of medication is called H2-blockers, also known as Zantac and Tagamet. Another type of medications is called proton-pump inhibitors, commonly known as Prevacid and Prilosec. Some insurances do not cover all medications so check with the pediatrician and pharmacy to know what is covered in your drug plan.

When lifestyle modifications and medications have not improved the infant’s reflux then surgery may be recommended. Surgery known as fundoplication is used as a last resort for severe cases of reflux. It is important to discuss all options and possible complications with the child’s pediatrician. Do not wait to seek treatment for infant reflux as a happy baby makes for happier parents.

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