Reflux and regurgitation are when your baby brings up small amounts of milk after a feed. It’s perfectly normal. In fact, around 30% of healthy babies experience regurgitation during their first year, while their digestive system is still maturing¹.

Read on to learn about the signs and symptoms to look out, what causes reflux and regurgitation, and how to relieve it.

Reflux (or acid reflux) in babies is when milk goes into your baby’s stomach, but then comes back up into their oesophagus – or food pipe². This is referred to as gastro-oesophageal reflux. If it becomes painful and happens frequently it’s known as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)².

Regurgitation (also known as ‘posseting’ or ‘spitting up’) is when milk goes into your baby’s stomach, but then comes back up into, or out of, their mouth. Unlike vomiting there’s no straining involved; it’s effortless, more like a hiccup².

Reflux and regurgitation are both very common and completely normal. You may worry that your little one isn’t getting enough nutrients, but as long as they aren’t showing signs of discomfort or losing weight, there shouldn’t be a problem.

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, (GORD, or GERD in the US), is when your baby experiences prolonged symptoms of acid reflux, which can become troublesome or begin to cause complications.

Confusingly, some babies suffer from silent reflux³. This is much harder to diagnose because they only bring up a small amount of milk, or don’t spit out what comes back up but swallow it instead. While babies with silent reflux might not appear to bring up their milk, and may even continue to gain weight normally, they may show some of the other symptoms of reflux.

It makes no difference if your baby is breast- or bottle-fed. Reflux can affect any baby from shortly after birth until their first birthday.

When your baby is born, the oesophagus (the pipe leading from your baby’s mouth to their stomach) isn’t always fully developed. The oesophagus has a valve which closes over the stomach, helping food to stay down and be digested. In newborn babies, this valve may not be quite ready to fully function, meaning that milk and stomach acid occasionally come back up. The good news is that this valve gets stronger during your baby’s first year of life. As this happens, the chances of your baby developing reflux get much, much lower⁴.

Feeding is new to your baby and their tiny tummy is still getting used to the sensation and process of eating and feeling full.

If your baby spends a lot of time lying down, with a lot of milk in their tummy it may be harder for them to digest.

This can cause discomfort in their tummy.

While reflux is usually nothing to worry about and generally resolves itself,

there are plenty of things you can do to help:

• Feed your baby little and often – smaller amounts of milk are more manageable for tiny tummies.
• Take your time – babies with reflux don’t cope well if feeding happens too quickly.
• Try to keep your baby upright during and after feeding.
• Try winding your baby before and after feeds.
• Avoid bouncing your baby up and down after a feed.
• Avoid dressing your baby in outfits that are tight around the waist.
• If you’re bottle-feeding, try a slow-flowing teat to stop your baby guzzling their milk and taking in too much in one go.
• You might also want to speak with your GP or pharmacist about the special infant formulas available for babies with reflux.

Last reviewed: 18th October 2020

Reviewed by Nutricia’s Medical and Scientific Affairs Team