Learn how to spot the signs and symptoms and get handy hints to help you manage your little one’s reflux.

Reflux and acid reflux happen when your baby's milk or food is swallowed and then comes back up their food pipe (also known as the oesophagus), causing them to be sick or spit out small amounts of milk¹.

Sometimes, the milk your baby brings back up is mixed with some of their stomach acid, which can cause your little one pain and discomfort².

Whether it’s spit-up over your shoulder or the result of those oh-so-cute newborn hiccups, as a parent, you’ll be no stranger to baby sick. Baby reflux, however, is very different from vomiting. When your baby vomits, they’re likely to do so with some force. With reflux, your baby is likely to bring up their milk with little to no effort, and in the main, they’ll be completely unbothered by it.

Whilst it can be both messy, tiring, and more than a little frustrating, reflux in babies is very common, affecting up to 40% of babies³. So, if this is something you’re dealing with, you’re definitely not on your own.

Take a look at some common baby reflux symptoms to help you spot the signs^{1, 4}:
 

• Bringing up small or large amounts of milk during and after feeding. This might happen quite regularly, with no other obvious signs of illness.
• Coughing, gulping and swallowing after feeding.
• Crying during and after feeds, often for long periods.
• Baby hiccups that keep recurring - hic!

For some babies, reflux symptoms can last for quite some time and be challenging to manage. This is known as gastro-oesophageal reflux (GORD/GERD). Infant GERD symptoms include your baby^{2, 5}:

• Losing weight or not gaining as they should.
• Being in distress.
• Refusing to feed.
• Waking up frequently during the night.
• Arching their back when feeding.
• A persistent hoarse cry.
• Chest infections caused by your baby breathing some of their sick into their windpipe⁶.

If your little one is displaying any of the above symptoms, always speak to your GP, to see if any treatment is needed².  

Sometimes, babies can display some symptoms of reflux without bringing up any of their feed. This is known as silent reflux.

The symptoms of silent reflux in babies are very similar to regular reflux. However, it can be tricky to diagnose. This is because, with silent reflux, your baby swallows the milk that comes back up their food pipe instead of being sick or spitting up⁷.  

Reflux in babies can happen whether they’re exclusively breastfed, formula-fed or combination-fed. So, what causes it to happen?

When your baby is born, their oesophagus (the pipe leading from your baby’s mouth to their stomach also known as the food pipe) isn’t yet fully developed.

Your baby’s oesophagus has a valve that closes over the stomach, helping food stay down and digested. This valve may not be quite ready to function in newborn babies. This means that milk and stomach acid occasionally come back up⁷, especially when they’re lying down for a lot of the time⁸.  

In those early weeks and months, your baby will spend much of their time lying down (nice work if you can get it). They also have a liquid diet for the first six months of life. Both of these things may well cause milk to make its way back up the food pipe. As your baby gets bigger, and once they’ve started weaning, the less likely they are to have the symptoms of reflux⁹.

If your baby is bottle-fed, controlling how much milk they take during each feed can be a challenge. Overfeeding can trigger the symptoms of reflux, so be sure to go at your baby’s pace and make sure that you’re offering your baby the recommended amount at each feed³.

You could also try a slow-flowing teat to stop your baby from guzzling their milk and taking in too much in one go.

Some studies have shown that an underlying cow’s milk allergy could cause reflux in babies. As a result, and because the symptoms can be very similar¹⁰, it’s always best to speak to your GP to rule out an allergy to cow’s milk¹¹.