Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease is a frequent occurrence in babies, and can be a source of concern for parents. Although generally benign and linked to the immaturity of the digestive system, they can cause crying, irritability and sleep disturbances, making the first few months sometimes difficult. Fortunately, there are a number of simple and effective tips to relieve reflux symptoms and offer your baby – and yourself – a little respite. In this article, we present practical, everyday solutions to improve your little one’s comfort and well-being.

A few things you can do to soothe baby reflux:

• Feed more frequently but less each time;
• Inclined positioning during feeding;
• Avoid overfeeding (Beware of babies who are exclusively breastfed and who very often ask for the breast for comfort. They could swallow milk without being hungry and often without wanting to, which could create an overload in the stomach and increase reflux);
• Using a pacifier can help him swallow reflux (When breastfeeding is going very well, the pacifier can fill the baby’s need to suck between feeds, to avoid overfeeding a little one with a very strong need to suck);
• Burp them more often;
• Handle them carefully to avoid shaking them;
• Lay down your baby on their right side for 1 hour after feeding while watching them, then, on the left side for at least another hour while watching them. This follows the form of the stomach and avoids liquids coming up after feeding;
• Position them with the torso raised rather than lay them down flat;
• Use a baby carrier;
• Bouncing gently on a Pilates ball with baby in your arms can help soothe an uncomfortable baby;
• Avoid over-exciting them after feeding;
• Wait at least two hours after feeding before bathing them or lying them on their stomach to play;
• If they are covered in secretions, remove them before feeding;
• If you are breastfeeding and the ejection reflex is too strong, remove a bit of milk and/or give them just one breast at a time and/or position the baby straddling your leg facing the chest for feeding. They will be drinking in an anti-reflux position;
• If they are given formula, you may have to change it as it may be too difficult to digest (see partially hydrolyzed preparations), or use a thicker one. The latest recommendations (Nov. 2024) suggest that the first-line treatment should be to change the milk formula to one that is easier to digest for more sensitive children, before considering pharmacological treatment;²
• for mothers who pump breast milk, it is possible to thicken it (e.g. with starch);²
• Acupuncture and osteopathy are alternative methods that can comfort them;
• Certain homeopathic or natural products can also reduce the discomfort caused by reflux. And also the probiotics of the Reuteri strain. Even though they are less well-known than certain chemical molecules, positive clinical results are being observed;
• As a last resort, the doctor can prescribe an antacid for newborns to comfort them or help their growth. However, the medication can alter the baby’s intestinal microbiota, which will impact their defence and immunity.

Added to this are the following elements, resulting from the latest health updates¹:

• for a breastfeeding mother, try the cow’s milk avoidance regimen for 2 to 4 weeks and encourage repositioning of the baby,
• for the non-breastfeeding mother, thickened milk can be tried and thicker purees can also be encouraged depending on the age of the baby and the persistence of the reflux over time,
• treatment with antacids should not be systematic, as the medication may has side effects for the baby, such as an increase in pulmonary and gastrointestinal infections, as well as an increased risk of fractures. There is also a rebound effect when the medication is stopped,²
• antacid treatment should not be systematic, because medication also has side effects for the baby, such as an increase in pulmonary and gastrointestinal infections,
• pharmacological treatment of reflux should only be used for pathological reflux. For example: growth disorder in children or esophagitis with daily difficulties,
• treatment with an antacid (PPI) should be used for a maximum of 4 to 8 weeks, bearing in mind that the smallest quantity prescribed should be used for the shortest time possible. Longer-term use of this medication suggests that the side effects and health risks may outweigh the benefits for the baby.²

All these means can diminish the symptoms and comfort them a bit, but it takes time for the baby’s body to mature. In general, we see significant improvements in the situation after 4-5 months, but for some babies the discomfort will continue to between 6-12 months.

Updated article : November, 2024.

Other articles on the same topic:

• Can you differentiate between regurgitation, vomiting and reflux?
• My baby has difficulty sleeping because of reflux. What can I do? (in french)
• Does my baby have reflux?
• Can a strong ejection reflex cause colic?

References :

• ¹ Société canadienne de pédiatrie – mise à jour de 2023 sur la prise en charge médicale du reflux gastro-œsophagien chez le nourrisson en bonne santé.
• ¹ FMOQ – Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec (2024)
• ² CHU Sainte-Justine – Formation annuelle en gastro-entérologie (nov. 2024), Dre Véronique Groleau Md, FRCPC gastroentérologue pédiatrique