Acid reflux in infants is a surprisingly common problem. Doing a little research, I found that over %50 of all infants suffer from acid reflux. And, it’s not something that happens only after a big meal. It can occur anytime an infant strains, like when crying or coughing. This is when we saw it in our daughter. On her second day after being born, the doctors were concerned when they noticed that she stopped breathing for a few seconds during one of her checkups. She was in the middle of a crying fit when the doctor witnessed this happen. This resulted in her spending 7 days in the NICU where tests were run that resulted in a diagnosis of acid reflux. Obviously, we were petrified during this time and had no idea what was going on.

At the time, the doctors could not put their finger on what was causing her to stop breathing when she cried. Eventually, acid reflux was identified as the culprit. This was really music to our ears seeing as how the original “guesses” were possible lung or heart infections, or something that would have to be repaired surgically.

The most common symptoms for acid reflux in infants is spitting up and crying after feedings. Acid reflux is generally not something to be overly concerned about. However, you may want to seek out a doctor if you notice that your baby shows any of the following symptoms (this information was found in an article from the Mayo Clinic while researching this topic):
• Isn't gaining weight
• Spits up forcefully, causing stomach contents to shoot out of his or her mouth
• Spits up more than a tablespoon or two at a time
• Spits up green or brown fluid
• Resists feedings
• Seems hungry between feedings
• Has fewer wet diapers than normal or appears lethargic
• Has other signs of illness, such as fever, diarrhea or difficulty breathing
• Has a chronically hoarse voice

So, what causes acid reflux in infants?
There is a ring muscle above the stomach that should only open when you swallow. However, in infants, this muscle can be immature which results in the muscle not contracting completely. This can lead to stomach contents coming up the wrong way. Typically, infant acid reflux resolves itself after 18-24 months once this muscle has had time to mature.

Our daughter has now completely recovered from this problem. However, it did take over two years. And, one symptom we saw (or heard) was the sound she made when she cried. The doctors referred to this as stryder and it sounded awful, but eventually subsided as she got older.

Hopefully, you have had success in resolving your child's reflux issues. If your baby seems to be especially irritable at times, you may want to ask your doctor about this problem. It is incredibly common, although surprisingly few new parents are aware of it.

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