Infant Reflux
Infant reflux is a condition in which milk and other fluids flow back up from the stomach into the esophagus. It’s also called gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Babies with this condition may spit up or vomit. It can occur during or after feedings, and it may affect how much and how well they eat. Reflux is common in infants, but it can be hard on parents and caregivers.
What causes infant reflux?
Infant reflux is a frequent occurrence, especially in the first three months of life. In fact, most babies experience this condition at some point during their first year. Infant reflux occurs when milk, formula, or breast milk flows back up from a baby’s stomach into his esophagus. This can cause severe discomfort and even vomiting in infants, although the symptoms tend to be most severe during feeding times.
Foods That Cause Acid Reflux
Acid reflux causes heartburn, which is a burning sensation in the chest and neck caused by stomach acids refluxing into the esophagus and irritating the lining. Heartburn can be uncomfortable, but it’s usually not serious. While there’s no cure for heartburn, there are many ways to manage it effectively. Several common foods can cause acid reflux in babies. The most common offenders are spicy, fried, or acidic foods. Foods such as candy or those high in sugar can also be to blame.
Acidic Foods
Acid reflux in babies is caused by eating acidic foods. Acidic foods produce esophageal inflammation, which eventually leads to heartburn. Babies don’t have the digestive system sophisticated enough to handle acidic foods like adults do. This is why they suffer from acid reflux after eating certain foods. It triggers heartburn or other symptoms in babies. Acidic food is the major cause of acid reflux in babies, so if you have a baby who has frequent acidity, then it is better to give him/her more alkaline food for proper digestion. Reflux can be caused due to many other factors, like not chewing properly, overeating, drinking too many carbonated drinks, etc.,
Spicy food
Spicy food can irritate the lining of your baby’s esophagus, causing acid to back up into the esophagus. The irritation can cause painful symptoms like regurgitation (bringing up stomach contents), nausea and vomiting. Babies are more likely to experience acid reflux if they are breastfed or bottle-fed with a formula that has cow’s milk in it.
Fried Foods
This condition is commonly caused by the consumption of fried foods. Babies are more prone to acid reflux if they are eating fried foods for the first time, as their digestive systems are not yet strong enough to handle them. The baby’s stomach is smaller than an adult’s. Therefore, it makes sense that the intake of foods should be limited so as not to cause indigestion or acid reflux in babies.
Milk and Dairy Products
Many babies are lactose intolerant. That means that their small stomachs can’t properly digest certain dairy products, which then end up in the baby’s large intestine. This is where they ferment and cause serious pain for your baby. Dairy products are high in fat and protein, both of which are difficult for a baby to digest. You may also want to consider avoiding milk or other dairy products if your baby has colic.
Citrus Fruits and Juices
The acid in citrus fruits and juices such as orange, lemon, lime, and grapefruit can irritate the lining of your baby’s esophagus (food pipe) and cause acid reflux. Your baby may develop an acidic taste in their mouth or be cranky after drinking these juices. The best way to prevent this is to dilute the juice with water by mixing it 50:50 with expressed breastmilk or formula before giving it to your baby. Do not add sugar or honey.
Caffeine and chocolate.
Babies are sensitive to caffeine. Acid reflux can happen to them often, especially if they’re given coffee. Caffeine is found in many things that people wouldn’t think of as caffeinated. For example, chocolate has caffeine in it. It’s not the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee, but it does have some amount of caffeine in it. Caffeine can cause acid reflux for babies due to the simple fact that their digestive system isn’t completely developed.
Alcoholic drinks
Alcoholic drinks that cause acid reflux in babies should be avoided. The foremost thing that should be done is to stay away from any kind of alcoholic drink during the initial stages of pregnancy. Alcohol is not allowed for pregnant women as it can lead to birth defects or other issues. It also increases the chances of miscarriage. To know what alcohol is safe for babies, you have to know which ones are unsafe. Many beverages have a high content of sugar and yeast that can cause acid reflux in a baby. These include beer, carbonated drinks, coffee in moderation, juice in moderation, and dairy products with added sugar.
Excess salt or sodium in a baby’s diet
Excess salt or sodium content in a baby’s diet causes acid reflux in babies. Frequent vomiting, crankiness, and colic are not just the result of teething. A simple change of diet can help your baby get relief from these symptoms. The growth and development of a child are directly related to breastfeeding and taking all meals at home. Most kids feed on formula milk prepared by mothers with water. But some people who have no faith in breastfeeding use bottled water for preparing formula.
Tomatoes
Caffeine
Coffee is one of the most consumed drinks in the world and is a favorite among many people. But some do not like coffee because it has a lot of health issues associated with it. One such issue is acid reflux. If you have been drinking coffee and your child gets acid reflux, then stop giving them coffee or at least limit their consumption to small amounts.
Fruit and vegetable
Most doctors recommend introducing your baby to solid food when he is between four and six months old. As a parent, you will be eager to feed your baby all kinds of colorful foods and healthy snacks, but you must choose the right ones. If your baby suffers from acid reflux, some vegetables might not be safe for him.
In conclusion
When your infant has reflux, it’s not uncommon for you to start doubting yourself as a parent. You may feel like you’re doing something wrong, but this isn’t true; breastmilk is designed to be digested easily by babies. The following foods are some of the most common triggers that cause reflux in infants.
If your child develops symptoms of reflux after eating any of these foods, stop feeding them immediately. Each of these foods is easily found at the grocery store, but they can be tricky to identify because their names aren’t always accurate. The best way to know if a food contains one of these ingredients is to read the ingredients list on the food packaging or jar. If you are unsure about whether or not a certain food contains one of these substances, it’s best to avoid feeding it to your baby while he or she is undergoing treatment for reflux.
