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Alternative Cures for Infant Acid Reflux

Some infants are susceptible to acid reflux. Overfeeding, improper sleeping positioning, or gastric distress can contribute to the outflow of stomach fluids into the esophagus, causing the infant to be irritable and in pain. The baby will have a lot spit-up problems and will suffer from a sour stomach. Although acid reflux in an infant should be reviewed by a pediatrician, there are some alternative treatments that may prove effective at relieving the infant's symptoms.

  1. Positioning

    • The position in which your baby sleeps and eats will have a lot to do with how bad the acid reflux and spitting up will be. By purchasing or making a sleeping and feeding wedge, you can save yourself and your baby a lot of pain and suffering. Feeding your baby on a wedge--so that his spine remains straight--will put less pressure on his stomach and less acids will work their way up from the stomach. Infants should stay upright for 60 to 90 minutes after eating. Putting a baby to sleep on a wedge will keep his head and chest elevated, stopping the amount of acid reaching the esophagus.

    Chiropractor

    • Weekly visits to a chiropractor may help your baby's acid reflux. The chiropractor will do very small fingertip adjustments to your baby, manipulating the nerve endings that run from the brain down the spine, which can help with your baby's reflux. The chiropractor can very gently align the infant's spine, which may prove effective at lowering the amount of stomach acids that flare up after your baby eats.

    Gripe Water

    • Gripe water is another way to try to settle the acid in your baby's stomach. Gripe water is water that is mixed with several herbs, including ginger, chamomile, fennel and peppermint. It is said to have a calming effect on your baby's whole digestive system, leading their stomach to produce less acid. Gripe water is available at most health-food stores and many infant-supply stores. If your baby is bottle-fed, simply use the gripe water instead of the standard tap or sterile water you normally use. If your baby is breast-fed, try using an infant dropper to drop some of the gripe water into your baby's mouth before or after you nurse.

    Tips

    • You may need to try more than one strategy to find what works best for your baby.

      Do not try any alternative treatments for your child without first consulting with a health-care professional.

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