Home Remedies for Acid Reflux in Babies

Home Remedies for Acid Reflux in Babies

There are several signs of acid reflux in babies that may show that they are affected. These are gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) health condition signs. The signs may be:

There are good home remedies for acid reflux in babies that can cure this disorder.  Before going into natural remedies let us discuss a little to understand what is acid reflux in babies’ symptoms.

What Causes Acid Reflux in Babies

Acid reflux is not just for adults but infants and kids also can suffer from it. In the case of infants, the muscle between the stomach and the esophagus takes time to mature. Therefore, food items in the stomach can flow upwards very easily.

Infant reflux is also contributed by babies born prematurely, consuming a liquid diet, or lying flat mostly in many cases.

Kids spitting food or breast milk after feeding quite often and at the same time being fussier is called gastroesophageal reflux (GER). These are the most common acid reflux symptoms in babies.

The baby may be inclined to have reflux when its stomach is too full.  So, the best is to increase the number of times of feeding the baby. At the same time reduce the intake of milk by the bay at each feed.

Also to note that breastfed babies do benefit from the changed diet of the mother. There are studies that show feeding mothers controlling the intake of milk and eggs in their diet.

However, having said above if your baby is growing well and healthy then you need not worry much about acid reflux. Anyway, seek advice from the doctor so that you are sure that the baby is fine.

Natural Remedies for Acid Reflux in Babies

There are many acid reflux babies’ natural remedies that are effective to reduce the condition and combined discomforts, that babies undergo.

Home Remedies for Acid Reflux in Babies

1. Sleeping Adjustments for Babies with GERD

It is known that babies with acid reflux used to have sleeping difficulty mainly caused by sleeping in the incorrect position and then the timing which can make them fussier and their condition worse.

The best thing you could adopt is to ensure that the baby’s crib, head, or bed is elevated to 30 degrees. If you cannot adjust the crib or bed use some soft towels to have the necessary elevation when the baby sleeps. In this position, gravity plays a major role and prevents food or milk from flowing back from the stomach to the esophagus.

Also, another option is to make the baby sleep sideways to the left or on the right to avoid acid flowing into the esophagus.

The important point is never to feed the baby when in a sleeping position. Make your baby in an upright sitting position in your lap or hands while feeding.

Do not make the baby sleep or lay down immediately after feeding. Your baby should be in an upright position for about 30 minutes at least after feeding.

2. Right Massage Therapy

Regular and gentle massage improves the digestive system and its function in babies. The nerve called the vagus gets stimulated when massaged. This nerve actually controls the respiratory and digestive systems and gets the necessary signals from the brain.

Also, it assists the system in developing every part of the body faster. Massage also makes them feel good and reduces crying, good sleep, and increases to improve the cognitive ability of babies

Make your baby get into a lying position. Apply tepid coconut oil or olive oil to the baby’s stomach. Slowly and gently massage the baby’s stomach for five minutes with clockwise motions. Then massage in reverse for about two minutes.

Finally, massage legs and hands gently with long but firm strokes. You could repeat the massaging three times a day. Never massage the baby immediately after feeding.  Massing is one of the best home remedies for acid reflux in babies.

As per a study involving 36 infants, infants who received massage therapy showed fewer acid reflux symptoms. Also, gain weight, a good amount of sleep, and reduced cortisol levels.

3. Exercise for babies

As well known exercise is important for everybody irrespective of age and babies are also not an exception. The basic movement exercise helps to deal with baby acid reflux symptoms by improving digestion.

Always and importantly the exercise should not be started less than thirty minutes after feeding the baby. In the same way, the baby should not be fed immediately after exercise.

To treat acid reflux in infants try the exercise called bicycling which makes gas and bloating symptoms disappear.

Keep your baby in a lying position and hold the legs half-bent with both hands. Gently start moving the legs of your baby like he or she is riding a bicycle.

Do this for up to a maximum of ten minutes. This can be repeated as many times as you like in a day.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is also considered one of the excellent home remedies for reflux in babies suffering from its symptoms.

It assists in stabilizing the acidity levels in the digestive system, making digesting food a lot easier and stopping spitting up.

Additionally, it can assist in improving the body’s immune system and taking care of your child from repeated acidity disorder.

Take a ¼ teaspoon full of natural apple cider vinegar in a glass of tepid water. Feed a little of the solution to your infant at regular time intervals.

For children more than one year, you may include natural honey for additional flavor for nutritional advantages.

You can safely try apple cider vinegar for infant reflux for faster recovery.

5. Coconut Oil for Acid Reflux in Babies

The anti-inflammatory qualities of coconut oil assist in easing swelling coming from acid reflux. It also keeps the digestive system oiled to assist it to function a lot more efficiently.

The lauric acidity, a strong anti-microbial essential fatty acid in coconut oil, equally helps to protect the body’s immune system in infants.

Add a half teaspoon full of extra virgin coconut oil in tepid water or cereal prior to feeding it to the infant. Repeat Two or three times each day.  Breastfeeding mothers need to consume Two tablespoons of extra-virgin coconut oil to improve their baby’s immune system function.

Also, blend equivalent quantities of coconut oil and ginger oil. Rub it clockwise on the baby’s stomach area for One minute, a couple of times every day.

Coconut oil for acid reflux in babies is effective and safer to use as a natural remedy in babies.

6. How Chamomile helps in GERD in Babies

Chamomile is one of the good home remedies for Reflux in Infants. It has soothing and antispasmodic properties that help to relieve colic pain, induce relaxation, and improve digestion

Take a half teaspoon full of dried chamomile flowers in a glass of hot water and cover it to seep for ten minutes. Strain chamomile flowers from the water and let the solution cool down.

Give the baby 1 or 2 teaspoons full many times a day. Breastfeeding mothers can drink this cup of chamomile tea three times a day.

7. Peppermint Oil

The comforting and antispasmodic qualities of peppermint may quiet the digestive system and relieve symptoms of acid reflux. It could (blank) lower bloating and indigestion, generally connected with acid reflux in infants.

Blend two drops of peppermint oil in a tablespoon full of olive oil. Use the solution to massage gently the baby’s stomach area in circular motions. Repeat this at least two times a day.

It is good for breastfeeding mothers to drink peppermint tea three times a day or to consume peppermint capsules as a supplement with the doctor’s advice.

Having said the above, scientifically, the role of peppermint oil and peppermint tea in acid reflux requires more studies to prove. Therefore consult your doctor before trying peppermint oil or tea on infants.

8. Fennel tea

If the stomach ache of your baby is due to acid reflux, gas, or digestion disorder Fennel tea can be consumed as a remedy. In this case, both breastfeeding mothers and babies can benefit from drinking fennel tea.

Take one teaspoon of crushed fennel seeds in a glass of hot water and keep it for 10 minutes. Strain the solution and let it cool down. Give the baby half to one teaspoon of this herbal tea. This tea can be given three times a day.

Another way to feed the baby is to mix a little fennel seed powder in the cereal before feeding them.

So, fennel tea for babies is most considered by mothers in treating acid reflux.

9. Cumin Seeds and GERD in Babies

Cumin is another good natural remedy for treating reflux in babies. The seeds stimulate digestion and reduce digestive issues, such as acidity and gas.

Boil one teaspoon of cumin seeds in a glass of water and cover it for ten minutes.  Strain cumin seeds from the water and let them cool down.  Give to baby one or two teaspoons of this solution a few times a day.

Takeaway

Nursing mothers need to keep an eye on their dietary plan to assist and avoid acid reflux disorder in infants. Moreover, it has a strong effect on a baby’s well-being and also development, and growth.

Stop all milk products right away, since the proteins present in milk products can bother a baby’s immature digestive system.
Stay away from other well-known irritants such as gluten, wheat, nuts, citrus, soy, and eggs.

Restrict high-fat, deep-fried, or spicy food items, and also carbonated beverages, chocolate, and caffeinated drinks.  Stay away from alcoholic beverages and smoking cigarettes.

Nursing mothers should consume probiotic natural yogurt every day to boost their very own and their baby’s gastrointestinal systems.

Since water is really an important ingredient in breast milk, breastfeeding mothers need to consume lots of water every day to have their system hydrated.

Try these above-effective acid reflux natural remedies in babies. However, it will be good to always seek a doctor’s advice as it’s difficult to determine the baby’s behavior and the cause of the same.

Important: How to treat acid reflux in babies? Before trying the natural remedies for acid reflux in babies always take the advice of a doctor.

3 Sources:

Noble Home Remedies relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations for accuracy and reliability while avoiding tertiary references. Our editorial policy provides more information about how we ensure our content is accurate and up-to-date.

  1. What is the safest sleep solution for my baby with reflux?
    by HealthyChildren.org
  2. Miracle Oil – Coconut Oil
    Dr. Bruce Fife
  3. Risk factors for gastroesophageal reflux disease: the role of diet
    Published in PMC
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