Acid reflux is something that can affect many children. In the past, there wasn't a treatment for it. With kids that have acid reflux, instead of being what we call happy spitters (because a lot of babies will spit up), they will have pain when they spit up. So they will be fussy when they eat, they will often arch, often have challenges when they are laid flat (because when you are upright, gravity helps keep some of it down in the stomach).
You don't treat every kid with medication who has acid reflux. Sometimes some simple maneuvers, keeping kids upright and small frequent feeds, are enough. However, if a kid isn't gaining weight, if they're very irritable with it, or if they have any breathing problems because of it, these are all things that you should consider getting medical treatment for.
There are several different medications -- again, it is rare that kids will have to take medication for this. The different medication brand names that people would recognize include Zantac, Pepcid, Prevacid, Prilosec.
Kids that have the most severe reflux -- something called "failure to thrive" (where they are not able to grow, or if they have continual breathing issues from it) -- actually need to see a specialist (a gastroenterologist), and there are some procedures that can be done to help. But again, that's very rare.
Acid reflux is something that can affect many children. In the
past, there wasn't a treatment for it. With kids that have acid
reflux, instead of being what we call happy spitters (because a lot
of babies will spit up), they will have pain...
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Some docs will prescribe meds for children suffering from reflux, but you should also try some at-home tactics to help minimize the discomfort. In infants, be sure to burp your baby frequently during feedings (every 1 to 2 ounces or every five minutes when breast-feeding if he or she is a spitty baby) and prop up your baby after meals to allow gravity to work; backwash can happen more easily when an infant is lying down flat. If you're breast-feeding, you can also help by minimizing your own consumption of gassy foods such as onions, cruciferous vegetables (for instance, cabbage and cauliflower), and dairy. With toddlers and preschoolers, try adjusting their diet to see if certain foods trigger acid.
Find out more about this book: YOU: Raising Your Child: The Owner's Manual from First Breath to First Grad...
Dr. Kim J. Gehle of Intermountain Healthcare answered:Acid reflux is something that can affect many children. In the past, there wasn't a treatment for it. With kids that have acid reflux, instead of being what we call happy spitters (because a lot of babies will spit up), they will have pain when they spit up. So they will be fussy when they eat, they will often arch, often have challenges when they are laid flat (because when you are upright, gravity helps keep some of it down in the stomach).
