Natural Treatment for Reflux

Updated on November 23, 2009
K.H. asks from Princeton Junction, NJ
9 answers

I have a 9 week old son who I think has a mild case of reflux. About once per week he will have what I think are reflux "episodes". The Dr. suggested Zantac if the episodes start happening more frequently. I am not against trying it but I was curious as to whether or not anyone could recommend some natural remedies as well for reflux. He is already taking gripe water some evenings for Colic.
thanks!

1 mom found this helpful

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Thank you for all of your responses and suggestions! I did purchase a Nap Nanny chair for my son and he is sleeping very well in it. His reflux has, however, gotten worse so we are now starting him on Zantac. I am also trying to go dairy free as well. I already am wheat free because I have Celiac. Thanks again for all of the help!

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.G.

answers from New York on

I tried a whole bunch of stuff for my little guy's reflux, and nothing really worked. When I finally got him on Zantac, and the dose was adjusted correctly, he became a completely new baby. Happy as could be! He still spit up a lot, but his screaming and crying decreased tremendously! I felt bad that I'd made him wait so long for relief... :(

I also held him upright in a carrier a lot, which I believe helped too.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.F.

answers from St. Cloud on

Hi Kaie! I use natural remedies whenever I can BUT I caution you about using some of the advice here. Please do not use baking soda to treat your infant.

My daughter had severe reflux. We took her to the chiropractor, used gripe water and eventually had to use Zantac. I am so glad I finally saw reason and used the Zantac. It was only for 2 months and it took away her pain.

Good luck! It's hard to see our babies in pain, isn't it?

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.K.

answers from Washington DC on

My infant started spitting up around two-three weeks of age. Doctor prescribed zantac. It helped a little but not completely. It tasted so bad, i felt terrible giving it to my little baby. So i did my own research. I was breastfeeding him exclusively at the time and I did an elimination diet and found that dairy was the culprit. Two weeks off of dairy, his spitup completely disappeared.

Before I found out dairy was the culprit, I had to hold him upright for atleast 30 mins after every feeding or else he would spit up all over the blanket or cry uncontrollably. Even holding him upright for that long, he would still spit up sometimes. He liked to sleep in his car seat and that seemed to help, but made him congested. I think the pressure from the stomach bending while sitting in the infant seat pushed the acid into his throat or something. Some people say infant seats are good for reflux and some say its bad because of too too much pressure on the stomache. I personally think its a bad idea, but he seemed so comfortable in it and it was the only way to get him to sleep for longer than an hour at a time.

His reflux was so bad that putting a wedge on the mattress to make it slightly elevated made no difference. I looked into getting a tucker sling where the infant lays kind of in an upright position without undue pressure on the stomache. But before I got a chance to order it, my son's reflux disappeared while on my dairy elimination diet.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.S.

answers from New York on

Try feeding him in the infant seat so he is upright and let him stay for a short while to digest properly. I am not sure if your doctor will allow you but I gave my son who was colic chamomile tea with a little sugar to help him digest and also to help go to the bathroom. He is going to be 25 so many things have changed. Personally I do not know how giving a little chamomile tea and sugar could be harmful. I think I would rather do that before using Zantac or Prevacid but who am I to say. I'm told I am old school. When my kids grew up I fed my kids solids at three months old, took them off the bottle at a year old, let them sleep on their tummies, and used a vaporizer instead of a humidifier LOL!! All doctor recommended. So many things changed so check with the doctor first. My son had a terrible time moving his bowels because of the colic so the tea and sugar would help him. I also used Neutramagin formula and that helped as well. The milk proteins are broken down making it easier to digest. It was expensive then so I can't imagine how much it is now. I do know some of the insurance companies will pay for special formula with a doctors prescription. Good luck!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.Q.

answers from New York on

I am in the same boat. I have a 9 week old little girl with reflux. we tried Zantac and it made it worse. I switched her formula to Nutramigen and this helped then I put her on Pepcid and when it really is bad I use Maalox at the docotrs orders to calm down her gi track. She is a happy baby but really uncomfortable when it is acting up. I keep her upright for 30 minutes after feeding and listen her cues when she is hungry and how much she wants to eat. I just started putting rice in the bottle to keep the acid down. It has helped but I am still waying the thickening of the feeds. I also found this seat called the napnanny I just got it in the mail and it was made by a mom whose baby had reflux. it is raised 30 degrees and is really comfy for the babies unlike the other slings that look so uncomfortable. I have out her in it twice now and she seems to like to sit in it after feedings. Check it out any more info you get pass it my way

N.T.

answers from New York on

Hi K.:

It sounds as if your son developed digestive problems in-utero. To prevent further harm, consider a natural therapy consultation to address the issue in-depth. The solutions lie in thoroughly assessing the challenge; his diet, environmental factors, your diet when pregnant with him, his emotional response to stress, etc.

You may contact me for a consultation via ###-###-####. Visit webpage www.wholecreations.com/wombfull.html to learn more about the service.

All the best,

N.
Holistic Healthcare Provider

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.H.

answers from New York on

Our son had that when he was an infant, and we were told that most infants have that since the valve is not fully formed yet in all infants. We were told to just hold our son upright for 1/2 to 1 hour after feeding him. It worked great. You just need to give the milk a chance to digest.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.F.

answers from Jamestown on

Good morning mother, I'm not a doctor or professional, therefore, my advice is strictly from the wisdom of passed down generations of moms. We always used a pinch of baking soda in warm water and drank it down--done deal! I forgot to include *warm water, not warm warm.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.C.

answers from Chicago on

my friends daughter just turned a year & figured out the reflux was a wheat allergy....figuring reflux out is very time consuming and hard for the Dr.'s to really know whats going on so good for you getting as much info as possible for your new baby boy, best of luck

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions