Infant Reflux

A natural infant acid reflux treatment (GERD)

How the Amby Baby Hammock Relieves Reflux with Newborn Babies

The Amby Baby Hammock allows baby to sleep in a slightly upright angle, allowing gravity to keep the stomach acid and food where it belongs - in the stomach. Baby has less acid reflux pain and enjoys a more restful night's sleep. And so do you! Anytime baby does stir and squirm, the gentle bouncing movements of the Amby will lull baby back to sleep before baby fully awakens.

Some babies with GER experience pain to such a degree and frequency that antacid medications are often needed to help baby sleep. The upright sleep position and rocking motions of the Amby may be so effective that your baby may not need medication.

What is Gastric Infant Reflux?

Gastro-Esophageal Reflux (GER) causes severe heartburn pain when milk and stomach acid flow backwards up into the oesophagus. Normally, gravity keeps breast milk or formula in the stomach, but when a baby lies flat, the stomach contents are allowed to "reflux" back into the oesophagus. During sleep, this acid irritation will cause frequent night waking, pain, excessive spitting up, and restless sleep patterns.

What causes Reflux with Babies?

Infant Reflux is a well-known condition in premature babies, but can happen with up to 20% of all newborns. Gastro-Esophageal Reflux (GER)is caused when milk and stomach acid flow reflex back into the throat.

Typically, gravity keeps breast milk or formula in the babies' stomach. However, when a baby lies flat, as they would in a cot or a Moses basket, the milk is more likely to "reflux" back into the oesophagus.

Acid Reflux is most liable to happen during sleep when the baby isn't moving as much, which will cause restlessness, frequent night waking, pain, excessive spitting up and a lot of sleepless nights for mum and dad. 

How do you know if your baby is suffering from Reflux?

Babies that are affected by Infant Acid Reflux will usually display some or all of the following symptoms:

  • Problems with breathing
  • Persistent spitting up or vomiting
  • Resolute Coughing
  • Poor mood and irritability
  • Difficulties with feeding

Some of the more severe symptoms of Infant Reflux, as well as the ones listed above, are below. If you notice any of the following symptoms of Acid Reflux, please check with your GP:

  • Refusal to feed
  • Vomiting bile, blood or repeated projectile vomiting
  • Persistent crying
  • Intestinal distention
  • Severe constipation
  • Stools that are bloody or jet-black
  • Weight loss or reduced weight gain

If you are worried that your baby might be suffering from Infant Reflux, it might be a good idea to keep a diary to show your doctor. Make a note of when your baby feeds, how often they are spitting up and when they have periods of crying.

How common is Gastric Infant Reflux with Babies?

In the early months, around two-thirds of all babies have some degree of GER, which accounts for the frequent spitting up that most babies have.

The spitting up does not usually bother these babies, dubbed "happy spitters." It is not painful, does not slow weight gain, and is more of a laundry problem than a medical one. GER becomes a problem (called GERD – gastroesophageal reflux disease) when it causes painful irritation or damage to the oesophagus, interferes with growth and development, interferes with feeding and sleeping, and/or contributes to respiratory problems.  But this is rare.

How long does Reflux last?

Symptomatic GER usually starts between two to four weeks of age, peaks around four months of age and begins to subside around seven months of age, when babies begin spending most of their days upright, start solid foods and by the law of gravity, food stays down easier. Most infants will outgrow GER by one year of age – known as "walking away from GER." Yet, in some children, GER continues throughout childhood, and sometimes into adulthood, where it is manifested more by "heartburn" and "wheezing" episodes.

But again, this is rare.

How does Reflux affect babies sleeping?

Another common problem for babies with GER is that their frequent reflux pain often interrupts their naptime. Long naps are not only important for babies, they are a way for tired parents to find time to relax, get some things done around the house, or catch up on much-needed sleep themselves. The Amby is a perfect way to help your baby get those long naps you BOTH need.

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