Diet Nutrition and Lifestyle

Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER) occurs during or after a meal when stomach contents go back into the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. GER occurs often in normal infants. Most infants with GER are happy and healthy even though they spit up or vomit. Spitting up tends to peak at 4 months and most infants stop spitting up by 12 months of age. If your baby is spitting up without discomfort and is making appropriate weight gains, then he or she is probably a normal spitter. Things that you can do at home to help reduce spitting up:

Avoid overfeeding

1.	Don't feed the baby again after he or she spits up - wait until the next feeding.
2.	Consult your doctor to see if the baby is taking appropriately sized bottles or nursing the appropriate amount of time. For formula fed infants, feedings can be thickened
3.	For formula fed infants, try a hypoallergenic formula for 2 weeks
4.	Keep infant upright for at least 30 minutes after meals
5.	Avoid car seat positioning in the home Avoid tight diapers and elastic waistbands
6.	Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke

Most infants with GER will be helped with the treatment mentioned above. If symptoms are severe or persistent then your primary care provider may consider treatment with a medication or referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist.