Reflux in babies
Reflux is when a baby brings up milk, or is sick, during or shortly after feeding. It's very common and usually gets better on its own.
Reflux usually starts before a baby is 8 weeks old and gets better by the time they're 1.
Symptoms of reflux in babies include:
- bringing up milk or being sick during or shortly after feeding
- coughing or hiccupping when feeding
- being unsettled during feeding
- swallowing or gulping after burping or feeding
- crying and not settling
- not gaining weight as they're not keeping enough food down
Sometimes babies may have signs of reflux, but will not bring up milk or be sick. This is known as silent reflux.
Your baby does not usually need to see a doctor if they have reflux, as long as they're happy, healthy and gaining weight.
Do
- ask a health visitor for advice and support
- get advice about your baby's breastfeeding position or how to bottle feed your baby
- hold your baby upright during feeding and for as long as possible after feeding
- give formula-fed babies smaller feeds more often
- make sure your baby sleeps flat on their back (they should not sleep on their side or front)
Don't
- do not change your diet if you're breastfeeding
- do not raise the head of their cot or Moses basket
See a GP if your baby:
- is not improving after 2 weeks of trying things to ease reflux
- gets reflux for the first time after they're 6 months old
- is older than 1 and still has reflux
- is not gaining weight or is losing weight
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if your baby:
- has sick that's green or yellow, or has blood in it
- has blood in their poo
- has a swollen or tender tummy
- has a very high temperature or they feel hot or shivery
- keeps being sick and cannot keep fluid down
- has diarrhoea that lasts for over a week or has signs of dehydration
- will not stop crying and is very distressed
- is refusing to feed
If a GP thinks something else is making your baby sick, they may send your baby for tests in hospital with a specialist.
A GP or specialist may recommend some treatments for reflux.
If your baby is formula-fed, you may be given:
- a powder that's mixed with formula to thicken it
- a pre-thickened formula milk
If the thickening powder does not help or your baby is breastfed, a GP or specialist might recommend medicines that stop your baby's stomach producing as much acid.
In very rare cases, surgery might be needed to strengthen the muscles to stop food or milk travelling back up.
This is usually only after trying other things or if their reflux is severe.
Reflux happens because muscles at the base of your baby's food pipe have not fully developed, so milk can come back up easily.
Your baby's muscles will develop as they get older and they should grow out of it.
Page last reviewed: Fri Feb 2022 Next review due: Fri Feb 2022
