Recognizing Acid Reflux/GERD In Infants: 10 Common Signs

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribeParenthoodExplore more in GERD

Related Topics

Symptoms
Symptoms
Related Articles
- Symptoms
- Epigastric Pain
- Stomach Gurgling
- Burning Throat
- Tightness in Throat
- Gas Pain in Chest
- Burning Chest
- Burping
- Stomachache After Eating
- Shortness of Breath
- In Infants
- Burning stomach
- Nausea
- Abdominal Pain and Burping
- Heaviness in Stomach
- Chest Pain
- Throat Tension
- Regurgitation
- Stomach Pain
- Coughing
- Coughing after eating
- Back Pain After Eating
- Fatigue
- Sore Throat
- Persistent Heartburn
- Gas Pain
- Burning Tongue
- Heartburn and Swallowing
- Sour Stomach
Treatment
Treatment
Related Articles
- Treatment
- Pantoprazole
- Treating Throat Symptoms
- Lansoprazole
- Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL)
- Esomeprazole
- Nexium vs. Prilosec
- Famotidine Side Effects
- Metoclopramide
- Carafate
- Probiotics
- Antacids
- Pantoprazole Side Effects
- Surgery
- For infants
- Medications for infants
- Rabeprazole
- H2 Blockers
- Over-the-Counter Options
- Fundoplication
- Prilosec vs. Zantac
- Proton Pump Inhibitors
- Dexilant Side Effects
- Prokinetics
- Antacids
- Linx Procedure
- Alternative approaches
- Aripiprazole
- TIF Procedure
- Dexlansoprazole
- Famotidine Cost
- Dexilant Dosage
- Pantoprazole Cost
- Omeprazole Cost
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Related Articles
- Endoscopy
- Diagnosis
Related Conditions
Related Conditions
Related Articles
- Heartburn vs. Acid Reflux
- Stomach Ulcers
- Irritable Bowl Syndrome
- Barretts Esophagus
- Post Nasal Drip
- Anxiety
- Heartburn
- Hypochlorhydria
- vs. LPR
- Liver Disease
- Asthma
- Thyroid
- Ulcer vs. Heartburn
- Nutcracker Esophagus
- GERD Without Esophagitis
- Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
- Obesity And Heartburn
- Functional Dyspepsia
- Hiatal Hernia And Heartburn
- Esophageal Cancer
- Hiatal Hernia
Home Remedies
Home Remedies
Related Articles
- Home Remedies
- Heartburn Relief
- Home Remedies For Indigestion
- Tea For Upset Stomach
- Baking Soda
- Licorice Root
- Vitamins
- Slippery Elm
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Honey
- Papain
- Wedge Pillows
- Ginger
- Aloe Vera Juice
- Lemon Water
- Zinc Carnosine
- Herbs
- Chamomile Tea
- Turmeric
- Yoga
- Alginates
- Magnesium
- Essential Oils
Diet
Diet
Related Articles
- Diet
- Beverages
- Natural Digestive Enzymes
- Foods To Avoid
- Foods That Cause Heartburn
- Coffee and Tea
- Silent Reflux Diet
- Peanut Butter
- Sugar
- Chocolate
- Milk
- Alcohol
- Apples
- Diet Guidelines
- Cinnamon
- Pomegranate Juice
- Pickle Juice
Causes & Risk Factors
Causes & Risk Factors
Related Articles
- Fish Oil
- High Stomach Acid
- Acid Reflux At Night
- Smoking
- Pregnancy
- in Infants
- Weight Loss
- Genetics
- Stress
Prevention
Prevention
Related Articles
- Prevention
- Preventing Heartburn
- Chewing Gum
Complications
Complications
Related Articles
- Complications
- Dysphagia
- Benign Esophageal Stricture
- Effects on Throat
- Voice Change
- Night Sweats
- Heart Palpitations
- Constipation
- Headaches
- Effects on Teeth
- Headache
- Bad Breath
- Anemia
- Not Improving with Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)
Management
Management
Related Articles
- Sleep tips

Recognizing Acid Reflux/GERD in Infants

Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M.D. — Written by Tayla Holman — Updated on March 9, 2023

Effect on infants
Spitting up and vomiting
Trouble eating
Irritability
Wet burps or hiccups
Failure to gain weight
Arching their body
Coughing or pneumonia
Gagging or choking
Chest pain or heartburn
Trouble sleeping
Takeaway

Babies can get acid reflux due to underdeveloped esophagus muscles, leading to spitting and vomiting, feeding refusal, difficulty sleeping and growing, and frequent lung infections.

Acid reflux happens when the contents of the stomach back up into the esophagus.

The esophagus is the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. At the bottom of the esophagus — where it joins the stomach — is a ring of muscle that normally opens when you swallow. This ring of muscle is known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).

When the LES doesn’t close completely, stomach contents and digestive juices can come back up into the esophagus.

Acid reflux’s effect on infants

Infants are more prone to acid reflux because their LES may be weak or underdeveloped. In fact, it’s estimated that more than half of all infants experience acid reflux to some degree.

The condition usually peaks at age 4 months and goes away on its own between 12 and 18 months of age.

It’s rare for an infant’s symptoms to continue past 24 months. If they persist, it may be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is a more severe condition. While they may vary, the 10 most common signs of acid reflux or GERD in infants include:

spitting up and vomiting
refusal to eat and difficulty eating or swallowing
irritability during feeding
wet burps or hiccups
failure to gain weight
abnormal arching
frequent coughing or recurrent pneumonia
gagging or choking
chest pain or heartburn
disturbed sleep

1. Spitting up and vomiting

Spitting up is normal for infants. However, forceful spit-up may be a symptom of GERD. This is especially true if your infant is older than 12 months and still spitting up forcefully after meals.

Spitting up blood, green or yellow fluid, or a substance that looks like coffee grounds may also signify GERD or other more serious disorders.

Spitting up is normally painless. Your baby should still appear happy and healthy after spitting up. Forceful spitting up or vomiting is more painful and will be followed by crying and fussing.

2. Refusal to eat and difficulty eating or swallowing

Your infant may refuse to eat if they experience pain during feeding. This pain might be due to the irritation that occurs when the contents of the stomach come back up into their esophagus.

3. Irritability during feeding

Infants with GERD may also start screaming and crying during feeding. The response is usually due to abdominal discomfort or esophageal irritation.

4. Wet burps or hiccups

A wet burp or wet hiccup is when an infant spits up liquid when they burp or hiccup. This can be a symptom of acid reflux or, less commonly, GERD.

5. Failure to gain weight

Weight loss or failure to gain weight may occur as a result of excessive vomiting or poor feeding associated with acid reflux or GERD.

6. Abnormal arching

Infants may arch their body during or after feeding. It’s thought that this may be due to a painful burning sensation caused by the buildup of stomach fluid in the esophagus.

Abnormal arching may be a neurologic problem on its own. However, it can be a symptom of GERD if your baby also spits up or refuses to eat.

7. Frequent coughing or recurrent pneumonia

Your infant may cough frequently due to acid or food coming up into the back of the throat. The regurgitated food can also be inhaled into the lungs and windpipe, which may lead to chemical or bacterial pneumonia.

Other respiratory problems, such as asthma, can develop as a result of GERD as well.

8. Gagging or choking

Your baby may gag or choke when stomach contents flow back into their esophagus. The position of your baby’s body during feeding can make it worse.

Gravity helps keep the contents of the stomach down. It’s best to keep your infant in an upright position for at least 30 minutes after feeding them to prevent food or milk from coming back up.

9. Chest pain or heartburn

Regurgitated stomach contents may irritate the esophageal lining and cause heartburn.

This is one of the most common signs of acid reflux in older children and adults, but it may be hard to recognize in infants.

10. Disturbed sleep

GERD and reflux can make it more difficult for your baby to sleep through the night.

Try to feed your baby long before bedtime so stomach contents have a chance to settle fully. There are other ways to help your baby sleep, too.

Takeaway

It’s important to speak with your baby’s doctor or pediatrician if you think your infant has GERD.

The doctor can rule out other conditions or confirm a GERD diagnosis. They can also suggest certain lifestyle changes that may help treat your baby’s GERD or acid reflux.

Uncategorized
Parenthood
Baby

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)/heartburn. (n.d.).https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/g/gastroesophageal-reflux-disease-gerdheartburn.html
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) in children.https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=90&ContentID=P01994
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Infant reflux.https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infant-acid-reflux/symptoms-causes/syc-20351408
Pediatric GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease). (2018).https://www.entnet.org/content/pediatric-gerd-gastro-esophageal-reflux-disease

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M.D. — Written by Tayla Holman — Updated on March 9, 2023

Related Topics

Symptoms

Related Articles

Treatment

Related Articles

Diagnosis

Related Articles

Related Conditions

Related Articles

Home Remedies

Related Articles

Diet

Related Articles

Causes & Risk Factors

Related Articles

Prevention

Related Articles

Complications

Related Articles

Management

Related Articles

Acid reflux’s effect on infants

1. Spitting up and vomiting

2. Refusal to eat and difficulty eating or swallowing

3. Irritability during feeding

4. Wet burps or hiccups

5. Failure to gain weight

6. Abnormal arching

7. Frequent coughing or recurrent pneumonia

8. Gagging or choking

9. Chest pain or heartburn

10. Disturbed sleep

Takeaway

How we reviewed this article:

related stories

Contact