How To Identify Silent Reflux In Babies

Silent reflux happens when stomach acid and contents come back up in to the esophagus and is then swallowed back down. This is more painful than normal acid reflux as it burns the baby's throat as it travels up and then again back down. Baby's with silent reflux often cry or scream as if in pain for prolonged periods for no apparent reason. Silent reflux is more difficult to diagnose than acid reflux as the spitting up and weight loss commonly associated with reflux is not present.

The symptoms of silent reflux can vary from child to child, and just because your baby experiences a few of them does not mean he/she is definitely suffering from this condition. Therefore you should always take your baby to a doctor who can provide you with a proper diagnosis as well as advice about treatment. Some common symptoms to look out for and inform the doctor of include:

- Pain in the tummy or chest - as your baby cannot tell you if they are experiencing this, look out for them flailing their arms around in an attempt to relieve this pain.

- Often waking during sleep - it is normal for babies to wake up during the night, however it is not uncommon for babies with silent acid reflux to awaken half a dozen times screaming and crying in pain.

- Overfeeding or wanting to feed constantly- the purpose of this is to temporarily soothe throat. However, it will actually make the baby's reflux worse as there is more in their stomach to bring up. Overfeeding is usually difficult to judge if you are breastfeeding your baby so look out for excessive weight gain.

- Prolonged periods of crying or screaming in pain for no apparent reason - particularly during or immediately after feeding.

- Constant or reoccurring cough. . Sour or bitter bad breath. . Loss of voice or hoarseness.

- Difficulty swallowing - this is because it is painful for you baby to swallow as their throat has been burned by the stomach acid.

- Earache or ear infections - These can be difficult to identify clearly but are worth asking your doctor to check for.

When feeding a child with reflux you should position them upright and keep them upright for at least 45 minutes afterwards. If possible try to keep your baby's head at least 30% higher than their stomach all day and night. If your baby is formula-fed try thickening the formula as this will encourage it to stay down. If your baby is over 4 months old, and there is no medical reason to prevent this, begin weaning them on to solid food. If you have weaned your baby, try to ensure the final meal of the day is solids. Regardless of what your baby is eating, make sure their meals are small and frequent.

Consult your doctor before beginning any form of treatment; They will discuss the various ways you can help your baby.