- Baby spit up (reflux) is common and usually resolves over time. Your doctor may suggest some small changes to help reduce the reflux until it goes away.
- Babies with severe reflux may cry, act fussy, or have trouble eating. They also may not sleep well or grow as expected. Speak to your doctor about your baby’s reflux.
- Check your breastfeeding technique. Make sure baby is latching on well—your doctor or lactation consultant could help with this. You could always read our breastfeeding guide to getting a good latch.
- Make sure baby’s head and body are in a straight line when breastfeeding.
- Hold your baby fairly upright when bottle-feeding.
- Try having more breaks, gently burp baby a few times during each feeding.
- Ask your doctor or lactation consultant to watch while you burp your baby. They may have some tricks.
- Keep baby upright for up to 30 minutes after each feeding. Stick to calm cuddles and gentle activities, save playing airplanes for later.
- Avoid feeding too much at one time. Try giving smaller meals more often.
- Changing your own diet while breastfeeding is rarely necessary.
- Make sure you’ve got clean towels or burping cloths on hand for clean-ups.
- Speak to your doctor about probiotics—research has shown that a probiotic called L. reuteri can reduce the frequency of mild spit-ups in babies^,1.
- Continue to speak to your doctor if baby’s reflux symptoms do not improve after a couple of weeks or if you are concerned about how your baby is growing.
Sources
^In breastfed babies
1Garofoli F, et al. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2014;65(5):646-648.
Health Link BC. Gastroesophageal Reflux in Babies and Children. https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/tb1848 Accessed September 2020
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