🩺 Health · From birth to 1 year
🤮 Acid reflux or just normal spit-up?
Most uncomplicated spit-up improves with growth; persistent pain or poor growth needs medical advice.
Telling the Difference
- Small effortless spit-ups can be normal when baby is comfortable, feeding well and growing.
- Crying, arching or disturbed sleep alone do not diagnose reflux disease or silent reflux.
- Persistent pain, poor feeding or growth concerns need a clinician’s assessment.
Anti-Reflux Tactics
1. Feeding comfort
Ask about feeding technique and volumes. Hold upright while both of you are awake if helpful; do not prop bottles or add thickener without professional advice.
2. Sleep flat
Always use a firm, flat infant sleep surface with baby on their back. Do not elevate the mattress or use wedges/positioners for reflux.
3. Seek care
Green or bloody vomit, forceful vomiting, breathing problems, dehydration, poor feeding or poor growth requires prompt assessment.
A local detail, or your own experience with this guide? Write to the team
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When in doubt, contact your doctor or midwife. For a life-threatening emergency, call 111.