When Your Baby Has Difficulty Eating.

Most babies will spit up after eating, whether it is breast milk or formula. If your baby is gaining weight steadily and generally in good spirits, your baby is getting the nourishment it needs in order to grow. It is when your baby is fussy for apparently no reason, spits up large amounts of formula or breast milk and is not gaining weight as it should that you should consider consulting your pediatrician.

If your baby is cranky both during and after feedings, or refuses to eat altogether, your baby may have what is termed gastro-intestinal reflux. Simply put, gastro-intestinal reflux is heartburn and it can range from mild to extreme.

Babies should feed rather naturally and if you notice a significant decline in the amount of food your baby is able to eat, your baby may be having difficulty digesting the food you are providing. If your baby is breast fed, sometimes even small dietary changes for the mother can make changes in the breast milk. Make sure that you are maintaining a healthy diet if you are continuing to breast feed.

If you are using milk based formula to feed your baby, consider changing to a soy based formula. Some babies have difficult with milk based formula and soy is easier on an infant’s stomach. Keep in mind that soy has a distinctive odor and your child’s bowel movements may reflect this change in formula.

Sometimes, even after you have tried modifying your own diet or changing formulas, your baby will still have difficulty feeding. Try feeding your baby in a more upright position, which will keep stomach acids from rising up into the esophagus. Feed your baby smaller amounts more often which will keep the stomach moderately full but not overstuffed, which is another factor with heartburn.

If your baby is still having trouble, still cranky and is not gaining enough weight, consult your pediatrician. It is not safe for your baby to gain weight too slowly, this can lead to a failure to thrive and cause long term problems for your infant.

If your pediatrician prescribes your baby medication to treat the acid reflux, make sure that you provide this necessary medication to your baby as prescribed. Some new mothers are afraid to give their baby any type of medication, but the benefits to acid reflux medication far outweigh any potential side effects that are at this time unknown.

A baby will eventually outgrow the need for medication as the stomach and esophagus are able to heal and develop as they should. Listen to your health care provider and do not take your baby off of medication without their approval. Taking your baby off of medication too early can result in further damage of the esophagus as the acid from the stomach once again starts bothering your baby.

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