Skip to main content
Close
Main Menu

What Causes Reflux in Babies and Children?

WHAT CAUSES REFLUX IN BABIES AND CHILDREN.JPG

If your toddler or older child has reflux and it is causing them distress, take them to see your family doctor.

In babies, reflux, otherwise known as 'spilling' or 'spitting up' stomach contents, is a normal process that helps to relieve an uncomfortably full stomach. Reflux usually begins before babies are 8 weeks old and may continue until approximately 4 months of age. A few children will still experience reflux after 1 year of age.

While reflux generally does not need medical treatment, there are a few things you can do to cope with your baby's spilling.

  • During feeding: Avoid feeding your baby in a lying-down position. Try to keep your baby’s head upright.
  • After feeding: Keep your baby upright for 30 minutes – usually over your shoulder.
  • Avoid putting your baby in a car seat immediately after feeding because this can make reflux worse.
  • Give your baby smaller feeds more often, unless the feeds are already small and frequent.
  • Burp or wind your baby a few times during each feeding. Do it when they pause and look around rather than interrupting their feeding rhythm.
  • Avoid tight nappies and clothing around the tummy.

If you are concerned about the frequency or amount of the reflux, contact your doctor or Life Pharmacist for advice.

Related Articles

Nit Pickin'

Head lice or nits tend to be most common in young children from the ages of 4 to 11, and while it’s essentially harmless, it can be very annoying for your children as they can cause a very itchy scalp. If not treated, they can live in the hair for a long time and easily pass onto friends and family.

What to Do if Your Child Has a Fever

Having a fever – when the body’s temperature rises above 37ºC – is not an illness in itself. It is however, a symptom of another condition, most commonly an infection.

What Causes Reflux in Babies and Children?

If your toddler or older child has reflux and it is causing them distress, take them to see your family doctor.

Tops Tips for Nappy Rash

Nappy rash is a red, irritating skin rash in the area covered by a baby's nappy

Pain Management for Kids

A child’s body temperature can rise as a way to fight viral infections like colds and flu. Fever can also be caused by teething, earache, sore throat, headache and immunisations.

Caring for a Baby with Colic

If a baby has colic, they’ll cry and fret inconsolably for several hours or more at a time, without an obvious reason.

SHOP LIFE PHARMACY ONLINE

Life Pharmacy is proudly New Zealand owned and operated. We have everything from fragrance to first aid, make up to medicines, skin care to sun care, test kits to tanning products. Life pharmacy online brings your pharmacy to you.

Shop NZ customer favourites such The Ordinary, Antipodes, Trilogy and keep your health and wellbeing on-track with Go Healthy, BePure, Livon, Optifast and Otrivin. Don’t forget to shop our top beauty brands including Clinique, Estee Lauder, Benefit, Elizabeth Arden, Clarins and Shiseido.

Looking for in-store pharmacy services like passport photos, ear piercing or the morning after pill? Find information here about Life Pharmacy in-store services and then use our handy pharmacy finder to find a Life Pharmacy near you.


Promotions, product range and prices may differ between Life Pharmacy online and Life Pharmacy stores.
Copyright © 2021 Life Pharmacy Ltd. All Rights Reserved.