GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) in infants is a more severe and longer-lasting form of GER (gastroesophageal reflux), which is when stomach contents come back up into the esophagus. GER is common in infants because they have a liquid diet and spend a lot of time lying down. Infants with GERD may have additional symptoms such as irritability, loss of appetite, or vomiting. If GERD isnt treated, your baby may not eat well or gain weight, and it can also cause symptoms like coughing, noisy breathing, and vomiting.

Doctors can usually diagnose GERD based on your baby’s symptoms and may recommend medical tests if symptoms don’t improve with lifestyle changes. Treatment for GERD in infants may include lifestyle changes such as avoiding overfeeding, thickening an infant’s food, or removing cow’s milk protein from an infant’s diet. Depending on an infant’s age and symptoms, doctors may also recommend medicines or surgery to treat GERD.

Its important to note that most infants with GER do not need treatment, and GERD is a more serious condition that occurs in approximately one in 300 infants. Reflux is not a cause for concern as long as your baby is healthy, content, and growing well. However, if your baby has signs or symptoms that could be related to a serious health problem other than GERD, such as crying more than usual or being extremely irritable, failure to thrive, or problems breathing, you should call a doctor right away.