Infant Acid Reflux Symptom

An infant acid reflux symptom is usually confined to spitting up and irritability. More serious symptoms can indicate the presence of baby GERD, or infant acid reflux.

Spitting up food is the most common infant acid reflux symptom. Spit up caused by infant acid reflux is such a common occurrence that most people don't associate baby spitting up with a medical condition.

While spitting up is very common, and not usually cause for alarm, it does indicate the presence of infant acid reflux. For the majority of babies an infant acid reflux symptom causes no adverse effects, and the condition resolves itself with time. For a small percent of infants, the infant acid reflux symptom indicates a more serious medical condition, such as baby GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

Spit up is the classic infant acid reflux symptom. During or after feeding are the most common times for spitting up, but are hardly the only times. Babies with infant acid reflux can spit up while crying. They can spit up while laughing. Straining to pass a bowel movement can also result in spitting up. Coughing is another opportunity for spit up. These are each an indicative infant acid reflux symptom.

Most babies remain blissfully oblivious during all of this gooey, slimy spit up. A baby can be covered with spit up and remain happy and giggly. Discomfort, distress, or pain while spitting up is an important infant acid reflux symptom and indicates a more serious infant acid reflux, which should be reported to the baby's doctor.

Irritability and Colic: Spitting up is often accompanied by another infant acid reflux symptom. Irritability while feeding is a common infant acid reflux symptom, often accompanied by poor feedings.

Sudden crying, obvious pain, and colic-like symptoms are not normal infant aid reflux symptoms, and should be reported to the baby's doctor as soon as possible.

Infant Acid Reflux Symptom and Baby GERD: Certain types of infant acid reflux symptom indicate the possibility of more serious conditions, such as baby GERD. While spitting up is harmless, spit up that is green or brown is definitely not normal for a breastfeeding infant. Spit up that contains blood indicates an immediate need for a medical examination.

Copious amounts of spit up (two or more teaspoons at a time) is not normal. Another warning sign is "projectile" spit up: spit up that flies out of the baby's mouth and travels some distance.

Other types of infant acid reflux symptom that require a visit to the doctor include: