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What to do when baby won t stop crying


What to Do When Babies Cry (for Parents)

Why Do Babies Cry?

All newborns cry and get fussy sometimes. It's normal for a baby to cry for 2–3 hours a day for the first 6 weeks. During the first 3 months of life, they cry more than at any other time.

New parents often are low on sleep and getting used to life with their little one. They'll quickly learn to find out if their crying baby:

  • is hungry
  • is tired
  • needs to be burped
  • is overstimulated
  • has a wet or dirty diaper
  • is too hot or cold

Often, taking care of a baby's needs is enough to soothe a baby. But sometimes, the crying goes on longer.

What Is Colic?

Some babies cry a lot more than others. A baby who cries more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for at least 3 weeks might have colic. Usually, it starts when a baby is 2–5 weeks old and ends by the time the baby is 3–4 months old.

Colic happens to a lot of newborns. It's hard to see your baby cry so much, but colic isn't caused by anything a parent did or didn't do. The good news is babies outgrow colic.

What Is Shaken Baby Syndrome?

Shaken baby syndrome, or abusive head trauma, is when a child's brain is injured from physical abuse. Most cases happen when a parent or caregiver shakes a baby while angry or frustrated, often because the baby won't stop crying. These injuries can cause permanent brain damage or death. No one should ever shake a baby for any reason.

Finding ways to ease a parent or caregiver's stress when a baby is crying can help stop shaken baby syndrome.

What Can Help a Crying Baby?

You can't spoil your baby with too much attention. To soothe a crying baby:

  • First, make sure your baby doesn't have a fever. In a baby, a fever is a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C). Call the doctor right away if your baby does have a fever.
  • Make sure your baby isn't hungry and has a clean diaper.
  • Rock or walk with the baby.
  • Sing or talk to your baby.
  • Offer the baby a pacifier.
  • Take the baby for a ride in a stroller.
  • Hold your baby close against your body and take calm, slow breaths.
  • Give the baby a warm bath.
  • Pat or rub the baby's back.
  • Place your baby across your lap on his or her belly and rub your baby's back.
  • Put your baby in a swing or vibrating seat. The motion may be soothing.
  • Put your baby in an infant car seat in the back of the car and go for a ride. Often, the vibration and movement of the car are calming.
  • Play music — some babies respond to sound as well as movement.

Some babies need less stimulation. Babies 2 months and younger may do well swaddled, lying on their back in the crib with the lights very dim or dark. Make sure the swaddle isn't too tight. Stop swaddling when the baby is starting to be able to roll over.

When a Baby Won't Stop Crying

If a baby in your care won't stop crying:

  • Call a friend or relative for support or to take care of the baby while you take a break.
  • If nothing else works, put the baby on their back in an empty crib (without loose blankets or stuffed animals), close the door, and check on the baby in 10 minutes. During that 10 minutes, do something to try to relax and calm down. Try washing your face, breathing deeply, or listening to music.

Call your doctor if nothing seems to be helping the baby, in case there is a medical reason for the fussiness.

What Else Should I Know?

The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome offers a prevention program, the Period of PURPLE Crying, to help parents and other caregivers understand crying and how to handle it.

All Babies Cry is a program that promotes infant soothing and ways to handle a baby's crying. The program's four parts are:

  1. What's normal about crying?
  2. Comforting your baby.
  3. Self-care tips for parents.
  4. Colic and how to cope.

If you're worried you might hurt your baby or someone else will, call the national hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) anytime for help.

Tell anyone caring for your baby to never shake the infant. Talk about the dangers of shaking and safe ways to soothe a baby.

Keep in mind that all babies cry a lot and it will get better. The crying isn't caused by something you did or didn't do. Take care of yourself and ask for help so you can keep taking good care of your baby.

Reviewed by: Michelle M. Karten, MD

Date reviewed: November 2019

When Your Baby Won't Stop Crying

parenting

Have a crying, upset, or colicky baby? These parenting tips can help comfort and soothe your infant while keeping you calm and in control.

Why do babies cry?

It’s tough when your baby won’t stop crying. You may worry that something is wrong with your child, that you’ll lose your cool, that your parenting skills aren’t up to the job, or that you’ll never connect with your baby. But you can handle it!

Babies cry for many reasons, and crying is the main way babies communicate. It's the way they capture your attention and express their needs. At first, it may be difficult to interpret your baby's different cries, but as you spend more time listening, you will become better at recognizing and meeting your child's specific needs.

Common reasons babies cry

  1. Sleepiness or fatigue
  2. Wet or dirty diaper
  3. Hunger
  4. Overstimulation from noise or activity
  5. Colic, acid reflux, or food allergies
  6. Pain or illness
  7. Gas
  8. Stranger anxiety or fear

Is your baby unresponsive or indifferent?

Most babies use crying to communicate and they will continue to cry or show that they are upset until a parent or caregiver responds to their needs. Other babies, instead of crying, become upset and then tune out and fail to show any emotion. If you think about it, you probably know more than one adult who acts this way when faced with difficulty. An unresponsive baby might seem like an easy baby, because they may be quiet and agreeable. But a baby that doesn't respond to you, the environment, and sensory influences needs help. Call your pediatrician right away.

NEVER NEVER shake a baby

Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs when a baby is shaken. The blood vessels in a baby's head cannot tolerate the impact of shaking and can break.

  • The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome estimates that there are about 1,300 reported cases each year in the U.S.
  • Shaking is the leading cause of child abuse deaths and can also result in brain damage, mental retardation, seizures, or blindness.
  • Shaking usually happens when parents or caregivers become frustrated or angry when they are not able to stop the baby from crying.
  • Shaken baby syndrome is 100% preventable.

Coping with a crying, colicky, or unresponsive baby

You already know that no two babies are alike, but this reality may still hit you hard when you hear other parents talking about how easy their babies are or how their newborn sleeps peacefully through the night. Try to avoid comparisons and specific expectations, as they can create negative feelings—especially if you have a very challenging baby. Give yourself a break if you are having feelings you didn't expect. It may take a bit of time to get in sync with your baby, but the extra work will be worth it!

[Watch: Creating Secure Infant Attachment]

For stressful situations—when your baby won't stop crying or won't respond to you, and when you are feeling frustrated, tired, and angry—you need to develop some strategies for taking care of yourself. When you're calm and centered, you'll be better able to figure out what's going on with your child and soothe his or her cries.

Recognize your limits. Pay attention to internal warning signs when you are feeling overwhelmed. The sooner you spot your personal limits, the easier it is to plan ahead—for extra help, a break, an excursion outside, or a quick pep talk from a friend or loved one. These small steps to prepare will help you get in the best frame of mind to care for your baby.

Don’t get discouraged. It’s long been thought that for most babies, crying peaks at six weeks and then gradually eases off. However, more recent studies suggest that crying for some infants can last for months. While that may sound discouraging, it can also be reassuring to know that it's not uncommon. Whatever the time frame, know that there is an end to the crying on the horizon. You may have to put in extra work and be very patient, but things will get better.

Reach out for support. If you can, enlist help during the fussiest times of the day. Say yes when people offer to help with housework, meals, or babysitting. Find a group of moms to talk to and get out of the house when you can. Knowing you have some help on the way can make a big difference.

You don't have to be perfect. Parenting is not about perfection. It would be impossible to be fully present and attentive to an infant, especially a crying infant, 24 hours a day. Experts estimate that meeting your infant's needs at least half of the time is enough to support healthy bonding and secure attachment. Don't worry about getting it exactly right all of the time. Instead, try to relax and enjoy the times when your baby isn't crying.

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The whole world comes to your baby through their senses, and every baby has different sensory needs, which is why one baby might love to be held and another doesn't; or one baby will cry because of a wet diaper and another will ignore it and continue to play happily.

Get to know your baby's preferences by engaging all of your senses as you try to figure out what your baby needs. Try being especially attentive to:

Changes in mood. Do your baby's mood changes seem to coincide with environment changes, the time of day, or in relation to food or naps? For example, if your baby is cranky in the late morning, watch to see if they are sending signals that you're missing—like an isolated yawn or eye rubbing.

Reactions to different situations and environments. Babies often send signals that we as adults just don't notice. Your baby might get overstimulated if too many people are around or become especially upset about schedule changes.

Differences in your baby's cries. At first all cries will sound the same, but, gradually, you will hear how the “I'm hungry” cry is very different from the “I'm tired” cry. Notice noise level, pitch and intensity of the cry, as well as your baby's body language and facial expressions. An arched back, a scrunched-up face, eyes tightly closed to shut out the light, fists curled up, rubbing eyes, hyperactive or frenetic movement—all of these signs communicate something specific about your baby's emotional and physical state.

Learning what it takes to soothe and comfort an upset or unresponsive baby may take all of your skills of perception and awareness. Don't give up if you are having a hard time figuring out what makes your baby cry—he or she will probably keep trying to let you know.

Dr. Harvey Karp's 5 S's for soothing a crying baby

If your baby seems to be crying for “no reason,” pediatrician Harvey Karp advises parents to use the Five S's, which recreate the womb environment and activate your baby's calming reflex.

  1. Swaddling. Wrap your baby in a blanket so they feel secure.
  2. Side or stomach position. Hold your baby so they're lying on their side or stomach. But always put them on their back when going to sleep.
  3. Shushing. Create “white noise” that drowns out other noises: run the vacuum cleaner, hair drier, fan or clothes drier.
  4. Swinging. Create a rhythmic motion of any kind. For example, take your baby for a ride in a stroller or car.
  5. Sucking. Let your baby suck on something, such as a pacifier.

Adapted from: The Happiest Baby on the Block

Evaluate your own emotional state

When your baby cries for hours on end, it is natural to feel responsible. Often, though, blaming yourself can get in the way of your ability to be calm, present, and responsive to your baby. The relationship with your baby is a partnership, so your emotions will make a difference to how your baby reacts. If you are feeling overwhelmed, depressed, angry, anxious, or detached, your baby may have trouble calming down.

Am I the reason my baby won't stop crying?

Are you distracted, overwhelmed, and at breaking point? If you're stressed out and exhausted, you're going to have trouble relating to your baby in a soothing, nurturing way. So, it's important to get the support you need.

[Read: Stress Management]

Extra support is essential if you're:

  1. Depressed.
  2. Suffering from a major illness or chronic health problems.
  3. Overwhelmed or fearful about parenting.
  4. Exhausted from lack of sleep.
  5. Feeling neglected, isolated, or unsupported.
  6. A previous victim of abuse or neglect.

Fortunately, there are great opportunities for overcoming the limitations a parent or child may bring to the attachment relationship. Parents who learn how to calm themselves, ask for support, and communicate with their infants can find the means for creating a successful attachment relationship—essentially teaching by their example—even with an upset or unresponsive infant.

Tips for keeping your cool and calming your baby down

Remember that your baby has feelings. Babies are emotional beings and experience feelings of happiness, sadness, joy, and anger from the very first moment of life. If, for whatever reason, you are having trouble being responsive to your baby, your child will pick up on those signals. How would you feel if your spouse or parent was unresponsive to your signals or attempts to communicate? Thinking of your baby as an individual with a unique personality may make it easier to interpret and respond to his or her cries.

Choose some techniques for taking a “time out.” Strategies like counting to ten, going outside, taking deep breaths, putting your baby down and walking around the house for a minute, can all help you maintain a calm frame of mind.

Find a mantra. A mantra is a sound, word, or phrase, often said over and over again, to provide comfort and inspiration. With a crying baby, you may find yourself talking out loud anyway, and a mantra can help provide perspective, comfort, and energy to keep going. Some examples might be: “Just breathe,” “This is hard, but doable,” and “All will be well.”

Baby blues or postpartum depression?

Exhaustion, rapidly shifting hormones, and a challenging child might make you feel frustrated, sad, or even depressed. If you find yourself feeling depressed, worthless, or resentful or indifferent towards your baby, don't try to wait it out. See: Postpartum Depression and the Baby Blues

Watch for attachment milestones

If your baby has challenges (like constant crying, fussiness, or unresponsiveness) that get in the way of emotional connection, bonding and attachment may suffer. The following attachment milestones can help you recognize your baby's attachment progress.

If the milestones are not happening in the right time frame, you should seek help. Fear or stress might make you feel reluctant to evaluate your baby this way, but attachment problems identified early are usually easier to fix.

Attachment milestone 1: Attention and regulation (birth to three months)

Attention and regulation go hand-in-hand, because a baby who can't calm down (and regulate their nervous system) won't be able to pay attention and interact with you.

Your baby has periods when they are calm (not crying), attentive (not sleeping), and shows interest in faces, but doesn't necessarily engage with you at this point.

You follow your baby's lead. When your baby pays attention to you, you respond with gentle touch, soothing tone of voice, and playful facial expressions. When your baby looks away, you do the same.

Attachment milestone 2: Shared joy (three to six months)

Sharing joy with your baby establishes a connection between sensory experiences (things your baby sees, hears, and feels) and safe and loving interaction with another person.

Your baby seeks engagement with you and participates in the back-and-forth exchange of gestures, smiles, sounds, and movement. Your baby will probably need frequent breaks from interacting.

You continue to let your baby lead the exchange. When your baby wants to interact, you respond with playful activity. If your baby wants to take a break, you slow down.

Attachment milestone 3: Give and take communication (four to 10 months)

With the third milestone, your baby's level of engagement with you becomes more sophisticated.

Your baby uses an ever-increasing range of sounds, facial expressions, and gestures—wide eyes, coos, nonsensical babbles, giggles, pointing—to invite you to play and to indicate needs and wants.

You continue to watch your child's signals, gestures, and facial expressions and adjust your responses to those cues. You should notice more back and forth communication.

Attachment milestone 4: Gestures and problem solving (10 to 18 months)

Your baby's new motor skills—scooting, crawling, pointing, and maybe walking—should lead to better communication and connection with you.

Your baby starts to combine their motor and nonverbal skills with their need to solve problems. For example, your baby might point to something out of reach or crawl to the highchair when hungry.

You continue to respond to your baby's cues and use words, facial expressions, and gestures of your own to confirm to your baby that the messages are heard.

Recognize and cope with colic

Colic is a general term used for babies who cry more than three hours a day for more than three days a week. A baby with colic will often cry inconsolably despite all attempts to comfort and soothe. The cause of colic, which affects one in five babies, is not clear. Some experts think that colic may be connected to the development of the infant's intestinal system, related to acid reflux (GERD), or to food allergies.

What colic looks and sounds like

Parents of babies with colic often say that the babies look like they are angry or in pain, have gas, or are trying to go to the bathroom without success. Other characteristics of a baby with colic:

  • Higher pitched, more frantic crying
  • Sudden crying, starting out of nowhere, and for no apparent reason
  • Rigid or stiff body, often with clenched fists
  • Bent legs and stomach may feel hard

Timing of colic

Colic often begins at two weeks after a baby's due date, reaches a peak about six weeks past the due date, and generally ends by the time the baby is 12 to 14 weeks old (or four months past the due date). Your baby's crying may taper off gradually past the six-week mark, or one day your baby might just stop the extended crying spells altogether. It may feel endless and unbearable while you are in the midst of it, but it will end.

What to do about colic

Pediatricians may be sympathetic and recommend Mylicon (simethicone) drops or gripe water, but often doctors will tell parents to “just be patient,” because colic is not harmful and will go away on its own. Of course, in the midst of all that crying, having someone tell you to “be patient” may seem impossible to consider. In order to make it through, you will have to develop some great self-care strategies and enlist support.

Focus on one day at a time (mark off the days on a calendar if that helps).

Ask your doctor to consider the possibilities of food allergies or acid reflux (GERD), which can be remedied. If you are breastfeeding, you can try adjusting your diet to see if that affects your baby's crying spells.

Ask for help—support from your spouse, family, friends, and a babysitter or nanny will be essential to getting through the first few months of your baby's life.

Know when to seek help

If you constantly feel overwhelmed and the feeling doesn't go away, you probably need some outside help. Additionally, if you are feeling like you can't pick up on your baby's cues or your baby isn't alert enough to engage in the early milestone behaviors, it is important to seek help as soon as possible. Problems that are identified early can almost always be solved.

Special circumstances that might require professional help

Physical, mental, or emotional challenges at birth, or soon after, are often traumatic to an infant and can cause your baby's nervous system to get “stuck.” A nervous system that is stuck will probably have difficulty with regulation, which means the baby will have a hard time settling down.

[Read: Helping Children Cope with Traumatic Events]

Special or traumatic circumstances that might cause problems include:

  • Premature birth.
  • Difficult or traumatic birth.
  • Medical problems or disability.
  • Adoption or separation from primary caregiver.

Where to turn for help

If your baby is crying or upset often, or unresponsive, you should seek help from your pediatrician or a child development specialist. Your pediatrician should be able to recommend a specialist in early infant behaviors to help you figure out if there is a problem and what to do about it. Alternately, contact the pediatrics branch in your local hospital and ask about services in your area, such as:

Parenting skills classes. Available in many areas, coaching and education for parents and caregivers can build necessary parenting skills and offer support and advice.

Support groups. Run by peers rather than professionals, support groups provide a safe environment to share experiences, advice, encouragement, and coping strategies for parents of babies who won't stop crying.

Authors: Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. and Melinda Smith, M.A.

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      • References

        CDC’s Developmental Milestones | CDC. (n.d.). Retrieved July 12, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html

        Colic | Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Retrieved July 12, 2022, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/colic

        National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome—Facts & Info. (n.d.). Retrieved July 12, 2022, from https://www.dontshake.org/learn-more/itemlist/category/13-facts-info

        Using the 5 S’s to Soothe a Crying Baby: Dr. Harvey Karp – Happiest Baby. (n.d.). Retrieved July 12, 2022, from https://www.happiestbaby.com/blogs/baby/the-5-s-s-for-soothing-babies

        Woodhouse, S. S., Scott, J. R., Hepworth, A. D., & Cassidy, J. (2020). Secure Base Provision: A New Approach to Examining Links Between Maternal Caregiving and Infant Attachment. Child Development, 91(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13224

        Nield, David. “Sorry, Parents: New Research Shows That Infant Crying Doesn’t Peak After 6 Weeks.” ScienceAlert. Accessed July 20, 2022. https://www.sciencealert.com/new-research-could-help-to-redraw-the-infant-cry-curve

        Vermillet, Arnault-Quentin, Katrine Tølbøll, Samouil Litsis Mizan, Joshua C. Skewes, and Christine E. Parsons. “Crying in the First 12 Months of Life: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cross-Country Parent-Reported Data and Modeling of the ‘Cry Curve.’” Child Development 93, no. 4 (2022): 1201–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13760

        ScienceDaily. “‘Good Enough’ Parenting Is Good Enough, Study Finds.” Accessed July 20, 2022. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190508134511.htm

      How to Calm a Crying Baby (VIDEO) – Pediatrician Dr. Hamilton shows you how to calm a crying baby using “The Hold”. (Pacific Ocean Pediatrics)

      Partners in Care: Supporting Fussy Babies in Child Care (PDF) – How to deal with fussy babies. (Fussy Baby Network)

      Soothing a Crying Baby – Tips on calming a baby and finding help. (NHS)

      Crying baby? How to keep your cool – Keep calm when caring for a crying baby. (Mayo Clinic)

      Abusive Head Trauma: How to Protect Your Baby – How to avoid Shaken Baby Syndrome. (American Academy of Pediatrics)

      The 5 S’s for Soothing Babies – Dr. Harvey Karp’s techniques for soothing a crying baby. (HappiestBaby.com)

      Hotlines and support

      If the stress or crying becomes more than you can stand, or if you feel like shaking, hitting or harming your baby in any way, call for help immediately.

      In the U.S.: Call the Crying Baby Hotline at 1-866-243-2229 or the Fussy Baby Warmline at 1-888-431-BABY.

      UK: Call the Cry-sis Helpline at 08451 228 669.

      Australia: In Queensland and Northern Territory call the Parentline at 1300 30 1300 or find a helpline in other areas.

      Canada: Call the Parent Help Line at 1-888-603-9100 or find other parent resources.

      Other countries: La Leche League International offers worldwide support groups for breastfeeding mothers.

      Last updated: December 5, 2022

      Tips on how to soothe a crying baby


      Crying is a way for a child to communicate, but despite its naturalness, it is not out of place to try to calm a crying baby. It is logical that parents will have a question: “How to calm the child?” This may seem like a daunting task at times, but understanding the reasons will help you learn how to soothe a crying baby. Remember: you are doing great. We just want to give you some useful tips to help ease your worries. nine0004

      If you have any questions or concerns about your baby's crying, seek medical advice. Sometimes crying can be a sign of an existing medical condition, so it's best to pay attention to any additional symptoms right away.

      Why your baby is crying


      Baby crying is not only natural but also expected, especially during the first three months of life. Babies usually cry for an hour every day for the first few weeks. At about six weeks old, your baby may cry for up to two hours a day, and from eight weeks on, again for about one hour a day. However, remember that all babies are different and cry differently! nine0015 1

      Crying is a way of saying something is wrong. When it comes to learning how to soothe a crying baby, it's important to understand what exactly is causing her anxiety. Your baby may cry if: 1

      • he is hungry;
      • the baby is troubled by belching or bloating;
      • need a diaper change;
      • he wants to sleep;
      • wants to be picked up or rocked; nine0032
      • baby is hot or cold;
      • baby has colic;
      • feels uncomfortable: wants to roll over, presses on the diaper or clothes, or is disturbed by tight swaddling;
      • the baby is teething.

      If your baby cries for more than three hours a day and more than three days a week, he may be suffering from colic. However, this is not a reason to panic, and there are several ways to soothe a child with colic. Find out here about colic, its symptoms, and how to soothe a baby with colic. nine0004

      If you think reflux (regurgitation) may be the cause of your crying, you can learn more about the different types of reflux and how to manage it here.

      Be sure to contact your child's doctor if your baby seems ill or has the following symptoms in addition to excessive crying: 1

      • fever;
      • shortness of breath or cough; nine0032
      • vomiting;
      • diarrhea;
      • rash;
      • crying worse when the child is picked up or moved;
      • increased irritability or lethargy.

      How to soothe a crying baby


      Once you have ruled out some potential causes of crying, you will have a better idea of ​​how to soothe your baby. The most important thing to remember is not to get upset and stay as calm as possible. nine0004

      Here are some tips and tricks on how to calm your baby: 2

      1. Swaddle your baby.


      One of the most useful techniques to soothe a crying baby is swaddling. When doing this, make sure that you do not cover the child's head and do not overheat him. Don't swaddle your baby too tight: swaddling too tightly can interfere with your baby's natural body position, breathing, and blood circulation: your baby may not like it, causing him to cry. Don't swaddle your baby when he starts to roll over, which usually happens around four months of age. nine0004

      2. Hold the child in your arms and comfort.


      When your baby is crying, it's natural for you to want to pick him up. And when your newborn cries for no reason, he probably wants to be picked up. If you're trying to calm your baby at night, try keeping him upright or in a rocking chair until he falls asleep. Any gentle strokes or vibrations can be very soothing. You can also give your baby an ultra soft pacifier, which is recommended for soothing newborns. This pacifier will help your baby feel comfortable and safe. nine0004

      Home ›› What is reflux in babies?

      Home ›› What is reflux in babies?

      ↑ Top

      Signs and what to do


      Post-feed regurgitation is a common occurrence in the first few months of life. This is usually harmless and completely normal, but parents should read about gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in infants and how long it lasts to give them peace of mind. nine0003

      We look at signs of reflux in babies, symptoms of different types of reflux, and how to help a child with signs of reflux. If you require further information, always contact your healthcare provider.

      What is reflux in babies?


      So we know reflux is common, but what causes reflux in babies? Because young children have not yet fully developed the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), that is, the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus that opens and closes to let food into the stomach and keep it there, food can easily pass back up the esophagus. nine0004


      Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux (GER), is a normal reflux that occurs in babies. This type of reflux is considered normal and occurs in 40-65% of babies.

      How do I know if my child has acid (gastroesophageal) reflux?


      If a baby is spitting up milk after a feed, it is most likely acid reflux. As babies get older, GER usually goes away on its own without any intervention. If a baby has complications beyond just spitting up a small amount of milk (such as feeding difficulties and discomfort), they may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). nine0003

      Symptoms of GERD include:

      • baby arching during or after feeding;
      • crying more than three hours a day for no apparent reason;
      • cough;
      • gag reflex or difficulty swallowing;
      • irritability, restlessness after eating;
      • eating little or not eating;
      • poor weight gain or loss;
      • difficult breathing;
      • severe or frequent vomiting. nine0003

      GERD usually occurs when the muscle tone of the LES is not weakened in time, causing stomach contents to back up into the esophagus.

      How do I know if my child has Laryngopharyngeal Reflux?


      Another type of reflux, laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), also called silent reflux, is when the contents of the baby's stomach leak back into the larynx, the back of the nasopharynx. This type of reflux does not always cause external symptoms, which is why it is called "silent". Babies can have GERD and silent reflux at the same time, but their symptoms are somewhat different. nine0003

      Some of the symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux are listed below:

      • breathing problems;
      • gag reflex;
      • chronic cough;
      • swallowing problems;
      • hoarseness;
      • regurgitation;
      • poor weight gain or weight loss.

      We have looked at the signs of reflux in infants, now we will move on to the treatment and duration of silent reflux in children, as well as the treatment of GERD. nine0004

      How to deal with laryngopharyngeal reflux in babies while breastfeeding?


      Breastfeeding mothers may need to review their diet if their babies show signs of reflux. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends breastfeeding mothers cut eggs and milk from their diet for two to four weeks to see if their baby's reflux symptoms improve or disappear. It may be worth eliminating acidic foods from your diet. nine0003

      In most cases, GER and laryngopharyngeal reflux go away on their own. Typically, children outgrow reflux in the first year of life. If a child has persistent symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux, parents should consult a doctor. If your baby has severe vomiting, blood in the stool, or any of the symptoms of GERD listed above, parents should contact their pediatrician as soon as possible.

      How can I help my child with reflux or GERD? nine0011


      Reflux symptoms in babies usually go away on their own, but the following tips can help relieve symptoms:

      1. Thicken food with rice or a special milk thickener.
      2. Hold the bottle at an angle that fills the nipple completely with milk to reduce the amount of air your baby swallows. This can help prevent colic, gas, and reflux.
      3. Try the AirFree anti-colic bottle, designed to reduce air swallowing during feeding. nine0032

      4. Let your baby burp during and after feeding. If the baby is bottle fed, parents can let him burp after every 30-60 ml. If the mother is breastfeeding, she may let the baby burp when changing breasts.

      5. Hold baby upright after feeding. As a rule, in order for the milk to remain in the stomach, after feeding the baby, it is necessary to hold it in an upright position for 10-15 minutes. But, if the child has reflux, parents should keep him upright a little longer. nine0004


      These tips may help relieve symptoms, but they do not replace a doctor's advice.


      Parents should not change their infant formula formula without first talking to their doctor.


      Don't panic! Reflux is very common in babies during the first three months of life, and most babies outgrow it without any consequences.

      Learn more