Infant Reflux

Reflux (acid reflux) is when food from your baby’s stomach travels back up into their esophagus. This may lead to spitting up and/or vomiting. In most babies, acid reflux isn’t problematic. It happens because your baby’s digestive tract isn’t fully mature yet.

Your baby might spit up a lot — even daily — but have no health issues. Healthcare providers call such babies “happy spitters.” That’s because spitting up may not seem to bother your baby at all. Or, they might cry or fuss a little but otherwise be fine. Acid reflux usually goes away before a baby’s first birthday.

For some babies, reflux is more serious and affects their ability to take in enough nutrients. They usually have other symptoms, like blood in their vomit, poor weight gain or chronic coughing. Healthcare providers call these “troublesome symptoms.” Such symptoms mark the difference between gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).