As many parents have realized by now, it is common for babies to spit up.
Those parents who have been expecting their baby's spitting up to have gone away by the time he is four to five months old are often disappointed. Reflux often doesn't stop until a baby is six to nine months old. And unfortunately, some babies continue to spit up until they are 12 to 24 months old.
Reflux symptoms do peak by about four months though, so it is likely that the worst of your baby's reflux problems are behind him. In fact, you may be able to talk to your pediatrician about stopping any reflux medications that your baby has been taking now if he is no longer having reflux symptoms.
For those who are still having problems with reflux, standard reflux treatments may need to be continued, including:
- lifestyle changes, such as changing the position that you hold your baby after feedings, elevating the head of your baby's crib about 30 degrees, using a tucker sling, and frequently burping your baby
- continuing to breastfeed if you are breastfeeding
- thickening your baby's formula if you are not breastfeeding
- taking an acid reflux medication, such as Zantac or Prevacid
Source:
Behrman: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 17th ed.
