Sleeping Adjustments
Babies with acid reflux often have difficulty sleeping. In fact, an incorrect sleeping position as well as timing can worsen their condition and make them fussier.
Keep the head of your baby’s crib, bassinet or bed elevated by about 30 degrees with the help of some towels. When your baby’s upper body is elevated, gravity does its work and prevents the stomach contents from reverting back into the esophagus.
Massage Therapy
Regular massage helps improve functioning of the respiratory and digestive systems in babies.
Massage stimulates the vagus nerve, the nerve in the brain that controls various regions of the respiratory and digestive systems. It even helps the body develop more quickly so that each and every body part starts operating more effectively sooner.
massage therapy for babies
A 2014 study published in Biological Research for Nursing reports that massage helps reduce symptoms in infants suffering from GERD.
Massage even helps improve cognitive ability, reduce crying and aid sleeping.
Put your baby in a lying position.
Apply some warm olive or coconut oil on your baby’s stomach.
Gently massage the stomach in a clockwise direction for 3 to 4 minutes.
Then, massage the back gently for 2 minutes.
Finally, massage the hands and legs with long, firm strokes.
Repeat 2 or 3 times daily.
Some Exercise
To help babies deal with the symptoms of acid reflux, you must try some basic movement exercises.
Exercise will help improve digestion. However, it is important to note that you should not feed your baby until about 30 minutes after exercise and never feed immediately before an exercise session.
bicycling exercise for baby acid reflux
Exercises that target gas and bloating, such as bicycle legs or knee-pushing exercises, are some of the best options to try.
Put your baby in a lying position.
Hold the legs in a half-bent position with your hands.
Gently begin to move your baby’s legs as if he or she was riding a bicycle.
Do it for 10 minutes, several times a day.
Coconut Oil
The anti-inflammatory property of coconut oil helps reduce inflammation from reflux. It even keeps the digestive system lubricated to help it function more effectively.
coconut oil for acid reflux in babies
The lauric acid, a powerful antimicrobial fatty acid in coconut oil, also protects the immune system of newborns.
Try adding ½ to 1 teaspoon of extra-virgin coconut oil to a warm drink or cereal before feeding it to your baby. Do it 2 or 3 times a day.
Nursing mothers should ingest 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin coconut oil to boost their baby’s immune function.
Also, mix equal amounts of coconut oil and ginger oil. Rub it clockwise on your baby’s stomach for 1 minute, a few times daily.