Your baby may regurgitate a little milk after a feed or have hiccups. He/She may occasionally cough a little after regurgitating the milk if a little has gone “down the wrong way”. This is normal and as long as your baby is otherwise well, you don’t need to worry.

In some cases however, the regurgitation may be more regular and larger in volume and baby may be distressed by this or Baby may not regurgitate at all but still have reflux symptoms.

Both formula-fed and breastfed babies may be affected. See below a list of the more common symptoms of reflux:

• Crying in pain
• Discomfort when feeding (arching, screaming, refusal, turning away)
• Fussiness
• Runny nose
• Frequent vomiting or spitting up
• Foul breath (smells acidic)
• Chronic Cough
• Night-time cough
• Poor sleep habits, frequent waking
• Wet burps
• Hiccups
• Comfort feeding- constant feeding to alleviate pain
• Food intolerances
• Hoarse voice, sore throat
• Poor Weight gain

Less common symptoms of reflux:

Aspiration
Recurrent pneumonias
Ear/nose/throat/sinus infections

These are only some of the symptoms of reflux. Infants with reflux may experience any number of these symptoms. If you have a baby which is exhibiting any combination of these symptoms, I would seek advice from your GP or Health Visitor initially.