6 Easy Tips to Help Your Reflux Baby

November 14, 2021

updated, December 1, 2025 – To help newborns and infants with reflux, we need to first understand what reflux is and then find comfort techniques. Our team of night nannies presents advice to help here, with 6 Easy Tips to Help Your Reflux Baby.

While the only true remedy for reflux is time, there are some techniques to help keep your baby comfortable during and after feeding. Let’s take all the reflux questions one by one:

What is reflux?

Reflux is a backward flow of the contents of the stomach into the esophagus that causes heartburn. It is one of the most common conditions newborns face and is often caused by the esophageal sphincter valve not being fully developed. This causes milk to come back up the esophagus through the throat and causes baby to spit up and vomit. When the contents of the stomach come back up, it is usually mixed with some stomach acid, which creates a burning sensation.

How can I reduce my baby’s reflux?

Keep your baby upright during and after feedings for 20-30 minutes, burp frequently, offer smaller, more frequent meals and use paced feeding. Wearing your baby in an upright carrier also helps gravity keep stomach contents down, reducing discomfort and spitting up.

Why is burping important for reflux babies?

Burping removes air swallowed during feeding, which can push milk back into the esophagus. Frequent burping keeps the stomach less pressured and helps your baby feed more comfortably.

How do smaller, more frequent feeds help reflux?

A full stomach can increase pressure on the esophageal sphincter, forcing milk back up. Feeding smaller amounts more often reduces this pressure, prevents overfeeding, and helps your baby digest milk more comfortably.

What is paced feeding and how does it help reflux?

For bottle-fed babies, paced feeding lets the baby control milk flow. Hold the bottle slightly reclined, let them pull the nipple in and take breaks as needed. This prevents overfeeding and reduces air intake, keeping reflux and discomfort minimal.

Here’s how to pace-feed:

1. Keep baby in a slightly reclined position so that the bottle isn’t pouring down and your baby can control the flow of milk/formula.
2. Let baby pull the nipple into his mouth. Once latched, keep the bottle just above horizontal.
3. Continue feeding this way. This allows baby to control the flow of milk better without taking in air. This also helps your baby to feed at their own pace, which keeps them more comfortable.

As Jordan Stubblefield, CLC says, It’s not so much air intake, as it is pacing the baby! Pace feeding helps to not overfeed by allowing baby to take breaks when they want, and following babies cues.

What should I do to reduce reflux if I’m breastfeeding?

If you’re breastfeeding, La Leche League recommends trying to have baby nurse at one breast only at each feeding. This avoids two strong milk ejections, therefore reducing overfeeding and excess swallowing of air. Also, leading sources in breastfeeding including LLL and KellyMom agree that in general spicy foods do not contribute to infant reflux.

Can wearing my baby reduce reflux?

Yes, upright baby carriers help gravity keep stomach contents down. Being snugly carried also helps babies relax their muscles, reducing tension and making feeding and digestion more comfortable.

Are preemies or twins more prone to reflux?

Premature babies and twins often have immature digestive systems, which increases reflux risk. The same feeding and comfort strategies work, but extra attention may be needed to keep them comfortable. Additonally, preemies who have spent time in the NICU may have other issues compounding digestive challenges.

Does gripe water help reflux?

There is no evidence that gripe water helps babies with reflux. However, some babies have trouble digesting lactose in milk which can lead to bloating, gas and discomfort and some medications can help under the direction of a physician.

The only cure for reflux is time, as newborns and infant systems may need a few months to fully develop. However we have more tips on keeping baby comfortable at 10 Ways to Calm a Fussy Baby. And you can always ask our team of night nurses and postpartum doulas any questions on Reddit.

For more tips like these please visit Your Newborn and Postpartum Questions Answered: Expert Advice from Let Mommy Sleep
And if it’s your first week home with baby, read Your First Week Home with Baby: Ultimate Q&A