Colic diagnosis and baby reflux treatment

We understand how distressing it is to see your baby in pain, and our team of naturopaths won’t stop until they’ve worked out what’s happening and how to treat it. Find out how we manage the colic diagnosis process and treat baby reflux.

Understanding the difference between newborn reflux and colic

Brand-new tummies haven’t needed to do any work before and while breast milk should be the easiest food for a baby to digest, it’s not always that simple.

Differentiating between colic and reflux can sometimes be very difficult. Some babies can have both reflux and gas, which can involve different treatment approaches.

When we see regular, excessive crying in an otherwise healthy baby, we diagnose it through a process of elimination – known as colic. The term ‘colic’ can also be used loosely to describe tummy aches.

Newborn reflux, however, is diagnosed when stomach contents are coming up to the oesophagus, and the acidity of the stomach acid is irritating the tissue in the throat. This causes pain and discomfort for your little one and causes extended periods of unsettledness.

Whether it’s because of tummy pain or reflux, we’ve put together a guide to help you understand the reasons why your baby might be crying. Plus, this article will help you identify the symptoms of colic and reflux in young children.

How we determine the right colic and baby reflux treatment for your family

Finding the right treatment for your bub can be challenging, which is why it’s essential to have an accredited naturopath support you on your journey. 

During the colic diagnosis process, we rule out all possible causes of pain or discomfort. For most babies, making some adjustments to feeding techniques will help ease discomfort until they mature and the symptoms begin to subside.

When it comes to newborn reflux treatment, carminative herbs, colic drops and gripe water are common over-the-counter options to treat wind pain. However, these can actually make the symptoms of reflux worse for some babies. While conventional baby reflux treatments decrease stomach acidity, they can actually impact your little one’s ability to properly break down food once they make the transition onto solids. 

Whether your baby is breast or formula-fed, our team of naturopaths will help determine the cause of reflux, and develop a newborn reflux treatment plan to put a stop to their symptoms for good. Check out our article about baby reflux causes for more information before your appointment.

Download the ‘Wonky Winding’ diagram

To learn how to effectively burp your baby

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    Ease your baby’s discomfort

    Here are our top tips for relieving the symptoms of newborn reflux:

    • Keep your baby upright during feeding and for 20 minutes afterwards
    • Keep your baby elevated where possible (even for sleep) and consider babywearing
    • Burp your baby after every feed to decrease the amount of air building up in their stomach
    • Take note of when your baby experiences infant reflux
    • Use a slower-flow nipple if you bottle-feed
    • Apply warmth to the belly area
    • Try ‘wonky winding’ to effectively move the trapped wind – you can download our wonky winding diagram
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