Common Digestive Problems in Infants

As a new parent, there are lots of things to contend with from getting baby to sleep through the night to calming an upset stomach. There are many common digestive issues your infant may deal with, many of which are easy to fix and nothing to worry about. Paying attention to clues, and keeping an eye on baby's routine can easily solve common digestive problems.

Spitting Up

One of the most common infant stomach issues is when baby spits up frequently. Reflux is when the stomach hasn't started a normal squeezing pattern that gets the stomach into digestion rhythm. Parents.com says that this allows milk to sit in the baby's stomach longer than normal and causes the baby to spit up or have reflux. Many times reflux works itself out within a couple months. If you feel your baby is having a hard time feeding, has hiccups frequently, or difficulty breathing, make sure to contact your pediatrician to discuss what is happening. Making sure to burp every time after feedings may help reflux.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is caused when an infection or certain medications cause the esophagus to become inflamed. Kidshealth.org finds that the esophageal sphincter, which is the valve between the esophagus and stomach, stops working well making the stomach's contents to back up. This can cause a baby to have reflux and also discomfort, like heartburn. By changing diet and lifestyle, GERD can be treated. In some cases, medication may be needed.

Vomiting

Many times the cause of vomiting in babies is an infection in the stomach or intestinal tract. Parents.com suggests common viruses can be to blame, with vomiting and fever or diarrhea. Many times a common infection will clear up without medication in a couple days. If a baby has problems eating, isn't filling as many diapers, or seems dehydrated, make sure to contact your pediatrician. Vomiting during infancy could be a sign of other digestion issues, especially around 3 to 5 weeks of age. This could be a signal of malformation of the digestive tract. Projectile vomiting is most commonly associated with pyloric stenosis, a condition where the muscle at the end of the stomach is malformed making it difficult for milk to pass through.

Diarrhea

A virus, the rotavirus being the most common cause, often causes diarrhea. Parents.com finds it is more common during the winter months in babies from 6 to 24 months. Keeping your baby hydrated will assist with diarrhea until the virus passes. Kidshealth.com states that bacteria such as salmonella or E.coli can also cause gastrointestinal infections. Diarrhea, cramping and vomiting are common symptoms. Many times the infections will clear on their own, but medication may be needed.

Constipation

Quite the opposite of diarrhea is constipation, where a baby is having infrequent bowel movements or experiencing a difficult time passing them. Parents.com finds this often happens when parents start incorporating cereal or whole milk into their baby's diet. By cutting back on the amount of cereal or milk being given, the constipation should pass on its own.