What is the difference between silent reflux and colic

By Sinead Thomas. Are colic and reflux the same thing? Share this article. Share on facebook. Share on whatsapp. Find out more about. An extension lead? Former Hollyoaks star Daisy Wood-Davis ended her maternity leave after just 10 days. Poll: When does Elf on the Shelf appear in your home? Join the forum. Most Read. What is the coil and how does it work? How letting your kids dress themselves increases their confidence and self-esteem!

In regard to feeding imbalances, Philippa says a baby may be getting more lactose milk sugar than they can cope with in one sitting, which creates gas pains. Unfortunately, a parent will often misread the signs and feed an agitated baby again, thereby worsening the problem. She believes that balanced feeding practices and the optimum releasing of wind equals long periods of deep sleep for babies ie.

This deep developmental sleep is important for all babies in the early stages of life. If your baby has the acid-burning version of reflux, your GP may prescribe you a drug such as omeprazole Losec. This lowers acidity production in the stomach and may reduce refluxing too. There are different ways of administering this drug. However, pharmacist Helen Scott says a lot of mothers find it easier to have it prescribed in capsule form which can then be split and mixed with yoghurt or some other soft food which babies more readily consume.

Your doctor can advise on the best approach. For reflux, feed your baby in as upright a position as possible and keep them upright after feeding. Take the time to wind them regularly during and after a feed and feed them slowly. In fact, feeding little and often may be the ideal solution for your baby as this will allow their digestive system to make the workload more manageable.

Reflux in babies does usually go away on its own. If you are struggling with some of these symptoms, particularly with lack of weight gain, do contact your doctor as they may be able to make a diagnosis and prescribe something for your baby.

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Keeping your newborn settled and happy while still making time your toddler, partner and day to day life. Find out more. How do you know your baby has colic or reflux? Symptoms include: Your baby cries a lot, and you are not sure why Your baby cannot be soothed, and the crying feels most common in the evenings Your baby looks angry and rather red in the face Your baby brings their knees up to their chest or arches their back when you hold them What are the symptoms of reflux? Babies who spit up and display symptoms of irritability are easily diagnosed with reflux, but others may not spit up at all.

This is called silent reflux. Babies with silent reflux exhibit other symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD , such as fussiness or poor feeding habits.

However, parents of babies who don't spit up may dismiss these behaviors as colic. Reflux occurs when the contents of the stomach come back into the esophagus. Babies with normal reflux will spit up milk or formula, whereas it stays in the esophagus for infants with silent reflux.

Reflux in babies is common and generally resolves on its own by the end of the first year. However, medical intervention may be required in some cases. Reflux that causes symptoms severe enough to impact a baby's quality of life is referred to as GERD. Spitting up is one symptom of GERD, but infants with silent reflux will exhibit other telltale signs. Babies with silent reflux may not spit up after feedings, making it more difficult to spot.

Symptoms of silent reflux include:. Infants with reflux often present with feeding difficulties, which can slow weight gain and even cause weight loss.

In extreme cases, this can result in undernutrition. Inadequate growth or inability to maintain growth during early childhood is referred to as failure to thrive FTT and can occur as a result of reflux. One reason babies are prone to reflux is that they are born with underdeveloped esophageal sphincter muscles. These are the muscles responsible for opening and closing the esophagus to allow for the passage of fluid.

Reflux is more commonly seen in younger infants since these muscles mature as babies grow. Babies with the following conditions may be at an increased risk for reflux:.

Your child's doctor will be able to determine whether your baby's symptoms are manageable by making changes at home or if medical intervention is needed.

The following tips may help alleviate symptoms in babies with reflux. Feeding a baby with reflux can be challenging. Breastfed babies who have reflux may try to soothe the pain by nursing, which can exacerbate the issue. Formula-fed infants can go longer stretches between feedings, however, this is also not ideal for babies with reflux. Aim to feed your baby every two to three hours while awake. This may mean reducing the number of ounces your baby gets at each feeding.