You may want to consider finding a digestive enzyme supplement instead of acid reflux medications. The body needs to produce acid in order to digest food and sometimes suppressing it can make the problem worse and cause nutrients such as calcium and b vitamins to not be absorbed.
I had acid reflux last year and went to see Naturopath who put me on ZYPAN. The next day I was better already. I had it so bad I was sleeping in a chair and I took Nexium for 3 days and started losing my voice.
The supplement I take has acid in it because I wasn't producing enough acid to digest my food. When your stomach acid is low then it tries to digest the food but it can't and then it ferments and that is why you get reflux. After I started taking the supplement I could sleep flat right away but I had to swallow enzymes between meals for awhile ,probably a couple months, until the inflammation went down.
I don't think that children's digestive enzyme supplements have acid in them. I would seriously recc. finding a Naturopath with good credentials that could help you find the right supplement to work with instead of against your child's digestive system and they may suggest dietary changes that you are not awre of in youir more medical trained background.
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
I think you make a great point that when a child stops eating it can be a sign of reflux. On the other hand, many of the children in the Infants and Toddlers Program where I work are picky eaters. Often times these picky eaters get better when treated for reflux. I've often said that before treating a child for eating/feeding issues reflux should be cleared first.
One last thought though is that some kids respond to their reflux by eating more and this can lead to being overweight. My Mom says that sometimes she will wake in the middle of the night with heartburn. Only by eating a few crackers will the pain go away. I think we see this in some of our big babies and toddlers. Eating can actually increase saliva production and can soothe a sore throat.
Stephanie