The anti-reflux wedge for babies is designed to relieve the symptoms of babies suffering from gastroesophageal reflux or regurgitation. It can also be of great help to babies with respiratory conditions, colds, episodes of mucus or coughing, difficulty breathing, or ear pain. Placing the baby in this position helps reduce mucus buildup in the upper respiratory tract, relieves coughing, and improves breathing during sleep.
Its purpose is to support the baby during the night, and to do this, the wedge must be placed under the mattress and must have the angle recommended by pediatricians. The inclined position created by the wedge helps to keep the baby at a slightly elevated angle, which helps to prevent the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. This can relieve the baby's regurgitation or respiratory congestion and help them sleep more comfortably.
What is gastroesophageal reflux?
When the baby feeds, the milk travels down the esophagus to the stomach, where it is directed by the acidity of the gastric juices. The entrance from the esophagus to the stomach, called the lower esophageal sphincter, is a set of muscles that open when swallowing and close to prevent the milk from flowing back. Reflux occurs when stomach contents return to the esophagus.
It is estimated that 50% of babies up to 3 months old experience regular regurgitation and gastroesophageal reflux. From 6 months onwards, as babies spend more time sitting up and start eating solids, reflux improves and, by around 7 months, only approximately 15% of babies still suffer from it. Reflux normally disappears between 12 and 18 months.
Why does gastroesophageal reflux occur?
There are three conditions that can cause gastroesophageal reflux in babies:
- Immaturity of the lower esophageal sphincter. Just as all of a baby's muscles are very soft at birth, the sphincter muscles are also weak and immature, and in many cases do not close completely, causing stomach contents to flow back into the esophagus.
- Babies spend most of their time lying down because they are not yet able to sit up, which makes it easier for the contents of their stomachs to flow backwards due to gravity.
- The baby's diet is exclusively liquid, based on milk, and it is much easier for liquid foods to leak through the sphincter and return to the esophagus.
Types of reflux in babies
Depending on the severity of the symptoms, we can identify two types of reflux in babies:
- Physiological gastroesophageal reflux is very common in newborn babies. These are babies who, when laid down, tend to expel fluid from their mouths, but who are calm, gain weight, and eat without any problems. These cases are uncomfortable because you have to change their clothes constantly, but they do not pose a risk to the baby's health.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease. This occurs when reflux affects the baby's quality of life and, consequently, that of the parents. In these cases, the acidity of the stomach contents damages the lining of the esophagus, as if burning it, and causes very unpleasant symptoms in the baby. One symptom that allows it to be identified is that the baby interrupts feeding and arches their back when burned by this acid reflux. A number of related symptoms may appear, ranging from irritability, crying, and refusal to feed, to vomiting, dysphagia, chest pain, and chronic cough, among many others.
How to use the Care® anti-reflux wedge?
The Care® anti-reflux wedge should be placed under the mattress, at the head of the bed, so that it slightly raises the baby's torso, alleviating gastroesophageal reflux and improving their breathing.
The innovative feature of the Care Up wedge is that it can be adjusted to 4 different angles to meet the baby's needs at any given time. It is also made of a stable and resistant material. It is foldable and takes up very little space, making it easy to store anywhere, even under the mattress when not in use, without disturbing the baby. It is also perfect for traveling.
It is advisable to use anti-reflux wedges that have the proper inclination recommended by pediatricians, rather than filling the baby's crib with pillows or towels, which can also increase the risk of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome.
What can I do to prevent my baby's reflux?
If your baby has physiological reflux or regurgitation, in addition to placing them in an inclined position during sleep using an anti-reflux wedge, you can follow these recommendations:
- Keep the baby upright for at least 20-30 minutes after each feed, carrying them or holding them in your arms.
- The recommended sleeping position for babies with reflux is supine, i.e., on their back. In this position, it is more difficult for regurgitation to reach the airways and it also helps prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Never place your baby on their stomach or with cushions or pillows.
- For formula-fed babies, thickeners can be used to reduce regurgitation. If the baby is exclusively breastfed, it is not worth switching to formula to prevent reflux, as the improvement is not very noticeable.
- Feed your baby smaller amounts more frequently to prevent them from becoming too hungry and feeding too eagerly, and also to avoid distending their stomach.
If your baby's regurgitation is normal, stay calm and patient. You can try using an anti-reflux wedge at night and follow the recommendations above. However, if your baby is very irritable, arches their back when feeding, and cries a lot, see your pediatrician so they can prescribe the appropriate treatment to reduce acidity and alleviate reflux disease.
