Health
Infant Reflux and Breastfeeding: How to Feed a Baby With Reflux Comfortably
Bringing your new baby home sparks joy, yet it can be tough, too. Lack of sleep and new meal modes make it hard. A big worry for many is when the baby spits up or shows signs of reflux. A little spit-up is normal, but if there’s a lot of pain, moms may wonder how to ease their baby’s feeding. Learning about baby reflux and how it ties to breastfeeding helps parents soothe their baby and ease feed times. Plus, just as helpful tools like a feeding bottle washer make things clean and simple, having good plans can ease feeding with reflux.
What Is Infant Reflux and How Common Is It?
Baby reflux means food from the belly moves back up to the throat, and it might come out as spit-up after eating. This happens because a baby’s inside parts are still growing, such as the muscle that keeps food down. Many babies deal with this, and in fact, studies show that nearly half of all babies under three months spit up at least once daily. The good news is, most babies get better from it by 12 to 18 months as their bodies grow.
Signs Your Breastfed Baby Might Have Reflux
Now and then, babies may spit up, which is normal. But those with reflux might also show signs like:
- Lots of spit-up or throwing up post-meals.
- Being cranky or upset, mostly when eating.
- Bending their back during or after feeding.
- Gagging, coughing, or hiccupping.
- Not putting on weight or growing slowly if it’s bad.
We need to know that light reflux, not messing with a baby’s weight or ease, is often called “happy spitting.” Yet, if your baby looks in pain or isn’t doing well, they might need changes or doctor help.
Why Reflux Happens in Young Babies
The main cause of acid reflux in babies is that their food pipes are not yet fully grown. The muscle that stops food from going back up is not strong enough to hold milk down all the time.
Other things may play a part too:
- Giving too much food or feeding too fast.
- Taking in air while feeding.
- Not taking well to some foods the mom eats (but this is rare).
- How the baby sits or lies during or after feeds.
The big problem is growth, and time can be the best help. But for now, there are some ways to ease the signs and help both the baby and mom feel good.
Breastfeeding Positions That Can Help With Reflux
The way you feed your baby can cut down on reflux. Keeping the baby up a bit when feeding helps since gravity keeps milk down. Here are a few ways you can try:
- Laid-back breastfeeding: Mom reclines slightly with baby lying tummy-down across her chest, which slows milk flow and uses gravity to help digestion.
- Upright cradle hold: Holding the baby more vertically in the cradle position allows milk to go down smoothly.
- Football hold: Tucking the baby under the arm, while keeping them elevated, can also help babies with reflux.
Trying out different ways can show what is best for your baby.
Feeding Tips to Reduce Spit-Up and Discomfort
Making a few tiny shifts in how you feed can also cut down on spit-up:
- Give less food, but more often, instead of long feed times.
- Let the baby stop and gulp down each bit to keep air out.
- Keep the baby cool and still before and during feeds — crying makes them suck in more air.
- Don’t shake, jump, or lay the baby down flat just after feeding.
These little acts can help keep feeding easy for both baby and mom.
How Milk Supply and Letdown Might Affect Reflux
For some moms who feed from the breast, too much milk or a fast milk flow can cause reflux. When milk comes too fast, babies might gulp, take in air, and feel too much, which can make them spit up or get fussy. If you think this is true, try:
- Let out some milk before feeding to make the first flow slower.
- Feed while leaning back so gravity can slow the milk down.
- Give milk from just one side each time to cut down on too much milk.
Handling the amount of milk doesn’t cut back on the nutrition—it just makes feeding better for babies.
Burping and Post-Feeding Routines That Support Digestion
After feeding, it’s key to burp babies who have reflux. Air in the belly adds to the pressure, so letting it out helps ease pain. Good ways to burp are:
- Hold the baby up close to your chest and softly pat the back
- Sit the baby on your lap, keep the head and chest up, and rub the back
- Try to burp when halfway done with the feed, not just after
After feeding, hold the baby up for 20 to 30 minutes to cut down on spit-up. Many parents hold their little ones in carriers to keep them up and use their hands for other things.
When to Talk to a Pediatrician About Persistent Symptoms
Most of the time, acid reflux is not bad and gets better as kids grow. But it can mean a bigger issue called GERD (stomach acid reflux disease) in some cases. You should talk to a child doctor if your little one:
- Does not put on weight or loses weight.
- Cries a lot after or while they feed.
- Does not want to eat or seems hurt when eating.
- Throw up spit that is green, yellow, or has blood.
- Finds it hard to breathe, chokes, or coughs a lot.
Doctors might say to change how you feed them, give medicine, or, not often, do more tests.
Practical Tools That Can Help Parents
Handling reflux is not just about how a baby sits or when they burp. It’s also about keeping the feeding tools clean and safe. Many moms and dads choose to use a bottle washer to clean each day, more so if they use both direct feeding and pumped milk. To make sure bottles, nipples, and pump parts are well washed and free of germs can reduce germs and help a baby’s soft tummy.
Using the right feeding methods with clean tools leads to better health habits overall.
Conclusion
Baby spit-up is a thing many moms who feed with milk know well. It can be tough to deal with the mess or the baby crying often, but understanding what it is and making small tweaks can help a lot. From holding the baby right while feeding and taking it slow, to burping them more and keeping them upright, moms can make their little one feel better while still having good feed times. If the problems stay or get worse, a chat with a baby doctor ensures the baby gets the care they need. Over time, trying new things and using tools like a strong bottle washer, handling baby spit-up gets simpler. As the baby grows, and their belly gets used to food, most spit-up issues end — this leads to happier feed times and peaceful times for both mom and baby.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The federal government has urged global investors and innovators to tap into the Nigerian healthcare ecosystem, which is projected to grow by 7.1 per cent, reaching a market value of $161.7 million by 2027.
This advice was given by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Mr Isiaq Salako, at the opening of the World Health Expo (WHX in Lagos 2026), formerly known as Medic West Africa, on Tuesday in Lagos.
The broader West African market is expected to reach more than $11 billion, providing investors with an opportunity to get a good return on investment.
“Nigeria is open for healthcare investment. We want platforms like WHX in Lagos to serve as a critical conduit for translating this investment ambition into tangible technology access for our hospitals and patients,” the Minister, who declared the event open on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, said.
He praised the organisers of the expo, which welcomed over 8,000 healthcare professionals and 500 exhibitors spanning 40 countries, for growing the programme into a vital catalyst for West African healthcare transformation.
Addressing the stark reality that between 85 per cent and 99 per cent of medical equipment and in vitro diagnostics in West Africa are currently imported, Mr Salako outlined aggressive federal interventions designed to dismantle supply chain vulnerabilities and skyrocket local manufacturing capabilities.
He also spotlighted key presidential directives, including the Presidential Initiative to Unlock Healthcare Value Chains (PVAC) and the Presidential Executive Order for the Pharmaceutical and Allied Sectors, both engineered to catalyse health security, drive economic growth, and generate employment through strategic private-sector collaborations and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
“Our commitment to improving access to modern equipment and technologies in hospitals is backed by concrete action. The government has inaugurated the $1.2 billion Sector-Wide Approach (SWAP) initiative, a comprehensive overhaul addressing financing, workforce development, and infrastructure.
“Furthermore, for the 2025 fiscal year, the Federal Government committed N402 billion specifically for health sector infrastructure investment,” he stated, also highlighting an expansive health infrastructure upgrade program in partnership with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
According to him, this phased initiative is actively delivering oncology and nuclear medicine centres across six tertiary hospitals, alongside establishing 22 modern medical diagnostic centres, seven cardiac catheterisation laboratories, and expanded radiology and clinical pathology capabilities distributed across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Also speaking, the chief executive of EHA Clinics, Dr Ifunanya Ilodibe, stressed the urgent need to support and unify fragmented growth within the healthcare system, noting that WHX serves as the precise ecosystem platform required to bring together policymakers, clinicians, and investors to move actionable strategies forward.
Also, the President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) and Country Director of PharmAccess, Njide Ndili, said, “HFN bridges the gaps in health financing, opening up critical connections to achieve true health sovereignty,” praising Africa CDC’s historical intervention, particularly during the Ebola crisis and urged participants to utilise the WHX exhibition floor to forge collaborations capable of scaling locally produced medical equipment.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Mr Akin Abayomi, on his part, highlighted the enforcement of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act in Lagos State as a landmark regulatory milestone. The Act mandates health insurance for all residents, structuring the financial environment to guarantee medical protection across various socioeconomic levels.
Delivering the keynote address, the Special Regional Representative of the Director General of the Africa CDC Western Regional Coordinating Centre, Prof. Aliko Ahmed, called on leaders in geopolitical positions to enact liberating trade policies aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to shape the continental agenda, emphasising that the Africa CDC will fiercely prioritise building trust in locally manufactured healthcare products.
WHX in Lagos 2026 runs for three days, featuring accredited forums, cutting-edge product showcases, and high-level networking tracks designed to translate billions in public and private investment into immediate technology access for hospitals and patients.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The coroner’s inquest into the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Adichie-Esege, son of renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, suffered a major setback on Wednesday after Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital informed the coroner’s court that it had obtained an order of the Lagos State High Court staying further proceedings in the probe.
The matter came before Coroner Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji at Court 9, Igbosere Magisterial District, Yaba, Lagos, and was scheduled for the commencement of witness’ testimony.
Counsel to Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Professor Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), told the court that the hospital had initiated judicial review proceedings challenging, among other issues, the jurisdiction of the Coroner’s Court to conduct the inquest in the absence of the deceased’s body.
He disclosed that the High Court had granted leave for the judicial review application and ordered that the leave operate as a stay of proceedings pending the determination of the suit.
The senior advocate also informed the court that although the Lagos State Attorney-General’s Office denied seeing the originating processes from the High Court, proof of service was available.
Responding on behalf of the family, Mr Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) confirmed receipt of both the originating processes and the High Court order.
While acknowledging the obligation of all parties to comply with court orders, he informed the coroner that the family had already filed four witness statements on oath, including that of Dr Ivara Esege, as well as statements from independent medical experts from Nigeria and the United States, who are expected to testify at the inquest.
Mr Pinheiro urged the court not to adjourn the matter indefinitely, but to a definite date after the court vacation to enable parties to report on developments in the High Court proceedings.
He also highlighted the need for transparency and public confidence in the fact-finding process, saying, “He who is innocent does not fear an open inquest.”
Counsel representing Atlantis Paediatric Hospital supported the request for a definite adjournment rather than an indefinite postponement.
Following submissions by counsel, the Coroner adjourned the matter until October 8, 2026, for a report on the status of the High Court proceedings.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
About $50 million has been promised by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, through its First Response Fund (FRF), to support the response to the ongoing Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak.
A statement from the organisation made available to Business Post on Monday said up to $40 million would be available to enable accelerated access to investigational doses and, eventually, approved vaccines, while a further $10 million would support outbreak response and protection of routine immunisation services in impacted countries.
“We need to act now to ensure that, once one or more vaccine candidates are ready, manufacturers are in a position to start producing doses at scale,” the chief executive of Gavi, Dr Sania Nishtar, was quoted as saying.
“Leveraging this allocation, Gavi will work closely with CEPI and partners to design the right incentives to achieve this goal, exploring all options, including potential Advance Purchase Commitments.
“This effort, alongside ensuring emergency funds are on hand to support outbreak response and protect routine immunisation services in the communities impacted, is exactly what our First Response Fund was designed for,” Dr Nishtar added.
The First Response Fund is the only globally approved mechanism that allows “at-risk” financing for scaled-up production of vaccines under development. This means Gavi is able to make vital early investments even when development outcomes are uncertain.
The $40 million in immediate surge financing that has been approved today will enable manufacturers of the leading candidates of a vaccine against the Bundibugyo virus to directly commit to high-capacity manufacturing.
This, in turn, will ensure that, as soon as clinical trials demonstrate positive outcomes, investigational vaccine doses could be deployed rapidly to support outbreak response.
Looking to the longer-term, Gavi will also provide incentives for manufacturers to adopt the fastest pathways towards WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL) and/or WHO Prequalification (PQ), which are critical global approvals that will enable the rapid use of these vaccines in future emergencies.
In the coming weeks, Gavi will finalise the design of a financial mechanism that leverages the $40 million FRF allocation to achieve these vaccine access goals, in close partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) as well as WHO, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and UNICEF.
The final design will take into account the characteristics of individual vaccine candidates and the needs of their manufacturers and may include mechanisms such as Advance Purchase Commitments. Work will also be undertaken to ensure successful candidates from African-based vaccine manufacturers can benefit from accelerated support through Gavi’s African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA) initiative.
In addition to these investments, Gavi will also immediately release US$ 10 million to support countries and partners with outbreak response.
This funding will support implementation of national outbreak response plans, including targeted investments to protect routine immunisation, protect health care workers and ensure readiness for future vaccines. Gavi will work closely with countries, partners including Africa CDC, WHO, UNICEF, World Bank, and donors to ensure these investments complement other efforts.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism10 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn