Foods that may cause a Reflux flare up
It is always best to offer solids when your baby is most relaxed and happy. Giving their milk feed first is very important so that you can give any medication with the milk (at least until your baby is 8–9 months old) and then offer solids as a ‘top up’. Try 1⁄2–2 teaspoons first and gradually increase the amount until your baby is having about 3–4 teaspoons at a mealtime.
However, some foods can make reflux pain worse for a baby/child.
- Most fruits and citrus fruits, fruit juice, especially orange, apple, blackberry, pineapple, raspberry, and strawberry.
- Tomatoes and tomato sauce
- Spicy Foods (even brand prepared baby food)
- Carbonated drink
- Fatty foods (i.e. chips, crisps)
If your baby is otherwise healthy, gaining weight and happy, but very sick with GOR, you shouldn’t completely avoid these foods, just keep them to small quantities less frequently. These foods will not worsen vomiting levels, and so it is not necessary to avoid them completely.
Well tolerated first solids include baby rice, pear, pumpkin, squash, courgette, swede.