Understanding GERD

Fortunately, there are ways to treat GERD, including several types of medications and changes in the way you feed your baby. If you're bottle feeding your child, your pediatrician may suggest adding a little rice cereal to the formula. The rice makes the milk thicker so it stays down, rather than being refluxed into the esophagus and causing the stomach acid to burn.

Moms who breastfeed their babies might benefit from a booklet produced by La Leche League International, called Breastfeeding the Baby with Reflux. For information on how to get a copy for $2.50, visit the website at www.llli.org.

Additional suggestions to help with feeding include:

• keeping the baby as vertical as possible
• gently burping the baby frequently
• trying not to rush a feeding, although that may be difficult when you have other children who need your attention, too