Calm Baby Down With The Best Baby Bottles For Acid Reflux (2020 Guide)
I think you'll agree with me when I say: acid reflux is no joke.
I remember being so worried, exhausted, and angry when my son was diagnosed with acid reflux.
I was told there were a number of things I could do, but one of the best things was have the right bottle.
After going through several, I finally found a great one that worked for him.
The best baby bottles cut down on the amount of air bubbles in his milk, cut down on his spit up, and just made feeding time a more pleasant experience for all parties involved.
Read on to learn a little more about acid reflux in babies, and how the right bottle can make all the difference (as well as some tips and tricks from one mom to another).
What Is Acid Reflux and How Does It Affect Your Baby?
I knew my son suffered from acid reflux right away.
A week or two after coming home from the hospital, I noticed he wasn’t responding well to his formula.
He was colicky, his spit up increased dramatically, and he’d cry out in pain during and after bottles.
I just knew he had acid reflux (or as it is sometimes called, GERD—Gastroesophogeal Reflux) and his pediatrician confirmed it.
She explained that this condition causes whatever is in the stomach to move upward, including acid.
It hangs around in the esophagus and often times go into or out of a baby’s mouth, in a repetitive way.
Babies tend to lose weight and have lots of discomfort and difficulty with feeding, which can be really stressful on the baby and the parents.
Acid reflux will usually go away by your baby’s first birthday, but often times, babies are put on special formulas, prescription medications, and are advised to be propped up when sleeping.
Pediatricians also recommend using specialized bottles to help alleviate the symptoms associated with GERD.
How The Right Baby Bottle Can Help With Acid Reflux
The right bottle can make all the difference when it comes to reflux.
Some bottles are designed specifically with reflux in mind, and some bottles have a built-in vent system.
This eliminates air bubbles in the milk and during the drinking process.
Other baby bottles promote positive air flow because they have an angled design.
Some parents also like to use a disposable bottle liner with an angled bottle to really ensure there is very little air getting into their baby’s system.
Once a baby can drink without air bubble interruption, they are less fussy, they are less likely to spit up, and they are more likely to feel comfortable during and after feeding times (just don’t lay a GERD baby down immediately after a bottle, keep them elevated).
Other Tips To Help Reduce Acid Reflux In Your Baby
In addition to the right bottle, as I mentioned before, you need to have a chat with your pediatrician to determine a specialized formula.
Sometimes, certain medications also get prescribed to help your baby feel more comfortable and at ease.
Here are some other things that were success for me:
Wedge. I placed my baby on a wedge in his crib. This kept him elevated and more comfortable after feedings, especially at night, which helped him sleep better.
Smaller feedings. My son did better with more bottles at a lesser amount, rather than the other way around. But cutting 2-4 ounces out of each bottle, his system was better able to handle the formula and break it down more efficiently.
Thicker formula. I thickened my baby’s formula (with my pediatrician’s approval of course) with some rice cereal. It helped keep the formula down and I noticed a huge difference immediately with is mood and comfort level (and his spit up amount).
Constant burping. I never waited to burp my baby until the end of a bottle. I burped him after ever ounce or so. This helped him get the air out and it really cut down on the amount of spit up overall!
Best Bottles for Acid Reflux
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
  |
1. Dr. Brown's Natural Flow
|
Check Price |
  |
2. Tommee Tippee Fiesta Bottles
|
Check Price |
  |
3. Philips Avent Classic
|
Check Price |
Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow baby bottle set (click here to check the price on Amazon) is a favorite amongst nearly all the parents I know.
Why?
The bottles have a patented system that takes all the air out of your baby’s bottle, helping alleviate acid reflux symptoms, as well as burping and gas.
The bottles create a positive pressure flow that mimics that act of breastfeeding, so you can’t get more natural than that.
Plus, when air doesn’t enter the mix, you can ensure your baby is getting their full dose of vitamin c, a, and e.
The feeding set boasts three 8 ounce bottles, two 4 ounce bottles, and caps and cleaning equipment (because the bottles do have many parts).
After using these bottles, I noticed much less drama during and after feeding time, and by far much less spit up as well.
#2. Tommee Tippee Fiesta Bottles
The Tommee Tippee Fiesta Bottles (click here to check the price on Amazon) are also a great option if your little one has acid reflux.
They too have a special "easi-vent" system that promotes positive air flow and diminishes air bubbles.
The set includes six 9-ounce bottles that are unique due to their ability to mimic the natural movement and feel of a breast.
Your baby also won’t experience nipple collapse, which is also important if you are not nursing and your baby is diagnosed with acid reflux.
With these bottles, you get an easy, efficient, and reliable feed every time.
They come in fun, bright colors, and have adjustable nipples so you can easily control the flow (which also could worsen acid reflux if the bottle isn’t on a slow enough flow).
Philips Avent Classic bottles (click here to check the price on Amazon) are also a great recommendation when it comes to feeding a baby with acid reflux.
You get five 9-ounce bottles which have been clinically proven to reduce colic, and other discomfort that stems from reflux.
Like the other bottles, it has a special valve incorporated into its design so it vents air away from ingestion and reduces gas and fussiness.
It has three parts that need to be cleaned regularly, but are easy to put together.
You can also utilize various flows depending on your baby’s feeding comfort level, which you can gage by observing their rate of spit up, the amount of gas they have, and if they are burping a lot.
I found it helpful to stay on a slower flow nipple longer than average, because my son was better able to control the rate and amount of formula that he swallowed.
Wrapping Up
It can be pretty stressful and scary when your baby has acid reflux.
Help alleviate their pain by considering some of the suggestions above, but most importantly, finding them the right baby bottle to accommodate their feeding needs.
