The bigger picture
Reflux is common in infants because of several factors:
- A shorter, more narrow oesophagus than in older children and adults
- A lower oesophageal sphincter that is slightly above, rather than just below, the diaphragm
- Delayed gastric emptying
- The high calorie, liquid diet that babies need putting the stomach under strain
- The fact that babies are often lying down, which means gravity can’t exert its usual effect.
Certain factors increase the risk of a baby developing reflux, including premature birth, parental history of heartburn or similar, obesity, anatomical abnormalities of the GI tract or surrounding muscles, and neurodisability disorders such as cerebral palsy.