How Do I Know If My 4 Week Old Has Acid Reflux?

arching back, fussiness and spitup are the 3 biggest indicators.

suggestions to try would be:

laying him with his head elevated after eating. You can do this by getting a crib wedge or putting him into a swing or his carseat.

I nursed my twins and I noticed within 2 days of taking silica 6x (homeopathic remedy) that their symptoms got better, better with the silica than with zantac.

I did not try cutting out dairy.
Also, buy the book: The happiest baby on the block. It will help.

My first was very fussy after she ate. I breast fed but she was so food sensative that we simply swithed her to Isomil Soy formula and what a differnece!!! It was so good for her in so may ways that with my other two, I breastfed AND used soy. Try this before medicating your baby, but consult your pediatricion before you do anything just to be on the safe side. See what he or she reccomends you try since you two know your baby best.

My son has acid reflux. He was an extremely fussy, colicky child until 2.5 months. He would be up for hours at night arching his back, pulling up his legs, screaming in pain. He also had some projectile vomiting. My doctor gave us Zantac, which helped and I eventually weaned him off. HOWEVER, he is back on it again. He has a very sensitive stomach, and as other mothers posted --- HATES dairy. I can sometimes sneak in a little milk, but he is in extreme discomfort if I eat Pizza, Ice Cream, and just found out the other day --- Grilled cheese or cheese quesadillas. He is not a good sleeper at all.... and we even have him elevated at night. I will admit, I am not the best with giving him the medicine either. I refuse to wake him up to get that 3rd dose in, especially if I am finally getting some sleep. Good luck!!

My son had acid reflux but was not a vomiter. He was very fussy after meals, arched his back, and was a poor sleeper. We bought a foam wedge that fit in the bassinet, to allow him to sleep on an incline. I kept him upright for 30 minutes after he ate (so no putting him down right after he ate). We also were prescribed Axid and Prevacid by the ped - that's when we saw a dramatic improvement. I see the other mom's mentioned cutting out dairy - my son also had a dairy sensitivity. I had to cut out ALL dairy - me using lactaid after I ate didn't help (babies are reacting to the protien in dairy, lactaid blocks out only the lactose). I would suggest starting with cutting out dairy (start looking in labels and you'll see it's everywhere!) - if your son improves, it could be a dairy sensitivity rather than reflux. Good luck!

My son had reflux. Every time after he ate he would basically spit up what he ate and constantly spitting up and more colicky. He was "Mr. Archy" as we would call him... arching his back after he ate. He was put on a low dosage of zantac as well and it helped. It also helped if we really tried to get a burp out of him (he was impossible), sit him up for 15 minutes afer eating if possible. If your son isn't gaining weight it could be an issue. Also, you might want to try switching to non-dairy or not eating dairy yourself to see if this helps as he might have some lactose intolerance. Definitely call and ask your pediatrician. :)

My daughter was fussy after eating (I breast fed). She would constantly cry. The doctor put her on meds for reflux, but after switching doctors I finally found out that she had a milk allergy. Switch to soy formula. That made a world of difference for her. If you are breast feeding, try removing all milk from your diet. I thought I did this until I found out that there is milk in so many things that you would never even think. MCDonalds french fries have milk in the seasoning.
My daughter was usually more uncomfortable in the evening. She would cry from 7 at night to 1 in the morning every single day and through out the day.
good luck

If you lay your son down after nursing to change a diaper or just rest and they projectile vomit/spit up - classic sign.

If you feel he is fussy after eating - try eliminating ALL dairy from your diet for a few days to see if it improves - if it does add the dairy at noon time and see if they are fussy in the evening. Then you will know.

I had this problem and it cured my daughter who was prescribed Zantac - I couldn't bear giving it to her - I didn't like the flavor why would she. Anyhow I drank soy milk and took extra calcium, if I had some cheese on pizza or other dairy I took Lactaid (I think) it is a chewable product that you take right before you eat anything containing lactose - that worked well too.

Good Luck - keep us posted