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.