There are a variety of lifestyle measures you can try:

For infants:

• Elevating the head of the baby's crib or bassinet.
• Holding the baby upright for 30 minutes after a feeding.
• Thicken bottle feedings with cereal (do not do this without a doctor's supervision).
• Changing feeding schedules.
• Trying solid food (with your doctor's approval).

For older children:

• Elevating the head of the child's bed.
• Keeping the child upright for at least two hours after eating.
• Serving several small meals throughout the day, rather than three large meals.
• Limiting foods and beverages that seem to worsen your child's reflux.
• Encouraging your child to get regular exercise.

If the reflux is severe or doesn't get better, your doctor may recommend medicines to treat the reflux.

Medications to Lessen Gas

• Mylicon.
• Gaviscon.

Medications to Neutralize or Decrease Stomach Acid

• Antacids such as Mylanta and Maalox
• Histamine-2 (H2) blockers such as Axid, Pepcid, Tagamet or Zantac
• Proton-pump inhibitors such as Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid, Aciphex and Protonix.

Researchers aren't sure whether decreasing stomach acid lessens reflux in infants.

For the most part, medicines that decrease intestinal gas or neutralize stomach acid (antacids) are very safe. At high doses, antacids can cause some side effects, such as diarrhea. Chronic use of very high doses of Maalox or Mylanta may be associated with an increased risk of rickets (thinning of the bones).

Side effects from medications that inhibit the production of stomach acid are quite uncommon. A small number of children may develop some sleepiness when they take Zantac, Pepcid, Axid, or Tagamet.

Medications to Improve Intestinal Coordination