Preparing for an appointment

If reflux continues after your child's first birthday, or if your child is having symptoms such as lack of weight gain and breathing problems, you might be referred to a doctor who specializes in children's digestive diseases (pediatric gastroenterologist).

What you can do

• Write down your baby's symptoms, including how frequently your baby spits up and the amount of liquid that is spit up.
• Write down key medical information, including how often you feed your baby, how long the feedings last and the brand of any formula that you are using.
• Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Questions to ask your doctor

• What's the most likely cause of my baby's symptoms?
• Does my baby need any tests?
• What treatments are available?
• Should I make any changes in how or what I feed my baby?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you questions, including:

• When did your baby's symptoms start?
• Does your baby spit up with every feeding or only occasionally?
• Is your baby content between feedings?
• Have you recently switched from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding? Or have you switched infant formulas?
• How often do you feed your baby, and how much does your baby eat at each feeding?
• If you have different caregivers, does everyone feed the baby the same way each time?
• Does anything seem to improve or worsen your baby's symptoms?