Can Children Get Heartburn ?

In case you are wondering if children can suffer from heartburn or acid reflux, the answer is yes.  The symptoms are basically the same as they are for adults.  These include the burning sensation in the throat, the sour acid taste in the mouth, the aches and pains in the chest.  The main difference is that a child is not going to tell you that they have heartburn, so as a parent you have to pay close attention to what your child is trying to tell you.  Sometimes behavior is the easiest diagnostic tool when it comes to kids.

Here are some signs to look for if you suspect your child may be suffering from acid reflux:

Pay attention if your child seems to be a picky eater.  Refusing to eat certain foods, pushing food around on their plates, or playing with their food could all be signs that these foods are causing them heartburn.  Make a list of which foods your child will not eat and compare it to the foods that cause adults to have acid reflux.  Also ask your child questions about the foods they do not want to eat.  If they tell you that spaghetti sauce makes their tummy hurt, it may be acid reflux.  Acidic juices, soda, and other drinks that contain caffeine and carbonation can bring on symptoms too.  Most kids will not refuse soda or juices.  But, if your child complains about an upset stomach or sore throat after drinking these, swap them out for milk, apple juice, or water.

Gagging, choking, coughing difficulty swallowing and hoarseness are more symptoms of heartburn that your child may be experiencing.  Take note of these, along with what foods they ate throughout the day to see if they correlate.

Drooling is another sign your child could having acid reflux.  This could be caused by difficulty swallowing or sore throat.  Also saliva neutralizes stomach acids, so when there is too much acid the body will try to compensate by over production.

Frequent awakening, coughing, or choking during sleep time are also indicators nighttime acid reflux.  To help prevent this, try putting an extra pillow or two under their heads.