What dietary recommendations are usually made for infants with GERD?

For infants diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the recommendation of small, frequent meals along with thickened formula serves to effectively manage symptoms and reduce discomfort associated with reflux. By feeding infants smaller amounts more often, it minimizes the volume of stomach contents that can potentially be regurgitated. This approach makes it easier for infants' immature digestive systems to handle the intake.

Thickening the formula can also help to reduce reflux episodes. Thicker feedings are less likely to flow back into the esophagus, as they tend to stay in the stomach better than thinner liquids. This can contribute to decreased frequency and severity of reflux episodes, helping to improve the infant's comfort and feeding experience.

On the other hand, options that suggest high-fiber diets or large meals are inappropriate for this age group, particularly since infants have specific nutritional needs that cannot be met with such diets. Additionally, a liquid-only diet would not provide the adequate nutrition that infants require, and a low-calorie diet would risk insufficient growth and development. Thus, the refined strategy of small, frequent meals combined with thickened formula is the most beneficial dietary recommendation for managing GERD in infants.