Best Formula for Reflux

HiPP Anti Reflux (AR): Best Baby Formula for Acid Reflux

With over 60 years of success in crafting premium infant nutrition products, HiPP offers tried-and-tested specialized nutrition designed to provide relief for sensitive babies. For little ones who need a reflux baby formula to help reduce regurgitation after feedings, HiPP Anti-Reflux formula is an excellent option.

This formula for acid reflux is crafted with love in Germany from natural, non-GMO ingredients, proven to be effective for the dietary management of infant reflux. Thanks to its thickened consistency, it helps keep milk down where it belongs, in your little one's tummy.

It should be noted that this formula is classified as a Food for Special Medical Purposes, indicating that it should only be used under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional. Be sure to consult your pediatrician before introducing it to your baby.

If you believe your little one could benefit from this anti-reflux formula, keep reading to learn more about what causes reflux and the best solutions to deal with it.

Understanding Reflux in Babies

It's essential to recognize that, despite your best efforts, there are certain contributing factors to reflux that, unfortunately, cannot be avoided.

The mere fact that an infant's diet consists primarily of liquids, coupled with the fact that babies spend a significant amount of their time lying flat, puts them at a greater risk of reflux during this developmental period.

While those risk factors exist across the board, the main culprit behind infant reflux is that babies are born with an immature lower esophageal sphincter. You can think of the esophageal sphincter as a little 'trap door' that separates your baby's stomach from their esophagus.

For most infants, their trap door is still 'under construction', which means that until it matures and forms fully with age, milk and stomach acid can bubble back up and escape through it.

Thankfully, as your baby continues to grow, their esophageal sphincter will become stronger, and by the time they're 12 to 14 months of age, they will likely have outgrown their baby reflux.

Beyond this, there are a couple of other possible reasons behind reflux. Firstly, some infants have food allergies, oftentimes to cow's milk proteins, which can result in symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and skin rash.

Alternatively, some babies have gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD in babies is a more severe presentation of infant reflux, in which stomach acid irritates the esophagus, causing discomfort.

If you suspect your child has a food allergy or GERD, it's essential to get advice from your healthcare provider on treatment options.

Signs Your Baby Needs an Anti Reflux Formula

Before switching formulas, it's essential to consult your pediatrician to ensure that a dietary change is, in fact, necessary or beneficial for your little one.

Your baby's doctor may recommend an Anti-Reflux formula if your little one is formula-fed and presents persistent reflux symptoms despite trying other means of management, such as smaller, more frequent feedings or holding your baby upright after meals.

Keep in mind that reflux symptoms can present differently in babies; however, the most common symptoms include spitting up during feedings or shortly thereafter. Other signs that your little one could benefit from a formula for reflux include:

→ Feedings that take longer than usual or are interrupted by spitting up

→ Hiccups or coughing during feeding time

→ Gulping or swallowing after a feeding

→ General discomfort or being unsettled after a feeding

How Does AR Formula Work and Help with Reflux?

The main therapeutic ingredient in HiPP Anti-Reflux is locust bean gum, a natural thickening agent derived from carob fruit, which makes the milk more viscous.

It is essential to be aware that because the formula is thicker than usual, it may not flow smoothly through standard nipples. You will likely need to use nipples with a larger hole to ensure your baby can feed comfortably.

Several studies have indicated that locust bean gum can be effective for the management of infant reflux symptoms. In particular, the thickened consistency of HiPP AR can help reduce the severity and frequency of spit-up episodes.

However, locust bean gum offers more than one benefit for babies. As a rich source of fibre, it has the ability to exert prebiotic effects in the gastrointestinal tract. That means it can help to increase the amount of beneficial bacteria while also reducing the amount of harmful bacteria in babies' guts.

Another reason HiPP AR is considered some of the best formula for reflux is that it features lactose as the sole source of carbohydrates, which is also one of the main providers of energy in human milk.

Compared to other brands of formula for acid reflux, which often include starch as an additive, this gentle AR recipe achieves a comparable nutrient profile to HiPP Stage 1 infant formula while avoiding giving babies excess energy from complementary carbohydrates.

If you're curious to try HiPP baby formula for reflux, you can choose between their German and UK recipes.

Both options share the same foundational ingredients and are produced in Germany. However, a notable difference is that the Hipp Anti Reflux German includes probiotic cultures originally sourced from breast milk as an additional ingredient to support gut and immune health, which the UK recipe omits.

Additionally, Hipp Anti Reflux UK is offered in a larger 800g container and has the added convenience of English labelling directly on the product. However, we provide a free English translation of the preparation instructions for the German version of Anti Reflux formula on the product page of our site.

FAQs on Acid Reflux Formula

It can be very upsetting to see your little one spit up, so it's natural to have lots of questions. Next, we will address some of the top questions parents have regarding the best formula for acid reflux.

Should I Change Formula if Baby Has Acid Reflux?

There is a certain amount of reflux that is an unavoidable part of infancy, so if your baby has occasional reflux episodes but is otherwise healthy and content, a change in formula may not be strictly necessary.

However, if their reflux symptoms are persistent despite taking preventative measures, your pediatrician may recommend an Anti Reflux formula.

That being said, you should always consult your baby's doctor before changing their diet. Receiving personalized medical advice can help guide you towards the best formula for reflux, tailored to your baby's unique needs.

How Long Should I Use Anti-Reflux Formula?

Most babies will show signs of reflux by 8 weeks old, with the condition rarely persisting past the one-year mark, making a formula for acid reflux useful during this period.

However, the exact length of time to feed Anti Reflux formula will vary from baby to baby, as it depends on the guidance of your pediatrician and how soon your little one's condition resolves.

What Age is AR Baby Formula for?

HiPP formula for acid reflux is intended for babies aged 0 to 12 months of age. Keep in mind that reflux is more common in early infancy and typically resolves by 1 year of age.

How to Know if Formula is Causing Reflux?

If you suspect your baby's formula is the cause of their reflux, it is important to consult your child's pediatrician to rule out any underlying health conditions and to obtain advice on how to properly switch formulas if medically recommended.

Is HiPP Anti Reflux Formula Organic?

No, HiPP AR is not organic because it is a Food for Special Medical Purposes. That being said, HiPP AR is made with clean, non-GMO ingredients that align with the brand's high-quality standards.

Despite the lack of organic certification, this Anti-Reflux formula is manufactured in accordance with strict European regulations, and many parents consider it to be the best formula for acid reflux.