Fortunately, Dr. Rubman reminded me of the many safe and natural ways to address heartburn and other digestive disturbances in children…
Lose weight. Rather than addressing symptoms alone, it’s vital to address their underlying cause, says Dr. Rubman. Obesity is a growing problem in children and more often than not, heartburn and GER are due to excess pounds from overeating.

Look at natural ways to control heartburn. Instead of turning to acid suppressants, try an antacid. Add a half teaspoon of pure baking soda to a glass of cold water, or give your child an Alka-Seltzer, which is simply modified baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in tablet form with aspirin and citric acid. But remember, this should be done only on an empty stomach. Suppressing acid in the absence of ulcer only perpetuates the symptoms, says Dr. Rubman.
Chew food thoroughly. Chewing stimulates enzyme activity, and the more food is broken down in the mouth, the more readily the nutrients in the food are absorbed and utilized. As a parent, I know how hard it is to get your children to slow down while eating… just keep working on them.

Eat three meals a day. While popular thinking holds that small, frequent meals are less likely to cause indigestion, Dr. Rubman disagrees. With three reasonably-sized meals a day, stomach acid can efficiently dissolve food and extract nutrients when a child eats, and the stomach can rest between meals. This means watch the snacking as well if your child is having stomach upsets. If they really need a snack, as many children do, ripe fruit that is not citrus is their best bet because it tends to digest quickly in a compromised environment. Avoid this within an hour of bedtime.

Limit fluids with children’s meals. Fluids dilute stomach acid, leaving more work for the stomach to do. Dr. Rubman advises that children cease drinking one-half hour before eating, and refrain from drinking for an hour afterward.

Monitor food combinations. It’s unwise to combine foods that digest quickly (sugar, white flour products, white potatoes, etc.) with highly saturated fats (such as red meat or dairy), cautions Dr. Rubman.
Another good rule of thumb: No fruit with meals. Either eat the fruit one-half hour before the meal or wait at least an hour to an hour and a half after the meal to eat the fruit depending on the size and complexity of the meal.

Consider digestive enzymes or herbal remedies. When stomach acid levels are low, Dr. Rubman recommends digestive aids such as DuoZyme (Karuna) and Gastri-Gest (Priority One). These supplements stimulate hydrochloric acid release.

Check with a trained professional regarding the proper dosage for your child’s age and weight.