Please HELP....Reflux & Settling Techniques?

Question

My 2mth old has silent reflux that is like heartburn in adults. This is constantly waking him. I feel that this is constantly waking him while he sleeps as he is only sleeping for 30min intervals & wakes screaming like he is being murdered?

I have been to the doctors & child clinic & they have suggested I wrap him & let him cry no more than 15mins?
I have tried this for over a week now & it is not working. It takes me an hour to eventually settle him with cuddles?

Please Help

Answer 1

1) He shouldn't sleep flat on his back, but on an incline. You can incline his crib by putting books under the crib legs NEVER put anything under the baby or mattress as this is unsafe.

2) Crying makes GER worse!!!

Other suggestions:
http://askdrsears.com/html/10/T106000.asp

If you suspect GER, mention this possibility to your doctor. The diagnosis is usually made based on the history given by the parents. A doctor can confirm the diagnosis by placing a string-like tube into baby's esophagus (only minimally uncomfortable), leaving the tube in place overnight, and measuring the amount of stomach acids regurgitated into the esophagus. If the reflux is severe, your doctor may prescribe medicines that lower the amount of stomach acid produced and accelerate stomach emptying. Besides these medications, try these home remedies to ease your baby's discomfort:

* Keep baby upright and quiet for at least thirty minutes after feeding.
* Offer smaller, more frequent feedings.
* Wear your baby in a carrier as long as possible. Carried babies cry less. Babies reflux more while crying.
* Breastfeed. Studies show that GER is less in breastfed babies.
* If you are bottlefeeding (and if recommended by your doctor), thicken baby's feedings with one or two tablespoons of rice cereal to each 8-ounce bottle.
* Discuss with your doctor the safest sleeping position for your baby. Babies with severe reflux sleep best on their stomach and propped up at a 30-degree angle by elevating the head of the crib. (Babies without reflux should be put down to sleep on their backs.)

From one-third to one-half of all babies have some degree of reflux during the first three months, yet the good news is that most infants outgrow reflux around seven to nine months of age.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

My son had GERD as well. I know that trying to make him sleep flat on his back never worked. It makes it worse, the same as it does in adults with reflux. Personally, I would not let him cry for any amount of time as that makes it worse too. He's crying because he's in pain and if you pick him up so that he's upright it's going to help.

I'll tell you a few things that seemed to help for me and some other suggestions I've heard: Feed half as much, twice as often. Burp frequently and thoroughly. Over the counter gas relief drops seemed to help my son. Zantac (prescribed by the doctor) helped some. Being upright. My son always slept in his car seat--it worked way better than being flat. When I had trouble settling him (which was usually several times a day) I would turn on the vacuum cleaner. It sounds ridiculous, but I guess it's very soothing for some babies. I'm so sorry you and your son are going through this. It is so trying. I know it seems like forever away now, but they say most babies outgrow it by about 12 months. Good luck to you.

Answer 4

Are you nursing or is the baby on formula? My baby has reflux, and we tried every formula under the sun. What finally made a huge difference, and gave us a happy baby finally, was getting her on a formula that didn't have DHA and ARA added to it.

Also, reflux babies have a very hard time sleeping on their backs. Both of my kids had reflux and were tummy sleepers at 2 months because I was too afraid of them spitting up in their sleep and choking (my nephew stopped breathing from this). Maybe sleeping in a bouncy seat or swing, or having the mattress elevated would help.
Good luck!

Answer 5

I feel for you because my baby has been the same way! Will not take naps unless she is being held and sooo difficult to put to bedtime as well. I tried all the same things as well as a nighttime routine with a warm bath and massage. I finally learned that it really all came down to how she was being placed in the bassinet/crib because she would wake up as soon as she was laid down, no matter how gentle I did it. So try this: Once you have rocked him to sleep in your arms, wait another 10 minutes to make sure he is in a deep sleep. Carefully place him in his bed but leave your hands resting underneath him so he still feels like he is being held and lean over the top of him so he can smell you and hear your breathing. He will probably squirm a bit but not wake completely because he still senses you. Wait a couple minutes until the squirming stops, then very gently remove one arm and then the other. I usually remove the arm that is underneath her legs and bum first since it is easier to get out. Then I use that arm to slightly lift her head so I can get the other arm out. Do this all very very slowly and stop touching only when he isn't stirring. Also try a heartbeat bear near the crib. Hope this makes some sense and good luck! It gets easier...

Answer 6

You should change doctors. Reflux is actually quite common and many doctors prescribe medication. My son takes .5ml of Zantac two times a day. There are other medications that are also commonly prescribed for reflux.

Check out:

www.infantreflux.org

Answer 7

You can get rid of acid reflux and heartburn with this natural method http://acidreflux-cure.info
Usually, heartburnThe most common symptom of acid reflux disease (also known as gastroespohageal reflux disease, or GERD). Heartburn feels like a burning pain in the center of the chest. It is caused by acid from the stomach backing up into the esophagus. is a symptom of acid reflux disease (GERD) Also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Describes the condition of backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus which frequently happens when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes more often than it should and/or at inappropriate times. The symptoms of acid reflux disease typically occur on 2 or more days a week.. And if you suffer from persistent heartburn on two or more days a week—and you’ve treated it and changed your diet—it could be due to acid refluxBackflow of stomach acid into the esophagus. Acid reflux frequently happens when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes more often than it should and/or at inappropriate times. This allows harsh stomach juices to back up into the esophagus. disease. But only your doctor can tell you if these are signs of acid reflux disease.

Answer 8

Our older daughter had high grade 3/low grade 4 reflux.

We found that she slept great in her car seat, so we'd put it in her crib, then swaddle her tightly and put her in the seat. (It's weird, because you'd think that position would put even more pressure on her digestive system, but...hey, it worked!)

They also make slings and wedges that might help to elevate your baby's upper body and keep some of the reflux down.

Also, if he's been diagnosed with silent reflux, is he getting meds? Lots of babies go on Zantac, and Prevacid worked way better for us. But she'd start screaming again whenever she "outgrew" her dose, so keep that in mind.

Answer 9

Two of my children had severe reflux as babies. They had me start them on enfamil AR. It has added rice in it... And I wasnt to lay them down for atleast 30-45 minutes after eating. It helped alot. When you feed the baby and after he eats make sure he is more upright and not horizontal.

Answer 10

My daughter was diagnosed with the same take her to a new doc and see about previcied. Maybe a formula swich could help ask a doc about Similac Alimentum It causes less digestive distress it worked with my daughter. Try the car seat like they said. The WIC nurse told me to put a little bit of rice cereal in the bottle not enough to cause a choking hazard. I only used two small pinches not even enough to cause you have to cut the nipple or get a bigger one. That also worked