Frequently Asked Questions:
Will giving my baby cereal help?
Many doctors (and mothers-in-law!) suggest that giving the baby cereal, either in a bottle or by spoon, will relieve reflux. The theory is that by making the milk "heavier," gravity will keep it from coming back up. I personally do not believe this is sound reasoning, and I have yet to find any studies done on its effectiveness. Part of the problem is that a baby's digestive system is "immature," meaning that babies cannot properly digest anything except milk. Baby cereal, contrary to common belief, is not that easy to digest and isn't really suitable as a first food (vegetables and fruits are better). A baby with reflux is already indicating that his digestive system is having trouble; adding cereal can further stress his system. I also believe that adding cereal can actually be dangerous, because if your baby aspirates when he refluxes, it is much more likely to do harm if it is cereal that he aspirates, instead of pure breastmilk. Your baby's body can more easily cough up or re-absorb breastmilk than cereal, formula, or any other food. Breastmilk provides everything your baby needs, even if he has reflux.Should I have allergy tests done on my baby?
Most babies with reflux do not have "true" allergies, they have intolerances. Therefore, traditional allergy tests will not be helpful. Even if you suspect a "true" allergy, the tests are highly inaccurate in infants. Please check out FAAN for more information about food allergies, and read the book Is This Your Child? for more information about food intolerances.
I've heard about a link between asthma and reflux. Does this mean my baby will have asthma when he gets older?
Not all babies with reflux get asthma (none of mine did, for example), but it does appear that reflux can be an indicator of or even cause of asthma. You can find out more here:
Also try typing "Asthma and reflux" into a search engine.
Tips & Hints
Here are some general tips and ideas. Sometimes they help, sometimes they don't. Some will help some of the time, but not others. Every baby will have a unique way of finding relief from reflux, so remember to be flexible.
Nurse on demand. Nurse whenever your baby wants to. Reflux babies tend to be very high-needs. This is because they are often in pain. Reflux hurts! Let your baby nurse for comfort. Do not put your baby on a feeding schedule; it will not help the reflux and it could cause your baby to lose weight or not gain well. Hold your baby, comfort your baby. He is not spoiled, he is not manipulating you, he is hurting, and he needs you to comfort him.
Burp your baby regularly.
OR
Stop burping him so much, and try just holding him upright for a few minutes and allow him to burp on his own, without all the jostling.
Let him sleep upright as often as possible, in a sling or front-pack carrier. This is a commonly used sling, comfortable and fairly easy to find: OTSBH
but this one is my favorite: Kathy's Closet
Try upright nursing positions. Here are two
that I frequently use, but you can experiment and find some that
suit you, as well.
Lay him to sleep on his tummy or side. I know, I know, you are worried about SIDS, but if you look at the fine print on all those posters, you will notice it says that you should consult your doctor because some babies should not sleep on their backs. They are talking about babies with reflux. So, like it says, consult your doctor.
On the other hand, some people find that their babies hate to be on their tummies, because the pressure makes their reflux worse.
If your baby really does seem to sleep better with his head elevated, but you still want to sleep with him, you can buy foam wedges specifically for this purpose from some health-supply stores.
NEVER use pillows or blankets to prop him up! They are a suffocation hazard. I found I could elevate my baby's head and help her sleep more comfortably by lying on my back with her head on my shoulder.
Your baby's reaction to the car seat will probably depend on what kind you use. Some infant seats are curved, and force the baby to slouch, which worsens reflux. Other babies are happiest in their carseats, because the upright position alleviates their reflux. Whatever your baby's reaction, you must always put your baby in a properly installed carseat for car rides. This link has more information about carseat safety. Safety Belt Safe U.S.A.
Many reflux moms have found that “bouncy” seats are helpful for those times when they can’t hold their baby.
Buy lots and lots of cloth diapers, and keep them in various places around the house. Get used to having one on your shoulder at all times. (Consider it a fashion statement!)
Get help. Friends, family, neighbors. Caring for a baby with reflux can be very demanding, and you should not hesitate to ask for help.
Go for a walk when things get frantic. Sometimes just the change of scenery can help, if not the baby, at least you.