Acid Reflux or Just His Personality? How Can We Get Some Sleep?!

C.,

Are you breastfeeding or on formula? Very important because if you're breastfeeding, he may be sensitive to something you're eating, if formula, he may need an alternative. There is no such thing as "baby Prilosec". It's the adult version just mg less. Proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec increases the rate of some infections, causes a B12 deficiency, and decreases the rate of absorption for iron and calcium. (Journal of Pediatrics, Vol 150, No. 3, March 2007: 262-267.)If you decide to take him off the Prilosec, (out of my scope of practice to tell you to take him off as a Chiropractor)do not take him off cold turkey. This can cause his acid pumps to go in overdrive and cause a rebound effect and cause things to become much worse now that his body is essentially addicted to the drug.
If you are breastfeeding, eliminate each of these for one week and see if there is any change: wheat, dairy, corn, eggs, soy and nuts. Some veggies like onions and brocolli can cause problems as well.
If you are giving formula he is most likely having a bad reaction to it like most babies do. The majority of formulas found at the grocery store are sometimes 55% corn syrup (corn is one of the most allergic grains) and soy rates right up there with it. Cow's milk should never be given to children until 1 year of age, and yet many formulas have it. Dr. Sears (pedi extraordinare) has a great alternative, goat's milk. If you can get raw goat's milk straight from the farm, it would be best, but the Meyenberg brand is wonderful too. Here's the recipe straight from Dr. Sears:

GOAT'S MILK FORMULA
MEYENBERG Instant POWDERED GOAT MILK BEGINNING FORMULA

Instant (12 oz container) Powdered Goat Milk
6 Scoops (84 g)
Water 36 oz.
Brown Rice Syrup 6 ½ Tbsp. 20 Calories (per oz.)

As baby matures during its first year, gradually increase ratio of powder to water until whole milk level is reached. Discontinue adding rice syrup (carbohydrates).

Goat milk is the closest we can get to human milk. But, it does lack as much carbohydrate needed for infants, that's why you add the brown rice syrup. Do not add corn syrup or table sugar as a carb, to high on glycemic index and will cause insulin levels to increase rapidly.
I would also add an infant liquid multivitamin like Polyvisol, an infant Omega-3, and a powdered probiotic for better gut flora (will increase immune system function and aid in digestion). If you start on this regimine right away, he will be much better by the time you re-enter into the workforce.
If you're breastfeeding right now, the goat's milk formula will be a good supplemental formula if you're unable to pump effectively for his entire nutrition.
Also, if you're in the Plano area, your son will also benefit from chiropractic adjustments. Chiropractic adjustments will aid in recovery by gently aligning you son's spine to allow the nervous system to function properly. The nervous system controls and coordinates every function in the body, including digestion and acid production in the stomach. If there is an underlying interference in that region, the remedies that I gave you will have some effect, but the cause has not been addressed. If you don't live in the Plano/North Dallas area, i can refer you to a great Chiropractor in your area to get your son a nervous system check up.
Good luck and email directly with any questions you may have at: ____@____.com.

1 mom found this helpful

Wow you have had a TON of responses so I will be brief. My daughter suffered from reflux but not to the extent of your little son. I took her to see a specialist who prescribed two different medications that stopped being effective. I ended up taking her to the chiropractor on the advice of her pediatrician because there is a bone in the body that if it is out of alignment it can put pressure on the esophagus and cause reflux. Its been a few weeks of adjustments four days a week and I have definitely seen improvements. I would absolutely recommend this especially since it could mean no more medicine and better sleep! My daughter's chiropractor is fabulous, I love her!!! Her name is Doctor Melissa Shelton and you can visit her website at: http://www.drmelissashelton.com/

My youngest had acid reflux and colic at 7 wks and had acid reflux(projectile) until 15 months, So I feel your pain. We switched formulas a few times. Hyland's Colic tablets, little tummies gas drops, Zantac and prosobee formula is what helped.
They only way he would sleep was in the swing and on his tummy w/a paci. burp him every ounce or so. I would NOT give him more than 3-4 ounces at his age and he never drank more than 6 oz at the most.
Keep him elevated at least 1 hr after he eats. Keep him elevated as much as possible. He will grow out of it.
I hope this helps.

God Bless
M.

My story sounds the same as the rest, so I won't repeat. What I will mention is that the drugs (prilosec, prevacid, ect) don't stop the reflux from happening, they just kill the acid. What worked better than anything to make my son more comfortable (other than meds) was a product called Simply Thick. You add it to their milk and it makes it closer to the consistancy of a milkshake. It works wonders and it is better than mixing with rice cereal which can cause problems.
Also, until my son was about 3 months old, he slept on my chest and I slept with pillows keeping me elevated. At around 3 months, we got his problems under control and I was able to get him to sleep in an elevated bassinet.
One more thing that helped, I got a hotsling and he was comforted by riding in that during the day. The first time he ever slept for a solid 5 hours was the day I got my hotsling.
You aren't alone in this!

I took me over a year to get my 3yr old DD to sleep through the night in her own bed. Do to medical, her high spirit and we don't know what we are doing... She was born to months early and spent 25 days in the hospital. I could go feed her every 3hrs. Sometimes while I was feeding here she would do the project/vomit, they would try and tell me it was normal baby spit up. I have worked with babies before and never seen it with such force. About two weeks after she got home she started crying more and more. The ped kept telling me it was colic, I kept pushing. They eventually put her on different reflex meds, they didn't work then sent her to childrens medical center for a swallow study. There was a muscle in the throat that was not fully developed (strong enough), from being premiee or the tube down her throat and it didn't close while drinking/sucking. They thinked her formula - allergic to food thickner so we used AR formula wich is used for babies with reflux. She also had her extremly large tonsiles removed last month.

I would say it is his personality. If it was acid reflux he would have projectile spit ups and you would know it. The best thing to do is just hold him. I am a mother of four children and I have OCD when it comes to having everything in it's place and the house has to be spotless all of the time. Not good; any how, he will be little once and you do have to go back to work. Your house can wait, the mess will be there everyday again even if you clean it up. Just hold him and share this time w/ him and be there every moment. One day he will be older and want to go and be w/ his friends and you'll be last in his life but first in his heart still. Just hold him however he wants to be held and know you are comforting him every second of every moment he requires you to be there for him.

My daughter was the same way. She ended up sleeping in her battery operated swing at night, near our bed. She slept there until she was about 6 and a half months old. Then we transitioned her to a portable crib in our room. When she could easily roll over from back to front we moved her into her own room and her crib there. That swing was a life saver in the early months. By the way, we used rechargable batteries for the swing.
Best wishes,
Ell

Our daughter had the same type situation. She had very bad reflux and was on pediatric Zantac (8 years ago). She would spit up often and a lot. Our pediatrician told us to be still when feeding her (not rock), make sure she was upright, then after burping her, we held her for 1 hour on our chest while she slept. This kept her upright long enough for her formula not to come back up.

They told us to keep her out of the swing and bouncy chair until she was older and the reflux was better or gone.

I hope this helps. This will pass. Good luck.

At 7 weeks old our foster daughter was eating 4oz. every 3 hours. She was a small baby though, if your son was a large baby he may just need more formula. Our daughter is now 3 months old and drinking 5 oz. every 3 1/2 to 4 hours, but she also sleeps through the night and is very small.

What kind of bottles are you using? We did Dr. Browns bottles from when she was about 2 weeks old, as we found that once we switched from the liquid formula the hospital sent to the powdered she started having some acid reflux and was very fussy. We also had to try 3 or 4 different formula's until we finally settled her on the one that was right for her. When we switched to a larger bottle I tried to change to Playtex Drop In's, but she started getting reflux back very bad after 3 or 4 days and was so fussy. So I switched back to Dr. Browns and now all is well again. I know they are expensive but in our case they were well worth it! Sometimes you can find them at garage sales or consignment shops for less. I hope you find something that helps!

Oh also, have you tried swaddling him up in a blanket? Our daughter won't sleep at night unless she is tightly swaddled. I would check out "The Happiest Baby on the Block" book (or website) and also if he loves to be held look into buying a wrap of some sort. My daughter just loves being in hers. www.mobywrap.com is where I got ours. A front baby carrier would work as well if you prefer that and you can find those at Walmart. I really feel for you! Hang in there!

My heart goes out to you. We had the same issue. My son was on Prevacid for 11 months. Much later I heard that a chiro can really really help. Wish I had known earlier. What helped my baby was bringing him to bed with us....that way he was really close. I put a baby diaper-changing pad on the bed some nights & elevated it's head somewhat. I would also keep barriers between the baby & my husband and me. Every time my baby would fuss at night, I would keep my hand on his chest and that helped him tremendously. As he grew older we started putting him on his side. He needed a lot of touch, carrying around etc. Also, much later I read in the Sears Baby book about some sling (you can put it next to your bed)that helps babies with acid reflux....how I wish I had known that earlier. My son has been off prevacid for 2 years now & he is doing just great.....but if I had to go through this again...I would try my best to go alternative first...chiro, homeopathy etc. It is also important to give the baby small feeds and therefore, more often. We did that diligently. As he gets better, you can slowly start increasing the interval between feeds and the quantity. Do not be too shocked & worried about him eating too much some times and too little some times....they are babies after all, not precise little machines....though i wish they were :) I so very much understand when you say he seems so unhappy....my heart goes out to you....but believe me....once he starts feeling better, he will do just great. I met this happy, chubby 1 year old. I was complimenting her when her Dad told me how miserable she was in her first few months. She had major acid reflux & colic...until they visited a chiro!!This isa tough time for you. See if you can get someone to help you around the house for a few hours each day.

C., first of all congratulations on your new baby boy!! I have some experience with this. Our daughter, now 3, was diagnosed with Acid Reflux at about 9 weeks old. She probably had it at 6 weeks, but we didn't know it yet. She cried all the time. We put her on Prevacid. Basically, the medicine will not stop the spitting up, it helps with the awful pain they are experiencing. the WORST thing you can do with a baby that has Reflux is lay them down flat. We were told to keep our daughter completely upright for 30 to 45 minutes after every feeding and even longer if possible. Then when we had to lay her down (for sleep or play) to always put her down elevated (on a wedge). NEVER flat. We did this for 7 months. This is something that will not go away until your baby can sit up on his own. You have to change your lifestyle until that happens and it isn't easy. We went through all of this and our daughter had Colic on top of it as well. The other thing NOT to do is put your baby in a swing that goes front to back. Again, it's one of the worst things for Reflux. The side to side swings are supposed to work better. No car seat either for as long as you can. It puts the baby in the worst position when they have Reflux. Baby's with reflux tend to want to eat more because they are trying to make themselves feel better. It's a natural reaction when you have pain internally to sooth it with food. So don't over feed him which could just make it worse. If he arches his back durning feeding, he is in pain and the medicine isn't working. We had to switch medicines twice. The spitting up is fine (my daughter spit up 75 times a day, not kidding) but that does not mean she was in pain. The pain is what you need to be concerned with, not the spitting up. I even had a chiropractor come out and do these little vibration type "adjustments" on my daughter (which he said would totally help) and it DID. After the "adjustment" she wouldn't spit up at ALL for 3 total days, then slowly it would go back to normal with the spitting up. I tried everything. I eventually had to go to a Reflux feeding therapist because my daughter started refusing to eat. The therapist showed us the proper position to feed her with Reflux and she took the bottle straight from the Nurse in a second!! It was crazy. I know this is hard, but the only thing I can say is that whoever is going to be in charge of watching your son needs to understand all of these things. I put my daughter in an in home daycare and pulled her out the next day. They didn't do one single thing I told them to do, and my daughter didn't eat or drink the entire day. We ended up at the Dr. office to check for dehydration!! You can live with this easily if you just do the right things. If you need any other help or advice you can contact me directly ____@____.com and God Bless you and good luck.

C.,
I am so sorry you are going through this!! It does get better, I promise! Have you tried a sling?? You might be able to get more done if you put him in one of those and he is still on your body just not in your arms! My daughter would not sleep anywhere but in my arms for the first 2.5 months...we slept on the couch every night! She was colic until she was almost 7 months! If holding him is the only way he will sleep I would continue for a little while for your own sanity!! Have you tried putting him to sleep in his carseat?? It's an incline and he would feel snug in the surroundings! Also, they make a heartbeat bear that might be more useful than a cd....it's about $20 at Babies R Us. The feeding thing could be a few things...they eat more when going through growth spurts...also, if he's only eating a few ounces try burping him more often, he may feel full b/c he needs to burp but maybe he's not really full or he could just only want a few ounces and then wants 5 oz later at the next feeding. 3-4 hours is pretty normal. My 4 week old usually eats every 4-5 hours and the amount does vary sometimes! I hope you don't think I am rambling on, I am just trying to give you all of the ideas that are popping into my head b/c I know how miserable a crying, no sleeping baby can be!!! How long has he been on the medicine?? If it's been over 2 weeks I would call the dr and tell him/her that you don't believe he is getting any relief. Hope something out of all of this helps you!!! Good Luck!!

My son did the same thing. we ended up changing him to Nutramigin because we was lactose intolerant and had a very fussy system. He slept in a carseat in his bed for I think 8 months....I also learned that they feel like they are hungry when they have reflux so they drink more and then it makes them worse in the long run.. My son would scream if we stopped at the normal amount and we would top him off to make him happy...then he'd projectile vomit everywhere. I feel your pain. Marshall didnt sleep through the night until he was 10 months old... It was not fun. If I had know of Dr. Laura Shwaluk, I would have taken him to her when he was a baby. She specializes in Applied Kinesiology. She is great at targeting sensistivies and making your baby happy!!!!Try her... It is well worth your sanity...###-###-####

Hi C., as a mom of a reflux baby I can understand how you are trying to find ways for him to rest. I don't think that the meds are working for him. We tried Prilosec but it didn't do the trick. We ended up using a liquid form of Zantac. It had a very strong mint flavor but soon my son was taking without any problems. It was a life saver. I'm not sure why but I did have a pickle of a time getting my doctor to help me out until I became so tired that I became very bold. ") I insisted that I get some help. You might try to use Cherry flavored Mylanta Supreme. This kind does not have any aluminum in it. I would give about a 1ml and see if any changes occur. Then I would go back to the doctor again if no answers, then go to a pediatric gastrologist. Keeping him propped up is good and using a gentle formula is best.
Also have you heard about a tucker sling? I have one that I used on my crib mattress. Worked great.
Best Regards,
C.

ok first thing. The doc should know of a med that starts with a R. My son was on it and he did really good. Oh and get some stuff called Gripe Water, it is herbal and works great for gas, colic and the unknown reasons for why babies get upset. You can get it from walmart and a herbal store, even online. Second get a bucket or something big enough to put your sons carseat safely on. Where you will not be afrain of him falling off of it. And put it right beside your bed. Or If you can get a bassinet that will work too. And put him in the wrapped up tight so he will think that he is still in the womb. It works great for most kids. Keep him in there for naps and bedtime and he should be able to do this till he is almost 4 months. And then during that time slowly get put him in his crib for like one nap a week and then increase it till he's in there for the night. He won't sleep through the night till he's about 5 months. When he reaches 5 months he can be sleep trained. Contact me at ____@____.com and I will send you a sleep program. Keep the bassinet tilted by putting receiving blankets under the mattress. The carseat is already tilted. When you feed him take him out of the bassinet, or carseat, feed him change him holding him while you feed him. Talk to him softly nothing exciting, keep him calm. And then put him back in there. If he wakes and you know he isn't hungry and shouldn't be wet, then just pat him to sleep make the sshh sounds and see if that works. If not get him upo and feed him and change him like above. I have 5 kids and the oldest is 18 and the baby is 21 months. So I have been around kids for along time. So I hope this helps you out. TTYL B.

My son was the same way. He had reflux, and was impossible to put down. What we came to realize, however, that it was much more habit than reflux that prevented him from sleeping in his crib. By 7 weeks he has realized that your shoulder is the warmest, coziest place to sleep, and a cold crib pales in comparison.
When my son was 8 weeks, I had to go out of town for 2 days, and my husband, who had less tolerance for holding the baby all night, got him to sleep in the bassinet.
He had 1 night of no sleep, but by the next night my son was sleeping 3-4 hrs in the bassinet. All my husband did was keep trying, all night long. As soon as my son was laid in the bassinet, he would cry, my husband would pick him up, comfort him, and try again. Repeat 100 X.
If you are uncomfortable doing this now, you could wait until 12-13 weeks, when his system is more developed, and try it then.
Good luck.

C., I feel for you. My sister's son also had reflux and it was difficult. She did mylanta and got some relief. This was many years ago. As an adult I have suffered from acid reflux, but I have discovered pre and probiotics. I would suggest you find an open minded pediatrician and ask about offering your baby a try on these. pre-biotics are good food that helps feed the good bacteria in your stomach - probiotic. The idea is to make that tummy healthy with the right bacteria and not only will your baby feel better, but will have a heartier immune system too. Talk to your doctor as to how to go about it. I have no idea where to start with a baby, but my guess is that it will be simple and that it will really help!
P. W.

My daughter was a preemie and she had this issue. The ONLY thing that worked for her was I fed her ever 2 hours. She is breast fed so I can't give you ounces, but I stopped offering both breast at the feedings so she ate less, but more often. It stopped instantly. He may be crying for a 5th ounce because they think they want to eat when they are hurting. Have you tried a pacifier instead of the 5th ounce?

As hard as it is it will pass.....eventually.

This is a physical problem. If your doctor is not agressive enough in treating this (finding a formula that works for your child), then try a pediatric gastroenterologist. Something as simple as finding the right formula can change everything and actually give you and you baby a little peace.

My 7 wk old daughter also was diagnosed with acid reflux and she is on prevacid, so maybe you should ask your doctor about switching his medicine!! She takes it once a day, and has done really good on it!!

Just a thought!

I am wondering if it is the formula he is on may be more of his porblem than the acid reflux. He seems really young with only a bottle for it to be this bad. HE may be latose intollerent, and need rice milk or something like that. At 7 weeks if he spits up that much he probably is hungry every 4 hours. If he is sitting up in the swing, that would be the same position as if you were holding him, and he may have to cry a bit to get ussed to not being held all the time.By the way it is normal for them to spit up a bit, of course his sounds with that much not normal, but I am just saying if you get him lined out, he will probably still spit up a little.

Reading your story just sounded all to familar. First let me say it does get better and soon. My son is now 17 mos but when he was born he has acid reflux as well. Unfortunately, it wasn't diagnosed so early so I suffered with not knowing what was wrong w/him for sometime. He just seemed like he could not get comfortable, if I laid him down in his cosleeper to sleep he would wake up right away. I spent many a night with him sleeping in my arms sitting up in bed b/c he would sleep for longer periods if I held him. But like you said that doesn't allow you to get any rest so what eventually worked was letting him sleep in his car seat. Sometimes i would put it in his cosleeper next to me or sometime just in bed next to me so I could rock it or promp a pillow under it to slightly incline it a bit. Once the priolosec started working I noticed a big change in him, he could finally relax and did want to be held constantly on my shoulder. I think in terms of them being in pain, it is more just an uncomfortable feeling and they can't relax. But hang in there it does get better, just keep trying different tricks. I would highly recommend a co-sleeper b/c you can put a small pillow under the matress and also have them close enough to you but not in bed with you necessarily. Infact if you are interested I have a practically new co-sleeper that I am looking to sale for a very reasonable price that may provide you with some relief. I can be reached at ____@____.com if you are interested. But hang in there it does get better! As far as he eating habits that is very normal b/c he can't always eat the same amounts, he may want to eat less if the acid reflux is acting up and more when it is easier. Just give it a little more time and you will be able to read he body language better. Anyway- I hope this was a little helpful. No matter what try to enjoy every moment you can it goes by way too fast!

Hi C.,

I have an 8 week old who was diagnosed with acid reflux and is on medication as well. It doesn't sound nearly as intense as what your poor baby (and you) are experiencing though.

I have a Maya wrap which you may have heard of. Basically it's a ring sling and your baby can fit in it upright to help with the reflux or he can be snuggled more in a cradle hold. This thing has been a life saver for my husband and me. It allows you to hold your baby and still function as you are hands free. Plus our son falls asleep within 10 minutes of getting in it. Then we can usually set him down (if we wait for him to be deeply asleep-usually 20 minutes) and he will stay asleep right in the wrap. Our baby is not a typical sleeper (18 hours a day) and he would sleep even less without this wrap.

It is around 60 dollars and you can get in online or at a baby store in Richardson (google peppermint baby store). I don't usually recommend products but I really think I'd go crazy without it.

Good luck!
K.
Oh, I think eating every 3-4 hours is pretty typical. My baby only goes about 2.5 during the day. Also I've read in numerous places that babies eat different amounts during the day and usually want more at night or after a long period without food. I can so relate about functioning with no sleep....I keep telling myself that this time won't last forever but it doesn't always seem that way.

My son was very similar. He is now 3 months, I am back at work, and he is doing better. Our son had bad gas and GERD, (reflux). He takes prescription Nizatidine/Axid oral solution twice a day and I changed him to a lacto free formula. It has been night and day! Also, my son will sleep in his vibrating chair or swing, but hates to be put down flat. My pediatritian didnt have a problem with this at all. My daughter who is 2 had similar issues and she grew out of them about 4 to 6 months old.
Good luck to you, and it does get better.

I am so sorry. My little girl had a very bad case of acid reflux, and our niece and nephew. It sounds like you are doing the right things, wedge in the crib, holding him upright, and the meds. The one thing I would suggest is to see if your Dr will let you try prevacid. My daughter, niece, and nephew have all tried multiple different medications and the only thing that really works is prevacid. The probelm is, for prevacid it is reccomended that it be given once a day on adults. So pediatricians dec the dose for babies and give it once a day. Babies metabolize prevacid twice as fast as adults, so they really need it twice a day. That is when we found relief. Our pediatrician finally sent us to a pediatric gastroenterologist, who is the one that started us on prevacid twice a day. It made such a big difference, and you have to make sure you get his dose adjusted every 4-6 wks for his wt change. My daughter would all of a sudden get it bad again, so I knew it was time for an inc in her dose. The not so fun thing is that these babies really do have a hard time sleeping. I would keep trying the swing and the bouncy chair. Maybe leave him in for just 5 min verey few hrs, even if he cries and he will get used to it. Those keep him elevated so well, it wil probably be the place (other than your arms) that he will be most comfortable. The eating different amounts is normal, as they get bigger they don't always take the same amount every time. Babies his age should be sleeping for 10-13 hrs at night ( with wake up times to eat) and ~ 3-4, 1-2hr naps a day. A total of about 18-20 hrs of sleep/day. I know it sounds like a lot, but it makes for such a hppy baby. I had a book called "Healthy Sleep Habbits, Happy Child" by Mark Weissbluth. It helped me so much. It doesn't address relux very much, but once you do get his reflux under control, he will have formed some bad habbits (like always sleeping on you), so then you will need help to retrain him, so he can learn to sleep well. If you have any more questions you are welcome to send me a message. Hope this helps.
S.

Are you breastfeeding or bottle feeding? My little one had that too, but I was nursing and I figured out what I was eating that was causing her the reflux (it was milk and too much lactose) If you're bottle feeding, you might try another formula, ask your pedi.
You've tried your swing and bouncer? Some babies are just "touchy" and need more attention. This will soon pass, I promise and you won't look back and think it was so bad.. hard to imagine now, right? I got the book "The Baby Whisperer solves all your problems".. it was great. She catagorizes the types of baby personalities and how to deal with them. You might find some useful solutions in there.
I know its hard thinking of going back to work, and not getting "stuff" done around the house... I'm a stay at home mom and I can't get stuff done either! This time will pass and you'll remember more your sweet baby and not the clothes on the couch or the floor that needs to be swept...I promise.
Hang in there... I had to sleep sitting propped up with my daughter laying on my chest for who knows how many nights!!!

OHH, one more thing! Very important! go online and find www.coliccalm.com.. this stuff is AWESOME! Its gripe water for colic, reflux and gas... you might email them to see if it would interfere with the meds you're already taking, but our little one LOVED it and STILL gets excited about taking it! Word of caution, its inky black... it has vegatable charcol in it, so it looks terrible, but babies love it... just give it to him VERY slowly, between his gums and cheek! I PROMISE it works!

My son was the same way with reflux. He would start choking the minute I laid him down on his back. The ONLY way he would sleep was on his tummy. He hated swings, car seats, strollers, bouncy seats, etc. I just made sure there was nothing around his face that could smother him, and that his head was turned to one side when he slept. My pediatricain finally admitted that some babies just do better sleeping on their tummy.

My granddaughter/son did the same things. Laying them down especially right after a feeding was horrible. They both cried so much. They were just miserable.
They were allergic to the formula(s).
They were both put on infant zantac (this did help).
They went thru everyone out there including goats milk. There is something in the formulas they were allergic to. G-daughter is 8 mths old now & was put on whole cows milk at 4 mths & then did great as long as it was not WalMart's brand (go figure?).
G-son is now 2 1/2 yrs old & they finally put him on whole milk at 8 1/2 mths, same thing w/ the Wal Marts brand though. At one point when he was 2 1/2-3 months old it got so bad I thought we might lose him. He couldn't keep anything down. That was on his 3 formula tried out. He was so allergic to the formula that his sinus' would start pouring down his throat so bad he couldn't breathe. They gave him something like Benedrill then he could eat. The Zantac helped him to retain most of it. But they continued to change milks till he got to cows milk then he quit throwing it back up & 95% of his allergic reactions stopped by the end of the 2nd day. Around 3 1/2-4 mths old they also put him on rice cereal & then applesauce.
No problems since! He finally started to gain a little bit of weight at 9 months old! Now he is at the middle of the chart range & eats anything in site.
Oh yeah they both liked sitting on top of the washer during the spin cycle right after feeding or going for a drive was good too. They both liked the old wind up swing the best, maybe because it ticked as it swung...?
I hope any of this helps!

I would recommend having him sleep in his carseat. It keeps them more upright and safe from rolling in or choking on the spit up. My first daughter had it bad and she slept in her carseat until she was a year. My 3rd who is 6 months old and on Prevacid sleeps in hers every night.
And as hard as it is eating every 3-4 hours is actually great for a 7 week old. Mine was still eating every 2-3 hours until the past month. Babies just eat around the clock until they get a little bigger. It's tough but that's just life with an infant.
During the day you might look into getting a sling. It will keep him safe/recure and next to your chest but you can still get some things done and not kill your arms holding him all the time.

Have you looked into doing a swallow test? Also, is it possible your son has a slight tounge tie? This test is very easy and your baby's dr.can direct you were to go for the test. My second son was diagnosed with reflux and a small tounge tie. I wasn't for using the medication for such a young/small baby. She suggested the test and it helped out so much. The swallow specialist showed us the exact amounts of formula and thickeners to use for each bottle and all of the spitting up decreased. He was so much happier keeping his bottles down and when he was 9 months we got his tounge fixed, which really helped with his swallow and chocking.
Good luck!

I don't personally have experience w/ acid reflux, but I read that mangosteen juice is highly effective for eliminating it. You can buy it at a health food store. I also really like the gripe water that central market has. It is very soothing to them because its got ginger, fennel, and chamomile.

My son was the same way at that age and for several months after. We actually found putting him to sleep in the "bouncy seat" was best. I'd put the seat in the crib (to make myself feel better) and then strap him in and he'd sleep like a baby. (funny expression - huh!) We did it for a couple of months and as he started to outgrow and/or handle the reflux better, I transitioned him to sleeping in his crib normally. It was a slow process, started with naps etc. but we got there. And now I have a very normal, healthy four year old! By all means check with your doc, but that's what worked for us. Good luck!

OK, this doesn't help your issue with reflux or getting sleep, but will help with some sanity to get stuff done in the daytime. I highly recommend a baby sling or front pack carrier. It's a lifesave to get stuff done around the house and still have a happy baby. I know some others mentioned it, but worth mentioning again.

Try going to the Chiropractic. On my LLL meetings a lady recommended the Chiropractic for her son that used to have a projectile vomiting. She said that the Chiropractic was the only solution for her.

My son had acid reflux. Our Dr. put him on Zantac 25. It did the trick!!! I know what you are going through. It can be very frustrating esspecially when you hvae to work too. You need your rest.

Good luck.
N.

Congrats on the little boy! I have 2 boys myself.

If he seems to do best with you holding him, I highly recommend a sling. This way you can "hold" him while still having your hands free to do other things. There are several types, but I know eBay has some that are pretty reasonable.

The following is some advice I gave another mom with a "reflux baby" the other day. I thought it would help you too. :o)

"My 2nd spit up too. From day one he did. I got scared once when he was about a month old and he threw it ALL up. I took him to the pedi. I was given the following advice:

-Never wait TOO long between feedings during the day (even if he is napping).

-After eating, do not allow him to lay down FLAT. Prop him up in a swing, bouncer, etc. to allow gravity to help hold down the food. (He still spit up, but not as bad.)

-When you start solids, don't give "sharp" or spicy foods on an empty stomach."

I hope it helps.

Blessings,
P. <><

Have you tried binding him/ happiest baby in the block method of vibrating. You have to be persistant. also give gripe water prior to every feed (it helps with the digestion).ja

I loved my sling! Both my kids had reflux as babies, and both of them grew out of it, which is common.

Young babies eat a lot more often than older babies; so, every 3-4 hours is not bad. But with reflux, you may want to feed him less, more often; so, every two hours, instead of 3 or 4. This way, even if he doesn't eat a lot, he'll stay satisfied longer. The acid feels worse with an overstuffed tummy and usually ends with vomiting.

Have you already tried a different formula, if you're using formula? We used the Good Start, and it worked better than the others for them. (I nursed for the majority of the time, but when I used formula, I used this one.)My sister-in-law uses a different one for her son with it; so, you'll just need to see what works best with your baby. With most formula companies, they will send you a free sample to try, if you call or e-mail; although, I got mine at my ped's office. She gave me a few samples.

One thing that helped was burping more often during the feeding. Even when they nursed, I took them off, once they were calmed down, burped then fed them again, and so on.

I hope you're all better soon. I always feel so badly for the babies, who can't express their frustration in words. Poor dears. I hope you get some good sleep soon...all of you.

WELCOME TO MOTHERHOOD! It will get better and then it will get worse. I think he doesn't feel good and the heat from your shoulder helps his tummy. I would ask another doctor for advise. Relax and believe this cant and wont last forever. Before you know it you will be chasing him around the house! Ask for help and sleep when you can. Keep taking your pre-natal vitamins you need them now. God bless you, let me know if you need anything! Oh have you tried J&J bedtime bath? The lavender really does work. Get the powder,wash and lotion. Its worth a shot and has always helped sooth my little ones.

I understand your pain! My 5 1/2 month old is still struggling from reflux that started with a milk allergy. She is much better with Alimentum or Neocate formula. You have to order Neocate from website. BUT the biggest improvement came when we bought her an Amby baby hammock/swing to sleep in. Its expensive but wonderful. Now we head her complain a little at night but the spring just bouncess and sways her back to sleep. Wish I had this from day 1!

Wow. It looks like you have gotten a lot of good advice. I have had 2 kids with acid reflux and 1 also with colic. It's hard. One tip I don't think I saw mentioned was to keep him sitting up for about 20 minutes after he eats. That has helped tremendously with my kids and I still do that with my younger one who is now 17 mos. If your baby is sleepy maybe hold him if you cannot do the car seat, bouncy seat, etc. Also, I also really agree with looking at his food intake (whether it's formula-switch to Nutramigen or cut dairy, etc. out if you are breastfeeding)-he could have a food intolerance or a food allergy. Swaddling is awesome too. This will pass and then there will be a new challenge! Good luck. Hope this helps. ~A.

I have worked with quite a few Moms that were having problems with acid reflux & fussiness with their babies and had tried different formulas but nothing seemed to work. When they added digestive enzymes to help break down the milk protein the tummy problems were aleviated. I was recommended them when my daughter was switching to cow milk after being breast fed for her first year as she was having trouble breaking down the milk protein which was causing her to produce more acid. Doctor had me sprinkle a tiny bit from a capsule into her milk and the first day we could tell the difference. If you have any questions you can email me at ____@____.com
Blessings to you and your precious baby boy,
J.

Hi Courntey!! Congratualtions on becoming a mommy. Motherhood is a beautiful thing. Your days and nights will gets better once you develop a schedule for your little one and figure out what works best for him. I have a 3 year old and she had acid reflux really badly as well. As a matter of fact, she was on Nutramigen formula until 2 and 1/2, nothing else stayed down. She also had to take Zantac (I think that was the name of her med).Not sure if its too soon for your son or not, but what would help my daughter sleep throughout the night at about 4 months, i began putting cereal in her bottle. U may want to check with your doctor first to see what amount you can give him if any at all. I am almost certain that he's not sleeping because he is still hungry. Whenever he spits up, he's going to be hungry. Also you may to have him sit up for 10-15 minutes after he eats and burps.

Your story sounds so much like mine. My daughter just wanted to be held. Holding her not only comforted her but it comforted me as well; but later I wished i hadn't held her so much because it made it so much harder for her to sleep on her own. She will be turning 4 in November and she still sleeps with my husband and I. I hope this helps a little bit. Feel free to ask me any other questions you have. I know what its like having a young one and having to stay up for hours.

Good luck!!!

All 3 of our kids slept in their carseats rignt next to our beds for a while. They would cry and cry when we put them flat on their backs but slept great in their carseats. We swaddled them and tilted the seats back far enough so they couldn't fall out but their heads were still elevated.

Hello C.,

you didn't mention if you had tried different formula. what are the side effects of prilosec... oh dear! I hope you tried something else first (not judging you...you didn't say if you did) Soy formula, organic formula, milk-free formula? and if you're breastfeeding, skip milk products and processed meats. have him tested for allergies. good luck and keep looking for an answer that is right for your baby. ~C.~

HI C.. Here is a great book: "Colic Solved" by Dr. Bryan Vartabedian. It is all about reflux and milk allergies. I read it and found it VERY helpful. It gives all kind of signs to look for, questions to ask your doctor, explains tests that may go on, etc. Good luck!

Looks like you have gotten some great answers, I have not read through them all, but something a much braver mom than I tried with my little one was to wrap her up tight (she enjoyed being swaddled) and placing her on her tummy in the swing, laid back as far as it could go. It would soothe her right to sleep.

We tried placing a normal sized pillow across the crib-so he would not fall between the edges-placed him in the middle with his head/back a bit raised. This helped our son with sinuses and overall sleeps better.
( He is angled like he is in a swing-but not quite as much as an angle like the swing. )

Try doing this in 10 min intervals-eventually he will get there. Crying will make him sleep a bit harder later in the day.- or night. Obviously do not let him scream bloody murder-but you will start to determine what cry is for what.
Try this, you need to try and get some sleep or you will do either of you any good.
Good luck.

My daughter had to be on baby zantac and take it 30 mins before each feeding, which is nearly impossible with a newborn. don't give up there is a silver lining, try putting him on his side not back and i know its not recommended but i used a pillow its more comfortable i just always kept her where i could see her. and don't listen to the doctor they can be spoiled this early. My second daughter is 3 months old and daddy got her spoiled and now that he is working out of town i am breaking her of it, it is hard to hear them cry but you know the difference between a need something cry and i want to be picked up now cry. when they have refulx they tend to be more hungry sometime because they are spitting up some of there formula. i had to put both my girls on Alimentum plus the meds to help them. Good luck and don't give up it gets easier as they get older they grow out of it. Not sure how you feel about prayer but i know it helped me out alot. look at the back of your bible for healings and i used those scriptures to pray for my little ones.

I don't know if this will help, but thought I would share...we loved Dr. Harvey Karp's "Happiest Baby on the Block" DVD....great info on getting a baby to calm down.

WE see Dr. Bain in Frisco, she recommended taking children with reflux to a chiropractor....I had not heard this before, but wish I had when my lil' one was an infant. She may have other suggestions for you...she is an MD that does integrate alternative solutions as well.

I had one baby whose reflux was really really bad; don't know if it was as bad as your baby has it. Our nanny pushed us to ask our doctor about changing the formula to Nutramigen, which is a "Pre-Digested" product. It took about 3 to 5 days and it was like a miracle. We still took care to keep her upright for at least 20 minutes after eating (and during meals). I used the FisherPrice Aquarium Bouncer that had lights, music, and vibration. The vibration really calmed the baby and she enjoyed it greatly. Dr. Tim Trone at Medical City is an ENT and he treats babies with reflux. There were many nights that I let my baby sleep in the bouncy chair because it kept her upright; some people use a car seat for the same reason. Caveat - if you do that, be sure to use towels to rotate the head position as frequently as you can so that she does not get a flat head. But if your baby is hurting that badly and your dr is doing nothing but assuring you that she will grow out of it, then go get more help. You could try changing the formula to something like Nutramigen. I remember the Dr saying, after I insisted we try it; "Well, it will help, but it will cost you a lot of money!" Like I would rather my baby be in severe pain than to pay more for the formula! Geez! Good luck. You know the baby may be preferring you because she is scared; she does not know why she is hurting. Relieve some of the pain and you may be able to get her to like the bouncy etc.

Agreeing with the others about diet change. I had to stop breastfeeding (elimination diet for me wash not enough.) We then tried Nutramigen with only a little improvement. Now we use Neocate. Works wonders. We went from a "spoiled" baby to a very laid back baby.

hi C.! i feel your pain with the fussiness/crying/spitting up (actually our little one projectile vomited) etc...she was on meds to for it...we did the wedge thing...what actually worked was buying an ambybaby bed...essentially it's a baby hammock that cradles them and moves with their movements...I LOVED IT...the only thing i worried about was she did not turn over or crawl but did start walking at 11months old - she is a healthy almost 5 year old and it gets better! i loved the amby baby bed! my second daughter never had the same problems and has been sleeping in her crib but the cost was well worth it!

Hi C.! We went through a very similar thing with our son. Ended up he was lactose intolerant - not allergic - but his little system just wasn't ready for it. The doctors kept telling me that it was reflux, his personality, and the likelihood of it being a lactose issue was slim. I was breastfeeding, so I decided to cut out all dairy and, voila, it was like having a different baby. I agree with the other post that you take your little one to a gastroenterologist - they can do an ultrasound to see if there are any abdomenal problems. If you're not breastfeeding, there are some formulas that you can use. They are really nasty tasting though and it'll be hard for you to watch the baby transition. You could try a soy formula (Good Start is the one we could use - it's supposed to be the most broken down). However, a lot of times if a baby is lactose intolerant, soy isn't tolerated well either. I know I could only give him so much soy formula a day. I slowly increased it as his system matured and when he was 8 months, I could finally stop breastfeeding.

So, try the soy. The next ones to try are Nutrimigen (Enfamil) and there's one by Similac too - can't remember the name. If those don't help, you can get a prescription formula - elecare I think is the name. It's expensive obviously, but is the most broken down and gentle on baby's tummy. (BTW, I had my son on prevacid for his reflux and I really wonder now if he even had it!)

So, definitely get a referral from your pedi to a gastro doc. Do the ultrasound to make sure that there are no intestinal issues. Then, switch formulas and see if that helps.

If nothing helps and you have no choice but to go back to work full-time (you might try to see if you can do part-time for a while), then just really try and share the load with hubby and family. You'll go crazy otherwise. If it is infant reflux, it's supposed to go away as the system matures. Be sure when you are looking for providers that they've had babies with reflux before - this will make a huge difference for your baby and give you some peace of mind.

Best of luck!!!

Hi, This happened to all 3 of my boys and we used Prevacid solutabs and we did one half in the am and one half in the pm plus we had to use Bethanochol (similar to regland but with out the side effects) it emptys the stomach out faster so you are not still having stuff in the stomach 5+ hours later. I know my son would wake up in the morning and spit up when he would rouse and then choke on it, like several hours later.

we also kept them in their car seat at night or a bouncy on the floor and my 3rd son slept in his table top swing (on the floor) and it helped to swaddle them REAL tight. We used lots of gas drops and burping often and feeding upright.

but your baby sound like he has colic and or reflux pretty bad so I would try it all until you find what works...

Good luck!
A. J

C.,

Sounds like its definitely a food problem. I assume he is on formula? As he grows and you introduce more foods, you can get food intolerance testing through www.enterolab.com.

Good luck!

Prilosec is very strong medicine. There are natural things to do for reflux. If you google Craniosacral Therapy it can help and get rid of reflux in babies. www.upledger.com If you are interested you can email me and I will give you some names and therapists numbers. In my opinion I would read Stephanie Caves book on vaccines. If your child is having reflux his timmy is not in a healthy state. The vaccine schedule is OVERLOAD and can cause many stomach issues for him. YOUR DOCTOR WILL NOT TELL YOU THIS! Have you tried the formula Alimentum? That helped my child too. Craniosacral therapy can really help him!
L.
____@____.com

I had similar problems with my son only wanting to sleep upright on my shoulder. Turned out he had really bad gas. I was breastfeeding, so I cut all dairy out of my diet and he ended up fine.

If you are breastfeeding, cut out dairy and other gassy foods, like broccoli. If you are using formula, try changing brands or going soy or such. That may help his stomach settle.

I am sorry you are going through this. My son had the same thing and as far as sleeping went the only thing that would work was we put the pack and play next to our bed and put his infant car seat in it and put him in the car seat. It may not be the best thing, but the elevated bed, and wedge just weren't enough incline for him. Is the med. you are giving him the compounded liquid or the pills you dissolve. The pills did nothing for us. We did the compund liquid meds.

Hi C.-
Is your baby on formula or breastmilk?If he is on formula,he definitely needs a change.Let me know which one he is on.If he is on breastmilk then you need to do a dairy elimination from your diet and also eliminate all other gassy foods,caffiene,chocolate,carbonation and citrus foods.He sounds like he could be having milk intolerance and it can express itself in this manner.ALso, have you tried thickening his feeding?Is he gaining weight appropriately?
I am a pediatrician who also had extremely colicky babies so I can totally relate and probably help you out a little!
J.

Dear C.,
Sometimes babby's have trouble like your son, and it is that the muscles at the top of his stomach have not fully developed and you should hold him straight up for an hour every time you feed him. I know that this takes a lot of time. but it will work. after a few weeks this will probably go away if this is the problem.
Our Grandson had this problem and he is fine. That swing may aggrivate this problem.
Good luck.
MK

Whole foods has a wonderful remedy. I wish I could remember the name of it. You might call them and ask them what they have for colic. They only have one item for it, so it should be easy to find. Several mommies have confirmed that it is wonderful, and helps make the babies happier! I will try to find out too.

I just listened to a Chiropractor the other day at a health care professionals networking group and this Dr. said that babies are very easy to work on and perhaps this could help with your baby. Ask around and see if there is a Chiropractor that someone has seen and would recommend.

My son had Reflux as well. He was put on Zantac and it did the trick. You might try another med, it sounds like the one yours is on is maybe not working for him. In the meantime, have you tried a front carrier so your hands are free? Baby Bjorn's is GREAT! Hang in there!

Two of my children had the same problem, I was nursing so change in diet and medication worked as far as the reflux .goes. The sleeping and wanting to be held. For sleeping I would swaddle them tightly hold them until they fell asleep and then put them down some times in the car seat in the crib or bouncy seat in the crib so that they were more upright to help with the reflux but I would also have a heating pad on warm on what ever surface that I layed them down on. I would remove it ( heating pad ) before laying them down,it was so that it would not be as much of a temp change and they would not wake up. During the day I would use a frount carrier.

My son (now 5) had horrible reflux. It took a little while to figure out the right combination of medicine and formula. It sounds like he is on formula and it could be that the kind you are feeding him is upsetting his stomach. My son was and still has severely allergic to milk and threw up any milk-based product. He also couldn't tolerate soy at that age, as it seemed to aggravate his reflux. We ended up on Nutramigen for the first year.

Reflux typically is worse when laying down. I have known some parents who have actually had to let their children sleep upright (like in the car seat or swing) because it's the only place they were comfortable. It's not my first choice but if it gives you all some relief while you are trying to figure out what you need to do then go for it.

I'm sure he is responding to numerous things when you hold him...comfort, your scent, your warmth, your heartbeat, etc. If you really feel you need your hands you might invest in a sling to carry him in. Also, are you swaddling him when you put him down? Try swaddling him tightly (I used to leave my son's arms out since he always wanted those free)and see if it helps. Sometimes that helps integrate all their senses and it sort of pulls them together, so to speak.

Good luck! You are not spoiling him...just enjoy your time with him. The first 2 months are the hardest.

I feel your pain! I have several recommendations.

A few things that worked like a charm with us are Hylands Colic Tabs and Baby's Bliss Gripe water. The Hylands are homeopathic tabs that dissolve instantly under the tongue. The gripe water you can put in a bottle or a dropper. It has ginger and other things that soothe the tummy. We always keep both on hand at all times.

Eating every 3-4 hours is great! Some babies with reflux will only eat small amounts adn want to eat every hour. I am guessing you are formula feeding? If so you can try "Parent's Choice" brand at Wal-Mart. It worked well for a friends baby with bad reflux.

As far as the sleep thing goes they should be getting about 14 hours in a 24 hour period including naps. I thought mine was never going to sleep. His naps were only about 30 min long. The thing that helped me the most establishing his sleep patterns was putting him down at the 3 hour mark after he woke from his last nap. He will eventually fall into a better pattern but it will take some guidance on your part.

About the house work and holding him all the time...The "Maya Wrap" saved my life. It is a baby sling. You can put them in cradle style, front facing belly to belly, or on your hip when they get older. I still use mine and he is 10 months. It will leave your hands free and your baby will still feel cuddled and comforted not to mention your body heat is very soothing to his tummy. Try www.peppermint.com or Google Maya wrap.

I know it doesn't seem like it but it will pass and you will get to sleep eventually. In the mean time take any help and naps you can get your hands on. The housework really can wait. Take turns with your husband for night feedings if possible. Have a family member or friend sit with him during the day so you can take a nap. Have your husband share the chores. For us we let the baby sleep with us sometimes and had a cradle by the bed. It was worth it so we could sleep. We transitioned him to his own room at about 6 months old.

Hang in there and good luck! Enjoy all those cuddles because all to soon he will be struggling to get down and play!

Hey,
I had a fussy baby boy too but it was before they knew about reflux or txed it. I, too have terrible reflux. It just wanted you to know how much it does hurt. Thanks, mom for taking those extra measures of comfort for a little one that demands all your time. Hopefully he will out grow this expecially when he sits up and has more muscle control. If it continues this bad you need to talk to your doc about a fundalplication it is a surgery that essentially puts a purse string aound the top of his stomach/bottom of his esophagus.
It is surgery but he is very uncomfortable to be as fussy as he is. I would certainly consider it.
May God bless you and your family.
B.

I second the advice on getting a sling. You will at least be able to get some stuff done around the house and he will be a much happier camper if you get one. I make & sell them so if you are interested let me know.

First of all, I am so sorry that you are having such a rough time right now. Your baby isn't unhappy, he is just in severe pain. Have you taken him to a pedi gastro doc? There are other medications that they can try. On the bright side, babies grow out of reflux. On the not so bright side, until then he will likely be uncomfortable unless someone is holding him upright if he has severe reflux. Unless you have a child that has had reflux, you can't imagine how awful it is for them and you. Throw every book that someone has recommended away and just try to comfort your little one the best you can. I spent a lot of time sleeping upright in a rocking chair...not ideal, but better than no sleep at all. I would start swapping nights in the chair with Dad so you can both get some sleep. If you haven't seen a pedi gastro doc - make an appointment ASAP. We see Dr. Ogunmola in downtown Fort Worth - he is with Cook's.

Hey C.!

I hate that you are having to go through this. My son had reflux really bad as an infant and still has it till this day to some extent. He is now 3 1/2. I don't know if this will work for your son or not, but for mine Dr. Brown's bottles worked pretty well. They are a pain to wash, but worth helping my son. At the time, Emfamil use to make a formula called AR. I did use this as my son's formula and it helped also. It is thicker than most formulas and it would stay down. My doctor also suggested do not lay your son down for an hour after he has eaten. I wish I could give you more help. Hopefully your son will grow out of this. For mine it just took a lot of time and a lot of patience. Good luck.

A.

My son also had reflux when he was an infant. He was on prevacid for about 3 months. You may want to try feeding him smaller amounts more frequently. Maybe 2-3 ounces every 2-3 hours. We also kept our son in a pack n play and jacked up the head end about 60 degrees. I had to pin a receiving blanket to the mattress and wrap it between his legs and pin it back to the mattress to keep him from sliding down to the foot of the crib. You may try that too. THere is also a wedge you can buy that does the same kind of thing. I think I googled infant acid reflux and found the link to it. Sorry that I can't remember the name of it. It cost about $60.00. You may ask your pharmacist...they may know what I'm referring to if you can't find it online. I hope some of this helps. hd

Have you tried the carseat/carrier? That is how my youngest two slept.

Also just be careful he doesn't get projectile vomiting. Around 4 mos old. he started the projectile vomiting and took him in and he ended up having Peloric Stenosis (sp.?). He had to have minor surgery to fix it. We had to give him prescription strength Prevacid and then Nexium when he became immune to the Prevacid.

He is 4 now and we weaned him off the medicine. He only takes it when his acid reflux really acts up.

I hope your son gets better!

H. D

I disagree with the doctor saying that he cannot be spoiled yet. My grandson was spoiled at a very early age. He wants to be held alot. When he falls asleep in my arms, I will try to lay him down and he will wake up and cry. I pick him up and he stops. This has gone on since he was very young. So, it could be that part of the problem with your baby is that he may be a little spoiled along with the acid reflux. I don't have any suggestions except to let him cry for a bit. I say that but didn't follow my own advice. We just have a very spoiled little boy! Good luck to you.