My son has acid reflux and must be elevated to sleep, but he's big enough now that what I've been using is no longer comfortable for him. He's 6 months (not surprising he still has it, his 3yr old brother still has it) and weighs 15 pounds. He has a hard time sleeping not only because of the acid reflux, but he's also just a tense little dude... if we don't swaddle him he scratches and rubs his eyes, head, and legs to the point of screaming. What I'd really like is advice on a product that would allow him to sleep comfortably, elevated, and either swaddled or similar. I've looked at the fisher price gentle motion glider, but it looks too small even though the description says up to 1yr. Not sure if a side swing would work... he doesn't like being his regular baby swing for very long, so I doubt he'd go for it. The crib wedge I have doesn't work, but I have considered a wedge that wraps around his torso so he can't move to the end of it, but it's more expensive than a swing, and doesn't really allow for swaddling. Any ideas?
Thanks ladies! I purchased a Sweetpeace that he absolutely loves, puts him to sleep fast. I also decided to purchase some pj's from old navy that still (even in the 6-12mo size) have the "mittens" and feet. This keeps him from scratching and clawing himself raw. He's really calmed down... so grateful!!!
Take him to the chiroprator! Sometimes there is just something pinched or not aligned that triggers responses in the body like (in children particularly) wetting the bed & reflux. My mom had all of us adjusted as babies and I have done it for both of mine. It's really gentle, and most actually do babies for free. I use Chris Koch in Jackson and is fantastic. good luck
My 19 year old daughter also had these exact problems and I feel for you mom. I too had to keep my daughter elevated for at least thirty minutes after each feeding and I had to give her a teaspoon full of maylox after she was done eating it was tough but worth it.
If you can get one of those baby carriers, the ones that look like a backpack, not sure what they are called, the shoulder starps fit nicely around the crip rails and enable you to lower one end of the crib and the baby wont slide.
My daughter also had the scratching problem she would scratch until she was bleeding. I was referred to a dermatologist who said she had eczema. I had to wash her clothes in dreft, it's a very mild detergent. We also used Eucerin lotion on her, baby lotion made the problem worse. You might check with your doctor about this issue.
I also had a son w/ reflux, I was told to place blocks under the legs of his crib to elevate the head. I also warmed up one of those microwavable heat packs to lay next to him,they can't get hotter so you wont burn him but they are comforting. You can find the heat packs that when warmed are also used for aromatherapy, very soothing.
It definitely sounds like your baby should be re-evaluated by a physician. I also believe chiropractic can help a baby, but NOT CURE a disease. I would also look into the baby hammock mentioned earlier. It sounds like you are doing a great job, being willing to try lots of different options until you find one that works. You're doing great! Follow your instinct, don't let too much advice turn your mind into mush, your motherly instinct will most always turn out to be the best answer. Whatever you do...YOU CAN DO IT and BABY CAN HANDLE IT!!!
There are wedges that elevate the entire crib mattress, not just the baby. (Not sure if this is the kind you have tried that doesn't work.) As far as the swaddling goes, maybe baby nightgowns and mittens would work instead? (Not a sleep sack, but a zippered nightgown with sleeves.) My son loved the nightgowns.
Have you looked into the tucker sling? It seems to work well and can be covered by insurance. Other than that, maybe a re-evaluation of his meds to see if there's something that can be done to make him more comfortable. ??
As the mom of a persistent "refluxer" I've tried numerous things to comfort my son. He liked weighted blankets that could also be warmed in the microwave. You could probably make one from an old pillowcase...maybe make 4 or 5 sections starting from the bottom going to the top (lengthwise). Put a little flaxseed in each section and sew across. Repeat that until you get to the top. You don't want to make it heavier than 10% of his body weight.
Reflux isn't easy to control in a little one. It's not because of something you did or didn't do. In my experience going to a chiropractor won't make reflux go away. The best thing to do is to keep him elevated (app 30 degrees), find an antacid that works (we use prevacid) and try to avoid foods that trigger the reflux. I would hope that he grows out of it soon, but you may need to look into additional testing down the road if you don't see any improvement. My son got his medication through an ENT initially, but it's now from a pediatric GI.
Rachel,
Maybe he has allergies to his food. It would explain all the problems he is haveing. You might try to massage him to calm him down. Touch helps to relieve stress and sooth him. I would look into the cause of the acid refux. He is really young to be having these kinds of problems. Chances are he feels sick alot of the time and swaddling make him feel worse. The swing might be making him motion sick. I suggest a change of diet and allergy testing. Not just any dr. it needs to be a homepathic who will take you serious.
Dr. Nonas in Centennial is great but I am not sure if he takes infants.
C. B
Reading your note makes me wonder if he hasn't outgrown his meds. Maybe he needs more. Our son became much less tense when his meds were adjusted correctly. Something that worked well for him was Prevacid in the morning and Zantac at night. Both are RX because of the baby dosing. It was a night and day difference for him. Our son sleeps well when he's on his meds, regardless of being elevated or not.
The Amby baby hammock... my son had reflux as a baby and this was awesome. Check it out on-line. It saved us.
