Hi, My two month old has bad reflux. If I lay him down after a feeding, he squirms, grunts, cries out and spits up. As a result, I have to situp with him for about 30 minutes or so, everytime I feed him (this makes for a long night). For a number of reasons, I don't want to ask the pedi for medication. I was thinking of letting him sleep in his car seat or bouncy seat. Does anyone have any suggestions or reasons the carseat/bouncy shouldn't be used? I'm assuming this will pass in a few months.....
If you and your child are getting your rest from a bouncy or carseat, DO IT!!! There is no law that says you cant do that. My daughter slept in her swing (without it swinging) for a month or so during those "trying" times. I say that if it helps...so be it. Sometime down the road he will be sleeping in his crib and it wont make a hill of beans that he slept upright for a bit. I know that if I have heartburn, the last thing I would want to do is lay down flat!!! Prop that baby up!!!! Also, dont let people worry you into thinking that it will be hard to transition out of those places. When his reflux is better, it is only natural to lay back down. My DD had no problem whatsoever. Like my Momma always says, "you'd stand on your head in the corner if you thought it would get your kiddo to sleep!!' SO TRUE!!!
Good Luck,
Margaret :)
I think it's fine to let him sleep in the carseat/bouncy...in fact, my pedi recommended it for my son (sleeping on an incline, although I just raised the mattress at one end of the crib by putting some rolled up towels under it). I would, however, caution you to reconsider not medicating your son. Reflux can cause long-term damage to the esophagus if it isn't treated, so it might be a good idea to get him the medication. If you've done your research and feel otherwise, then that's fine, but I know that the only thing that worked for my son was the meds. He would scream and cry and arch his back for 30 minutes every time I fed him and once he was on the medication, he was fine. He still spits up, but the pain is gone and that was really important to me. He's 6 months now and sitting up on his own, so we're looking into taking him off the meds. It doesn't last forever, but do what you can to make your little guy comfy. The bouncy or carseat is fine (just make sure he is strapped in if he's in the carseat so that he doesn't get strangled by the straps if he happens to move around while he's sleeping) if you want to go that route or you could try propping up the end of the crib like I did. Good luck and I hope your son feels better soon!
You may want to change formula. He may have a milk intolerance. Please see his pediatrician. The doctor may have different alternatives to medicine.
We never had reflux, so I can't give you advice on that, but I think having your baby sleep in a car seat is fantasic! My first child was a terrible sleeper, so when I had my second child, I tried something new...I swaddled her and put her to sleep in her car seat. She slept wo well it was almost scarey. I actually had to wake her for her feedings...unlike my first one who ate every two hours all night long. There is nothing wrong with using a car seat. Babies are used to being in a confined space and they feel comforted by it. Just make sure your son isn't sitting in a drafty area if you keep the car seat on the floor. And if you keep it up on a surface, be extra careful that he doesn't fall. We sometimes put the car seat in the crib and sometimes even put it in the middle of our king sized bed with pillows around it for stability. By the way, she slept in the car seat until she was six and a half months old. Good luck.
My daughter had horrible reflux. I tried breastfeeding and that only seemed to aggrivate it. I switched her to Soy formula and she did better. But she cried all the time because she was in so much pain and sleeping her in the car seat actually made it worse because she lacked the muscles to keep her body up straight and being slouched only made the acid come out more. I slept many nights with her asleep on my chest while I reclined in a chair. If your child isn't bothered by the carseat then do it. I know the decision not to get medicine is personal but if your child is crying a lot and arching his back then he is in pain and you should do all you can to relieve it. If you want something more natural then try Kid E col drops. I believe Dr. Christopher is the brand and you can find it at a nutrition store/vitamin store. I noticed a difference within 2 days when I used it with 2 of my children. I used prevacid as well with my youngest because she wasn't gaining weight she was spitting up so much. Best of luck. By about 4 months my daughter completely outgrew it all. she is almost 9 months old now and doesn't use either medicine now.
Lisa,
There are positional ways to assist with reflux. I put my some in his swing with the seat reclined and he loved it, but I also medically treated him. You are entitled to your decision to not utilize medicine, but you should discuss your options with your pediatrician to determine how serious the reflux really is. I have to say that you should reconsider the option of medicine. The medicines available (antacids, H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors) are pretty inocuous and have a very low side effect profile compared to the pain and sleeplessness you and your baby are getting. The other consideration regarding using no medicine is the side effects or detriments that are caused by not medically treating reflux. Most babies do outgrow this issue and do not have to be on medicine for long term, but continued reflux (stomach acid going back up into the esophagus) that goes untreated has been associated with Barrett's disease and even worse, esophogeal cancer. This is because the cells lining the esophagus are not the same as the acid-resistant cells lining the stomach, so the body naturally tries to protect itself from continued acid insult by changing the cells that line the esophagus. This modified lining is not normal and is considered, many times as high risk or pre-cancerous. Although a little GERD seems like no big deal, if long standing untreated, especially in adults, there can be some longterm consequences. It is best to discuss with your pediatrician because they see this and can give you the pros and the cons. If your pediatrician doesn't do this and seems to throw medicine at every issue, then it's time to get a new pedi that will take time to speak with you and allow a joint decision on what's best for your baby.
I am normally anti-medicine and like to treat things as naturally as possible with myself and my own children. However, I would strongly recommend you reconsider on this occasion. I can't put it any better than Denise below did and another poster as well that mention that NOT treating true reflux can cause damage, which you don't want!
I think your decision to put him in a bouncy, swing, or car seat is fine, just as long as you check on him. Wherever they sleep best.....
Trust me when I say that I always try to find a way around giving medicine to my son if there is another way. My son did have reflux as a baby and it is very painful to spit up. THe acid can really do some damage. He was on Reglan, and Zantac and slept in an angled pack and play. A car seat will work just as well. (We angled the pack and play on boxes) We were also advised (and this helped alot) to put thickener-(not cereal)in the formula and to cut the nipples in an "X" pattern for easier feeding. This helped make the formula harder to spit up. PLease do not be afraid of giving your baby medicine. This is a time to do it because your baby is actually in pain. (Believe me when I say I fight doctors tooth and nail when they first prescribe meds with no alternatives or preventive maintanance. I hope this helps in whatever decision you make. It seems as though you are blessed with 2 wonderful children and are a great mom. Its not easy and most of the time we have to do our own research on meds and health. Good Luck!
Hi Lisa, My infant (now 14 months) was chronically sick with head colds and ear infections. She spent many nights in her car seat. Our pedi said we shouldn't use the bouncy because there isn't enough support for her and she wasn't strong enough to stay up right. When she was a little older, I would use her swing. The car seat is definitely okay to use immediately. Just make sure you buckle him in completely so you know he won't wiggle out.
When my son was a baby, he loved sitting in his swing. He took many naps in it and was put in it often when he woke up in the night and it wasn't time to eat.
We did not have reflux issues, but we had no problems.
Good luck,
Libby
plagiocelphaly, a flat spot or mishapen head from sleeping in the car seat.
elevate the head of the matress with a blanket from underneath.
We let our baby sleep in a rocker chair just for kids. He can use it up to age three. It converts. I called the nurse at the hospital pedi ward and asked if he could sleep in his car seat she said it was best not to let him due to the fact they can tip over if not buckled. I did start to worry that his spine wouldnt develop correctly if he sleept in it too much. Not sure why just worring I suppose. My husband also let him sleep in the swing alot. I did find some where when doing research about SIDS a sling that hung from the celing that was suppose to be better for preventing SIDS. Best of luck.
My daughter was diagnosed with reflux when she was only a month old. I didn't want to put her on meds either...but I figured that the meds were better than the damage being done to her little body. She ended up being on the meds the first year of her life. At 12 months we took her off...but about a month later she started having issues again. She wasn't spitting up anymore...but I could hear it coming up and down in her throat...and she was waking at night a lot. I put her back on the meds...and by 18 months she had outgrown it...and is med free.
We never put her to sleep in the carseat or bouncer...but we did elevate her head by elevating one side of the matress. I don't know if it was that...or the meds...but everyone slept better! :)
Just know that the meds do NOT stop the spitting up...they only neutralize the acid so that it doesn't cause any damage or pain. That was something that was really hard for my mom to understand at first. She couldn't understand why my daughter was still spitting up all the time when she was on meds to help it.
Best of luck with whatever decision you make.
Hi Lisa,
I think sitting DS in either would be great to help with the reflux. I wouldn't, however, put him in something like a swing that wouldn't support his legs. If the legs hang down as in a swing or stroller, it could cut off the circulation. I realize he is still tiny, but as he grows you would be aware of the possibility. When my DD was little, she had a bad cold and couldn't breathe unless she was upright. I placed her in her carseat inside the crib so that she would still associate the crib with sleeping once she was able to lie flat again. HTH Charise
Lisa-
My daughter never had reflux but she did spit up a lot. We finally figured out that she was going through a lactose intolerant phase and switched her to lactose free formula. Now she's back on the "real stuff" but it took a while to get her tummy working right. We also used probiotic granules in her bottle to help boost the natural bacteria to help her digestion. This may not be what you need to do but there are a lot of problems out there that all moms face.
We had to do the holding her up right thing after every meal and we still kinda do this even though she's 6 months now. If she wants to flop over and crawl around we let her other wise we've taught her to just be mellow for a while after she eats. Not a bad lesson. The sitting up and relaxing after a meal doesn't have to be all bad, it can be a really good lesson for later on. So while the time sitting with him is killing you it is time well spent.
Our daughter also slept for the first 2-3 months in her swing. We slowly transitioned her to the crib at the end of the 3rd month. She loved it and so did we. Even now when she gets sick, or just seems to be in the "mood" for it she wants to sleep for a night there. We let her and the next night she's back in her crib. Even though we had to sit up with her at night when it came time to go back to sleep it was easy. Just put her in it, turn it on, and watch her fall asleep. She always wanted us in the room while she fell asleep but at least I could sit there on my laptop or read a book while this was happening.
She never had anything happen to her head with sleeping in the swing. It was recommended to us by our doctor to switch her direction around. Not in the swing, but turn the whole swing, every few nights. She would lay with her head facing the middle of the room from whatever position the swing was in. That way her head wasn't resting on the same side every night. It worked out fine. There is always the risk for a little flattening of the head but you can find ways to work it out. And if not my sister has lived with a flat spot on her head for 45 years due to refusing to sleep in any other position but on her side as a baby, and since her hair covers it up she's just fine. We, as a family, tease her about her flat head but you can't see it under the hair.
I'd also like to say something about the meds for the reflux. I personally have had a bought with really bad reflux and it was terrible! Without the meds I think I would have gone nuts. It's so PAINFUL and rather TRAUMATIC. I didn't want to eat, sleep, and sometimes move. Sometimes drugs are a good thing. Maybe see about using them to get the reflux under control first then start looking into natural remedies. Your son is hurting and if the doctor recommends it I would not hesitate on this one. I've known lots of moms that had to have their kids on meds for reflux and they all turned out just fine.
Over all I think you need to go with your judgment on things. Only you know what your baby needs. You know that "feeling" you get when you just know your child doesn't feel good or is running a small little fever? You don't even have to grab the thermometer to know it. Trust that instinct. If your babies in pain you will know it. If sleeping in the car seat, bouncy, or swing makes him feel better you will know it.
Good luck,
Jen
http://www.mommysjoy.com
Hi there! I feel for you. My little one had terrible reflux too, but it was silent (she never spit up). We eventually put her on low dosage of Prevacid until she was six months old and could sit up by herself after a feeding, but there are several other ways you can help without medicine. You can let your son sleep elevated, either in a car seat or bouncy. There is also a product we tried called the Tucker Sling. It consists of a large wedge and a sling that fits over the ledge. You buckle the baby in and it is probably more comfy to sleep in than the car seat and gives just the right elevation for reflux. It can also fit in the crib. We got it too late for my daughter to sleep in (she was about 4 months old at the tim and set in her sleeping habits), but it was great during the day after she ate. I kept it in the living room, put her in there, gave her some toys or put the playyard over it or put on a Baby Einstein video and she just hung out. The best thing about it is if you get a doctor's order, most insurance companies will cover the cost. If you are interested, I think you can Google it. Good luck and I hope your little boy sleeps better really soon!
My daughter had really bad reflux the first year of her life. She slept and was upright for about the first 7 months of her life. It hurt her to be flat any time. She slept in the bouncy seat, carseat and a in her crib a really large wedge that she was strapped into. Also, she spent time in the bumbo seat during the day. We soon found out that she did not like us to hold her for feedings. We either did them in the bouncy seat or high chair reclined a little. We also did use medication and added a thicking agent to her bottle. She is 3 now and perfectly normal and no reflux.
Sandy
www.sanangelo.jbfsale.com
My granddaughter had this very bad and the carseat did wonders. We were a little nervous to leave her in a bouncy in case she wiggled and it toppled over. My daughter would even put her in the carseat and then put the carseat in the crib and secure it with blankets at the bottom just to make sure it didn't move. She slept great that way and my daughter also got some sleep. If she woke up during the night, my daughter would change her, feed her and put her back in the carseat, strap her in and all went well.
We used a wedge that you buy at Bed Bath and beyond or a store like that. Look in the bedding department, it will elevate the child. I would use this when the baby is older.
For right now I would put some folder toweles under one end of the bassett mattress and that will elevate him. This is what the hospital did and it worked very good.
Good luck. They will out grown this, thank goodness.