COPING WITH REFLUX

11 ways to cope with your baby’s reflux

Most newborns will bring up a little bit of milk after feeding (posseting), but reflux means that this will happen a lot! Caring for a baby with reflux can be messy and stressful for you, but these tips will help you cope.

1 FEED FROM A MORE UPRIGHT POSITION

Feeding with your baby sitting more upright may help to keep the milk in his stomach. You can try feeding your baby in this position whether you are breast or bottle feeding.

2. KEEP YOUR BABY UPRIGHT AFTER A FEED

Once your baby has finished feeding, try not to lay him down for a nap or a nappy change straight away. Keeping him upright for 20 to 30 minutes will give his tummy time to settle. This may mean that your baby is less likely to bring up milk.

3. TRY GIVING SHORTER, MORE FREQUENT FEEDS

Encouraging your baby to have shorter feeds means that his tummy won’t get too full. But make sure you breastfeed your baby or give him a bottle often, otherwise he’ll get hungry!

4. BURP YOUR BABY

If your baby swallows air while he feeds, he may bring up some milk when you burp him. To prevent this, try to burp your baby regularly during each feed. If you’re breastfeeding, you could do it when you change breasts. If you’re bottle-feeding, it’s a good idea to burp your baby every three to five minutes during a feed.

5. TRY A DIFFERENT BOTTLE

If your baby’s bottle-fed, trying a different bottle may help with wind and reflux. A slower-flow teat will stop him getting too much milk at once. Or you could try an anti-colic bottle that’s designed to minimise the amount of air your baby swallows during a feed.

6. DRESS YOUR BABY PRACTICALLY

A baby who brings up milk will get messy very quickly! Try dressing him in vests and sleepsuits. These are easy to clean and are quick to change when they get dirty. Make sure you have plenty so that you always have a steady supply.

Pro tip: the shoulder flaps on baby vests are specially designed so that you can take them off by pulling them down over your baby’s legs, instead of up over his head.

7. WEAR WHITE OR PALE CLOTHES

If milk regularly ends up on your clothes, switch to wearing white or pale-coloured cotton tops. Pale clothes won’t show up milk stains as much as coloured ones.

8. FEED IN THE SAME PLACE

Milk may end up on your furniture, so to minimise damage, stick to a particular chair to feed your baby in. If you want to, you can put a throw or sheet over the chair to protect it from any mishaps.

9. USE WASHABLE COVERS

Put washable covers on your pushchair and on your baby’s car seat, if possible. This means that you can easily clean up any accidents. It’s best to have an extra cover so that you have one spare while the other is being washed.

10. PUT SPARE CLOTHES IN YOUR CHANGING BAG

You won’t want your baby’s clothes getting damp from brought-up milk. And you won’t want your clothes covered in spills either. To avoid messes on the move, pack some spare clothes for you and your baby in your changing bag. And don’t forget plenty of muslins or bibs to wipe up little spills.

11. TALK TO SOMEONE

If you find that you’re getting stressed, talk to your partner, a friend, or your health visitor. Constantly cleaning up after a baby can be frustrating, so make sure that you ask for help if you need it.

Reflux is when a baby brings up milk during or shortly after feeding. It’s very common and usually gets better as they get older.

BABY REFLUX SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Many of the common signs of baby reflux can also be signs that a baby is distressed for any number of reasons; for example, they’re hungry, need a cuddle or they’re cold. So it’s good to remember that while there are some recognisable signs of baby reflux, this isn’t necessarily a disease that needs to be medicated. Symptoms of a baby having reflux that does not need medication are:

• Spitting up milk during or after feeds several times a day, which may upset them. • Hiccups. • Being mildly unsettled, crying or needing to burp after feeds. • Symptoms of GORD: • A baby arching their back and turning their head. • Pain or discomfort in your baby’s chest or abdomen. • Crying for long periods and becoming irritable during and after feeds; their crying may sound hoarse. • Choking/gagging or coughing during a feed, or seeming to have a sore throat. • Frequent ear infections. • Fighting feeds or refusing to feed. • Poor weight gain. • Waking very frequently at night. • Signs of pain or discomfort when feeding.

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