Itty Bitty Baby Tips
Dealing with reflux

The medical reason for most reflux in a premature baby is due to the immaturity of the stomach entrance, which allows the food moves back into the esophagus, often just flowing back up the esophagus without being seen, sometimes being breathed into the lungs, other times appearing as large or small amounts of “spit up”. Either way, it tends to be very uncomfortable for your baby and they can tend to be quite fussy when this happens. A sign of reflux is your baby “chewing” or swallowing their “leftovers” that continually creep back into their mouths. You may notice that after a feeding your baby is sleeping peacefully, only to scream out randomly in pain. This is the reflux “burning”, much like it feels in adults when we have indigestion or heartburn.

Here are some tried and true means parents have used to combat reflux. You may find a few that work for your child, or you may experiment with some of the ideas to find a new solution.
Most importantly, consult with your pediatrician before altering any feeding or medication program used by your baby.

2. Elevate your baby’s bed approximately 30-45 degrees when they are sleeping or lying in it. You can place study bricks or large telephone books under the legs of a bassinet or cradle. Or you can purchase “crib blocks” for this purpose (they are better designed for this job). Specially designed foam pads are now available from baby stores that fit into the crib.

3. Always change diapers and clothes BEFORE feeding, unless there is a dire emergency to change. 

4. Bathe your baby 1-2 hours before any meals, and if bathing after a meal, wait at least that long after eating.

5. Feed your baby in small amounts more frequently, rather than large amounts less often. When they begin solids,avoid overfeeding, as the food can “creep” back up the esophagus and burn, but not always to the mouth.

6. Try nipples that advertise “less air” swallowed. Some good ones to experiment with are Advent nipples or Gerber 3 hole nipples. Try a variety until you find which works best for your baby. Or “doctor” the nipples yourself by boiling in hot water and inserting a pin or toothpick to enlarge the hole. Allow to cool and then remove the pins.  Also, some parents have luck with angled bottles.