Here are some tips
for caring for children with reflux:
Place blankets under the head of
the crib mattress to elevate it.
Hold the baby upright for 1/2 hour after
he eats.
Some reflux babies benefit from
rice cereal in their bottle early on, however
some may react negatively to the iron.
A tiny bit of Mylanta can
temporarily ease your baby's pain. Only use under the
watch of a physician.
Be careful with your child's diet. Avoid
acidic foods like oranges, tomato sauce and greasy foods.
If you are nursing, avoid acidic or gassy
foods. Avoid high amounts of dairy as well.
Baby "bouncy" chairs can keep your baby
upright, keeping the stomach contents where they belong.
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Keep your baby upright as much as
possible.
Do not settle for a colic diagnosis.
If your baby sounds uncomfortable, he is uncomfortable.
Request a pediatric GI specialist if your primary care physician
is not able to help your infant.
If your child is on medication and it does not
work, talk to your doctor about trying a different prescription or a
combination of medications.
If your medication works, but you notice your
child becoming fussy, have your child weighed for a higher dosage.
Remember to do this often!
Rub your child's tummy in a clockwise direction.
Call Children's Motility Disorder Foundation,
Inc. at (404)529-9200 for more information on GERD.
Children with reflux can become asthmatic. If
your child has a cold, listen for wheezing and call the pediatrician
immediately if you have any concerns about your child's breathing.
If your child has reflux and remains
uncomfortable, consider he or she may be intolerant to
dairy as well.
Be calm, no matter how much your baby cries. It
is not the baby's fault, and it is not yours either.
You can breastfeed a reflux baby with
great success. Keep a simple diet with plain foods, and
keep your dairy intake low.
