How My Family Copes with Infant Reflux

Infant reflux is a condition in babies that causes him/her to spit up quite frequently. The amount of spit up is beyond what is considered normal though. In fact, the entire feeding can come up very quickly. The family has to deal with this on a daily basis. But coping with such a problem is more difficult for the parents than it is on the infant. There are some things you can do to cope better with it.

This is how my family has coped with infant reflux:

Keep in mind that you are not alone - Many babies have infant reflux. Although it isn't completely normal, it is normal enough to set your mind at ease that you haven't done anything wrong. Infants that suffer from infant reflux are generally very happy and healthy in all other forms.

Stay prepared - Since you already know the amount of milk that your baby can spit up, staying prepared is the best thing you can do. This can be done by placing a thick towel or blanket underneath the baby so that the spit up doesn't end up in your lap and on furniture. If you do this while feeding the baby, you can avoid these situations.

Keep feedings frequent - If you feed baby more often, it will keep the amount of formula or breast milk to a minimum each time. That is because baby won't eat as much at each feeding because he/she won't be as hungry. This can cut the incidence down a bit. This won't completely stop the problem, but it does help reduce it.

Don't jostle baby too much - Infant reflux can and does occur even when the baby is lying perfectly still. Moving him/her around a lot doesn't help though. Keep baby as still and calm as possible, especially during feedings. Don't forget to use a very thick burp cloth when burping as well.

Rest when possible - It is harder for a baby with this problem to sleep through the night. Get as much rest as possible in between feedings so that you can stay fresh. It can be very frustrating when your child has infant reflux. Not getting enough rest doesn't help.

Talk with the pediatrician - A doctor can help you decide the best course of action. He/she can also help set your mind at ease about Infant Reflux. Beating yourself up about it doesn't help. Arming yourself with information about the problem can. Knowledge is power.

These are some of the things that have helped my family cope with infant reflux. Babies usually outgrow the problem by the time they are 12 to 18 months. Do not feel as though you are alone or that you have done something wrong. Sometimes, the doctor can give you an alternative way of feeding your baby, such as a change in the type of formula you use. It does get easier with time.