How to help a reflux baby sleep?

arcook0307

My DD has reflux and while we now have her on Zantac and the projectile vomiting has stopped (we think), she doesn't seem to sleep very well.  For instance, I will feed her and burp her (or try to-sometimes I can't get her to burp for the life of me!) and when she seems asleep, I'll put her down....in her carseat instead of flat on her back.  FOr an hour or so she fusses and grunts, flails her arms and cries.  No one is getting any sleep and before I know it it's time to feed her again.  I had too many nights of being up 3-4 hours straight with her.  Is there anything I can do to help?  I gave her gripe water last night and that didn't help.  We go back to the doctor Friday but any suggestions before then would be greatly appreciated!

sarajo317

My DD had horrible reflux!!! We were on zantac, added rice in her bottle (bc she was still vomiting) and mylicon drops in EVERY bottle. She also slept on a boppy. I would sometimes warm a blanket in the dryer and lay it on top and then lay her down - she seemed to sleep a little longer that way.

What formula is your DD on? or is she breastfed?

CheezeFace

Same issues here.  I have DS sleeping on his belly during the daytime when I can monitor him.  He sleeps for 3-4 hour stretches on his stomach.  I don't trust our basinet for tummy sleeping so we swaddle and raise the head of the basinet.  He doesn't sleep as long or as well, though.  We may be transitioning into his own crib before I was planning because we need night time sleep too.

FTM115

My DS is on comb. of prevacid, zantac and rice cereal in bottle. He also sleeps in his swing for naps and RnP at night.Have you tried swaddling?

Linds1224

I know it's tough during the middle of the night feeds when you just want to go back to sleep yourself, but if you keep her upright (or at least some what upright) for at least 30 mins after each feed it should help. My son had it and that's what we did and it helped.

hep01

FP Rock-N-Play. FWIW the Zantac did nothing for my girls. The compounded Prevacid has really made a difference along w/ Enfamil AR if you are FF.

Good luck!

arcook0307

She's breastfed.  I can keep her upright for the allotted time and as soon as I put her down she gets the hiccups which I'm told is the milk moving up and down within her little pipe.    The hiccups sound so painful! 

COmommy

Get the rock n play sleeper.  It's amazing for reflux babies.  Also, try eliminating possible irritating foods from your diet if you are bfing.  We FF and switched from dairy-based formula to soy and LO is 100 times better with no reflux episodes.  She is not on any meds. Worth a try.

b.heather

DS has reflux and both naps and sleeps at night in a cradle swing - the swinging seems to sooth him back to sleep when he wakes up and we get up to the occasional 5 hour stretch. 

I also use Gripe Water when he gets hiccups - it doesn't help the reflux as far as I can tell but it does get rid of the hiccups so that he can sleep.

Nighttime does seems to be the worst time for him re: his reflux. Hope both our LOs are doing better soon! 

mbgreenwalt

My DD has reflux and when she was just on Zantac she would squirm, arch and claw her crib for 30-50 minutes before she would fall asleep and then wake after 5-6 hours to eat and then squirm all over again.  We switched to Prevacid in the am and Zantac at night and she sleeps 8-10 hours a night now.  We also have the head end of her bassinet elevated and she sits elevated all day.  We've discussed a wedge with a harness to keep DD upright all night, but I'm thinking she is fine now at night.  It is not an easy issue to deal with and there are so many options to treat that it is frustrating!  Milk protein allergies can aggravate reflux as well (another thing we are dealing with).

BeachMomofTwo

arcook0307:

I gave her gripe water last night and that didn't help.

What brand of gripe water have you used? I've read on Colic Calm's blog that moms swear by it for reflux (I used it for colic). They also say that it could take 5 - 7 days to take effect, depending on the severity of your baby's condition.

You can see the blog here:

https://journal.coliccalm.com/category/one-moms-story/

and ask them about it on their FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/coliccalm

Good luck!