O Add Anyone Use Crib Wedge or Something to Help Baby Reflux?

Updated on August 07, 2012
M.T. asks from Pompano Beach, FL
12 answers

A friend of mine has a baby that we think has reflux. The baby is 4 months old and has trouble sleeping. Her baby slept well the first month he was born, but then changed and doesn't nap well as he used to and takes all night for him to sleep. Her baby does sleep at night, but after long stressful nights of getting her son to sleep. I have seen this occur a lot (from searching online).

I have heard suggestions of a crib wedge and sometimes others have said to just put something underneath the crib mattress and the entire mattress will be on incline.

What do you suggest my friend do and why? Have you had children in the same position?

Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Wanted to add something - my friend's 4 month old son can sleep flat on his back during naps and overnight. The only big change is that her son's naps are a lot shorter and her son fights sleep at night. she told me at night, her son gets tired, falls asleep, but once you lay him down in the crib, he wakes up again. Eventually her son gets worn out (I guess) and eventually, she will put her son into the crib (totally flat on his back) and he sleeps most of the night - wakes up 2 sometimes 3 times at night, but my friend says that is normal for him. I am guessing it may not even be reflux - maybe just over tiredness?? My friend said she has heard babies can fuss a lot if they lack sleep and are just too tired. Sounds strange as, adults can sleep easily when they are super tired. But who knows with babies.

Her pediatrician said it can be from reflux or even lack of sleep patterns (naps, etc). She doesn't want to have to put her baby on meds that early of an age, so she is hoping it's the lack of sleep pattern. She said she will try that for now - it's just hard for her because she works fulltime, so her son is at daycare.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Put that baby in a bouncy seat and strap them in. This elevates the baby, it sits much like an infant carrier car seat. They can't roll around so it won't last more than to ages 5-6 months but it will make all the difference in his tummy.

We gave my grandson Reglan before each and every bottle. It relaxes the lower tummy muscles so the tummy empties more and earlier. The formula goes on through the tummy sooner.

We also added Mylicon Gas Drops to each bottle before adding the water. Then we kept the water/med mix in the fridge in the bottles. We added the formula powder as needed. We did not shake it up, we gently swirled the powder until it was mixed. The shaking adds tons of air in the bottle.

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A.L.

answers from Chicago on

Didn't work for us, the best thing we used was her bouncy seat. The wedge did not elevate it enough, and I checked with the pediatrician and he said if she is sleeping fine in the bouncy seat let her sleep there. We did that until about 6 months and then she was just too big for the bouncy seat.

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D.C.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I put rolled up towels under the top edge of the crib mattress to give it somewhat of an incline. To be honest, I didn't think it helped much, but my baby had pretty severe reflux. But it is worth a try and it does help some babies.

The best advice I got for a reflux baby was to feed half as much twice as often (so two ounces every 2 hours instead of 4 ounces every 4 hours or, for me, it was nurse on one side every 2 hours instead of nursing on both sides every 4 hours). That way there is not as much milk in the tummy at any one time, and doesn't come up as easily. Doesn't help much with the sleeping (for momma) though, because the baby is up to eat more often at night.

Other good advice was to cut out dairy from my diet (or use a formula for milk-sensitive babies) since reflux babies are often intolerant of cow's milk.

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B.H.

answers from Sacramento on

My daughter slept in either her swing or nap nanny until she started rolling over and it was no longer safe. She was also on prescription zantac and prevacid and I eliminated the top allergans from my diet since I was exclusively breastfeeding. These things combined seemed to make a difference and she started to "outgrow" the reflux as her system matured. She was weaned from medication at eight months and I was also able to add back foods to my diet.

Could teething be the issue? I know teething has been disruptive to my daughter's sleep. It started at about five months. It can be quite bothersome for some babies. My pediatrician said we could give ibuprofen at bedtime if it seemed the pain was preventing her from sleeping? Maybe hour friend should try this after consulting with baby's doctor. We also use Hyland's teething tablets.

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B.G.

answers from Springfield on

My son slept in his carseat until he started rolling over. Neither of my kids loved their crib, but they loved sleeping with me. I fought it at first, but then I realized that we all slept (actually slept) when I let them sleep with me. They started every night in their own bed, but if they woke in the middle of the night they were allowed to join us in bed. The 3 year old still comes to us sometimes, but the 6 year old hasn't for a few years unless he's sick. Just something she might be willing to try ... especially if it means actually getting to sleep.

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T.H.

answers from Kansas City on

We just tilted the bottom of the crib itself. So on the legs where you clip in the bottom part that holds the mattress to the frame, we put the head side higher than the feet side. We both our kids like that until about 4-5 months probably. It worked pretty well for us! I also had to put my daughter on a specially formulated formula for spitter uppers. She didn't have full on reflux but boy was she a spitter! Both things made a difference!

A.D.

answers from Alexandria on

I used a pillow under the head of the mattress. For a while, I used his boppy pillow as well.

Plus we switched to nutramigen (spelling?) And thickened feedings with cereal. Whenever he was old enough, he started taking zantac.

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J.T.

answers from New York on

I did the towels, and elimiated all dairy and products with dairy protiens from my diet. Towels did not work so well as somehow my daughter would just wriggle sideways... I never bothered with the wedge because I figured she would do the same thing with that.

I also let my daughter take her naps in her car seat - I know alot of folks think this is bad, but it allowed her and I to get some much needed rest. I would ust sit it on the floor and since it kept her in a partially upright position it worked like a charm.

My daughter also had medicine that helped a lot as well.

I wish your freind luck!

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T.O.

answers from Jacksonville on

My oldest had bad reflux and spit up alot. We were told to put a a small flat pillow under her crib mattress and gave her zantac. Also, switched bottles and put her on lactose formula. That help alot to.

M.L.

answers from Chicago on

This is what I used for my daughter - she slept great and used it till she was about 9 months:

http://naturalrefluxrelief.com/shop/

Oh - I guess I should at least give you some info.......my daughter was a good sleeper but had these weird nasally sounds and squeaks, etc. - she seemed to start waking herself up....once we started using this she slept (at about 6 weeks old) 4 hours straight the first few nights and within a month 7 hours!

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J.F.

answers from Bloomington on

The wedges work great as long as baby doesn't start to roll over.....which is not far off.

Inclining the mattress would be much safer.

We also used the Fisher Price Rock A Bye bassinet ($50). It put baby in a 45 degree angle and kept her snug as a bug. She slept in it up until about 6 months....again with the rolling. It is super portable and light weight. (And you can resell on CL for $30- $35).

She should also speak with the pediatrician about using meds and certain formulas to reduce the reflux.

R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

What worked for my guy was to let him sleep in his carseat.

Updated

What worked for my guy was to let him sleep in his carseat.

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