It’s difficult to witness your baby in pain, but try to relax and remember that you’re not alone and that there is stuff you can do. Here are some strategies that may help calm a refluxing baby:
Experiment with different nursing positions.
Putting your baby in just few various positions when trying to feed them may help relieve irritation and avoid reflux. Young breastfeeding babies can be cradled under the arm (sometimes called a twin hold or football), while older infants can be held sitting up. A more upright grip may also assist bottle-fed newborns.
Try to hold the baby erect with their face stabilized or leaning on your shoulders during first hour following feeding, and this is when reflux infants usually feel pain and vomit. This could help to prevent reflux by keeping milk and stomach acid at bay.
Change up your routines.
Gastric babies gain from a feeding routine that keeps them erect and awake. Try establishing a schedule in which you feed your baby as soon as they start waking up and then give them time to interact or cuddle before putting them back down. This can assist them avoid resting down after feeding, which can cause acid and milk to build up. When considering ways to keep your baby’s reflux at bay, keep this in mind.
Raise your child’s sleeping position.
To relieve reflux problems, keeping your infant upright may be beneficial. When it comes to sleep, it’s no different, so try placing them out on their backside in a slightly raised bed. You could try lifting the crib’s high end or laying towels below the mattress to elevate it slightly. If you’re attempting to avoid reflux this way, make sure your kid is in a safe resting posture with no blockages in or on the edges of the cot.
Feeding frequency should be varied.
Play with various feeding methods to determine what works the best for your child. Reflux can be reduced by feeding your infant smaller quantities more frequently. However, for certain babies, it may be preferable to give them a bigger feed less frequently and then keep them awake and upright for approximately an hour thereafter to avoid reflux.
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Consider using a dummy.
Every new mum hears about the benefits and drawbacks of using a dummy, but when your child is writhing in pain, everything is worth a shot. A dummy’s suck motion aids digesting and may provide relief from heartburn between meals for your infant.
If you do choose to use a dummy, be sure it’s the right size and form for your infant, as well as meeting industry requirements. Wash them frequently and change them on a regular basis, particularly if they are broken. If your infant refuses to take a fake, don’t force it on them. And realize that any behaviour may be stopped down the road; right now, you might want to concentrate on relaxing your infant with reflux and managing.