Formula for reflux

[Cha13]

I have spoken to the health visitor about my 8week old feeding. He is frequently sick after a feed and will often disrupt his feeds with severe crying and arching his back. None of this is at every feed but is enough for me to be concerned. Anyway spoke to the HV and she says it sounds like reflux and she made a few suggestions to help me manage it, including changing his formula to sma staydown. Just wondering if this is the same as the sma anti reflux? What are peoples experience with it or do you have a preferred formula for reflux? Thanks

[dadmode]

My son was similar at that same age. We tried two brands of anti-reflux formula but found no difference. The doctor prescribed infant gaviscon (half a little sachet in each regular bottle). That solved the problem completely. If I remember correctly it worked within the first day of giving it to him.

[amazedmummy]

We didn't even try any anti-reflux formula, we went to the GP and they prescribed gaviscon which we've put in his bottles since he was 5 weeks old. He's a little constipated but it's never caused him a bother he's almost 6 months and he's still using it.

[Cha13]

Ah ok, I might give the gp a call instead and see what they say

[MrsMuffins]

Just to add in a different opinion - this might just be normal for his age. How much milk is he bringing up? I wouldn’t be in a rush to get him on Gaviscon, it’s pretty unpleasant stuff!

[Ineedanewusername]

I found hipp, the normal one really helpful when my dc had reflux

[Jessesgirl13]

My DS had silent reflux at that age. GP prescribed gaviscon but we found that didnt really work and made him constipated. We then tried Aptamil Anti Reflux, that helped but again made him constipated so we'd just replaced one problem with another! We then tried Hipp Organic Anti Reflux and it was our saving grace! He was like a different child on it, and ended up staying on it till he was nearly 12 months old.

I think different things work for different babies.

[amazedmummy]

@Cha13 there's other options, they can prescribe carobel for example, it just didn't work for us.

[Ginandtonic31]

We use Cow and Gate anti reflux for my 9 week old and it has really helped her. We were prescribed gaviscon but I'm yet to use it. I don't want to use it unless absolutely necessary and she seems much better on anti reflux formula. I do sometimes wonder if what she was going through was just normal for a baby now I look back but I don't think anti reflux formula will harm her and she's happy on it so reluctant to change it back.

[Bol87]

Another suggestion to try is something called Carobel - you can buy it on Amazon or your doc can prescribe.

It’s a milk thickener & the exact same thing they is used to thicken anti-reflux formulas. But you just add a scoop (or two) to your regular formula instead!

We’ve found it brilliant with our second. We’ve been able to adjust how much we add to suit her. Our DD2 isn’t a great pooer, goes once every 24-36 hours, so we’ve been able to balance her reflux needs with poo needs! We increased the dose of Carobel slowly until we saw a good result with her milk staying down but not constipating her! Whereas anti reflux formulas have a set amount that can be constipating ..

Our DD2 is also on omeprazole as her reflux was so painful she basically stopped feeding 😩 but all good now!

[Ginandtonic31]

@Bol87 just out of interest, how many scoops in how many oz did you find the right ratio?

[ArnoldBee]

We were in breast milk with gaviscon - no change, then sma - got worse then Cow and Gate Anti Reflux seemed to do the trick and it's one of the cheaper ones too. A lot of people go for Aptimil and the aldi milks are apparently like Aptimil but a lot cheaper.

[SomeoneElseEntirelyNow]

@MrsMuffins the back arching and crying while feeding definitely sound like silent reflux though - my DD was the same and it was awful. Infant gaviscon isn't unpleasant at all, just goes in the formula, and works wonders. Its not normal for babies to cry in pain while feeding - they can't ask for help so it's our job to be on the ball. OP i definitely think gaviscon is a good shout.

[Cha13]

@MrsMuffins it varies, today for instance he's only had a few small amounts of being sick when I laid him down to sleep 30mins after feeding, but yesterday there was projectile sick twice. Also a couple of days ago there was no sick at all, just the arching back and crying for about 3 of his 8 feeds. I can't identify a pattern to it at all. Have arranged a gp to call me tomorrow, so will see what they say, but I think I will give some anti-reflux formula a go.

How long before I'm likely to see a difference when I do change formula?

Thanks for all your advice, I really appreciate it 😊🤗

[FudgeFlies]

I know this is an old thread but @Cha13 did you get to the bottom of it? What worked for you? My Little one has the same symptoms, gaviscon and comfort milk hasn’t helped.

[Cha13]

Hey, no never really got to the bottom of it as GP and health visitor have both been AWOL- so hard to get appointments or they have wanted him weighed and then refused to give us an appointment to do so and not returning calls! I tried a few different formulas with him and the best one we found was the cow and gate anti reflux one. Little man is almost 9months now and we are weaning, but I find that with any food that has a milk product in it, he is sick more that day. So I think his issue is more a milk intolerance problem rather than anti reflux. It may be worth seeing if your gp would consider investigating this? Hope you get to the bottom of it for little one's sake x