Acid reflux and gaviscon - advice needed!

[Mummyongin]

My 6 month old has recently been diagnosed with acid reflux and put on gaviscon. And it’s made the world of difference to his painful nighttime cries. The thing we’re finding difficult is that he’s still breastfed and trying to make up the mixtures and spoon feed him during a breastfeed is tricky to say the least. He dribbles it everywhere, then grabs the spoon and catapults the mixture round the room. He hates being disturbed during feeds to have it. And my 4 year old is starting to be impacted by the attention he is getting and she is struggling now. I’m hoping there are some mums on here who have been through this and can help with some suggestions! Thank you in advance :)

[SomeoneElseEntirelyNow]

We had this issue when DD was 4m, we used the calpol syringe instead of a spoon and made the mixture up with less water to make the process quicker (less stressful!). Bit of boob, pop off, daddy quickly syringed the whole dose down her throat, cough splutter scream, back on the boob, happy camper.

[SomeoneElseEntirelyNow]

We also made it up in advance and kept it in the fridge

[Mummyongin]

Ah thanks for the tips! Did you give it one go then? Or spaced throughout the feed? And how long did you keep it for in the fridge? Also did she need it with solids too? Sorry for all the questions!

[SomeoneElseEntirelyNow]

The packet said dissolve in 15ml of water, we usually did it in 3 or 4ml and gave it to her with the syringe in a couple of goes so she didn't spit it out. Blowing in her face helped to make her swallow it. Did it all in one go, as quickly as possible, after the first few mouthfuls of milk, so she had the rest of the feed to settle back down and enjoy a nice snuggly milky cuddle. Kept it in the fridge maybe for half a day or so? She actually only needed it for a week, and then she was much better, so we didn't bother once she was weaned.

[Mummyongin]

Ah ok. Thanks. Did you notice a difference when you gave it?

[SomeoneElseEntirelyNow]

Yes, she was generally much easier to feed, once she'd calmed down from the shock!

[Kaykay066]

I’d second doing it via syringe I’d mix it in 2.5/5 mls of water prior to a feed, can’t imagine it tastes nice though so pop into cheek squeeze gently blow softly in face and or rub gently under chin helps them to swallow but do it slowly as you don’t want to frighten them and then they choke/splutter and get upset - you could also express some milk to add it to, perhaps more palatable, glad it’s working op keep an eye for constipation though

[Mummyongin]

Thanks for all the advice. I feel terrible he’s gone so long without a diagnosis so I want to get things right for him as best I can. He seems to be sleeping much better now but gets reflux in the early hours (3-4am), wondering if I should feed him even if he isn’t asking for milk so I can get more gaviscon in? Or just keep trying calpol? Thanks again for all the replies :)

[Abouttimemum]

DS is 14 months and still gets anything undesirable syringed in!

[SomeoneElseEntirelyNow]

@Mummyongin i know how you feel, DD went for weeks before i could convince someone that something was wrong. The HVs kept telling me that she was fine and not to worry, even when i was crying with stress about it! Eventually i took my husband to one of the clinics and he told them he was worried - lo and behold, maybe it's silent reflux! We had a prescription by the end of the day.

If the reflux is a problem in the night i would try feeding him and giving gaviscon - have you propped the cot up etc?

[Mummyongin]

Yes it was similar with us, he was putting on weight so no one was concerned about his constant coughing, vomiting and crying. I was told to do sleep training on a baby in constant pain :(
I haven’t propped the cot up only because he writhes around so much I worry he’ll end up with his head the other end. But might be worth trying, thanks.

[Mummyongin]

I’ve tried the syringe now and it definitely helps, don’t know why I didn’t try that! Although he always spat calpol out so I was in the habit of using a spoon and scooping it up to shove back in! Thankfully he seems to prefer gaviscon to calpol :)