To want to wean DD earlier than 6 months due to reflux/spit up?

[Tjsmumma]

I know this is a sensitive topic but, i want to know, if you weaned earlier due to spit up/reflux and what you gave first, when, why please.

My DD is nearly 4 months, recently she is spitting up a lot more, like nearly after every feed.

She's EBF and seems like she's so hungry she's taking more in that she needs due to this and then just spitting it up again so i really think she is ready for more than just my milk.

She shows all the signs for readiness, looks at food, put things in her mouth, sits really well with support, over double her birth weight, grabs out for anything we eat and doesn't have the tongue thrust.

I know other DM who have weaned way earlier and their babies are fine and really enjoy it and showed the same signs.

I know i should contact HV but, i cant gwt through at the moment, ive left multiple messages to no reply.

i have looked into every option, researched a lot and i know its advised from 6 months but, a lot of people i know have from 3/4 months and all the pouches etc say from 4

I'm just confused and know they advise weaning early if reflux is an issue, she goes very squirmy and irritable and then spits up but, isnt crying or upset.

She is also very advanced and meeting milestones for 6 month mark already at not even quite 4 months. She is 4 months on the 19th so pretty close and i do not want to wean onto purees until at least next week when she turns 4 months, even then i want to wait a few weeks longer

I would seek advice from a professional before weaning that early especially if you are concerned about reflux. Weaning early due to reflux is usually done with the support of a specialist or hv. You may feel that your baby is ready, however, you can't tell if their digestive system is and you may cause long term damage that may not be apparent until they are a lot older. On a separate note, weaning can be a faff so I personally would wait until 6 months.

Why do you think she has reflux? A lot of babies are just quite sicky.

I think I’d be looking for support and advice around the reflux first, rather than just assuming weaning is the answer. Medication can help the reflux, for example.

My child had reflux and I was not advised to wean early- in fact I was told definitely not to wean her early.
If she's showing signs of hunger, then let her feed longer, your supply will increase accordingly.
Hold her upright after feeds to stop her bringing it back up, if necessary.
Do you have the head of her cot raised too?

@MrsG010814 Im trying but cant get hold of my HV after leaving 4 voicemails and my docs said if its not an urgent matter then they wont see her. I've seen multiple threads stating 4 months is a completely normal time to wean/introduce foods so im confused.

@oysterbabe due to the sputting up, she also coughs as if its hurting her then has to catch her breath after which scares me a little. I had been to the doc about it a when she was really little and he wasn't convinced it was anything to worry about but now its getting a bit worse and everything ive reas suggests early introduction to porridge/cereals will help thicken the milk in her tummy in turn not bringing milk up

What do you mean by “spit up”?

I know weaning is recommended if a baby has severe reflux, and having substantial vomits after each feed but the term “spit up” doesn’t really give that impression?

Also, I think it is only recommend when an official diagnosis of reflux is present after seeing a GP/Consultant and all milk thickeners and anti-reflux medications have been tried but failed.

It’s your baby, so ultimately your choice, but a bit of reflux and spit up does not sound enough to justify early weaning considering the risks that come with it if it’s not been recommended by a Heath Professional (GP, Consultant, Dietician, Speech and Language therapist etc etc).

One thing to bear in mind is that the sorts of purees you will be giving at four months will have very little in the way of nutrition or calories in them - if she's hungry, milk is the best thing to satisfy her at that age. Things like baby rice and apple puree will fill her tummy with fibre but not give her the calories, fats and protein she needs to grow.

early weaning risks problems further down the line as before 6 months the gut isn’t ready for food. My dd (now 15) suffered with reflux. You could try gaviscon (ask your GP or HV). You could try formula milk which can sit heavier in the tummy. I think there is a formula milk that is slightly thicker and made for reflux. Have you changed your diet? It could be something you’re eating that’s Even if you give a small bottle feed before breast feeding or visa-versa. I know it’s really tempting to wean early but personally I would wait. Being physically and mentally advanced does not mean that her gut is advanced in its growth. Seek advice from your HV, it’s their job and they will be your best advice givers

@OrangeSlices998 ive been a while back doc was brushed it off completely as she's happy around it. I now cant get an appointment as they don't deem it as somethjng they need to see her about. Im unsure if its indeed reflux or if shes just hungrier and then taking more milk than her belly can handle and its coming up. Im unsure really and cant get hold of HV.

@KrakowDawn what signs did DC have lf reflux? Is this a similar example? I am, that's the problem, im giving both sides and shes feeding longer but then gets all antsy and then spits up as if shes had too much. So, im confused and read up that introduction of a cereal/puree will help line the stomach better and then keep the milk down better. I do, we have been dealing with this for a while after doc brushed kt off i did research into it, said tl hold up for at least half an hour, ensure she's burped between swapping breasts etc which i follow to a tee, so now, she's spitting up mid feed.

What about trying an anti-reflux formula that has thickeners added?

@QueenofmyPrinces thanks for your reply, in mt previous responses I've stated that doc saw her about 10 weeks ago and brushed it off so i did some research into it. Its probably about 2 teaspoons, she will get antsy at the breast and then spit it up (happy as larry then wants more) i burp her, follow sitting her up after etc, only recently as shes getting bigger its happened so i just assumed it was lack of food. Yes, j thought about thickners (using my expressed breast milk) to see if it helped her keep it down. Ive read so many different threads on here stating you should for xyz and others saying definitely not so it's obviously a touchy subject.

@NannyR thanks for your response! I was going to use my expressed breast milk and then offer a feed after, literally just a few spoonfuls to see if it helped keep it down is all.

@whatsleep my HV team are crap, ive called 4 times ans left voicemails to no reply. I know its not advised but ever parent i see has/is doing it and i know full well its nto advised until 6 months but i hate seeing her all irritable about it then spitting up to still be hungry :/×

@NannyR i actually didnt even think of that! How would i go about that? I still want to breastfeed?

My 4 month old also will bring up alot of milk after a feed (also ebf)

Sometimes this is because she has mucus caught from a snotty nose which catches, sometimes its cause she was comfort feeding so doesnt want the milk.

After most feeds she screams until I can get the wind up which most the time brings up some milk as well.

Unless baby is screaming after the feed (after being winded) and is visibly upset in between feeds then they are probably getting enough.

The advice is not to wean until baby can confidently sit up without any support for a long period so they dont choke on food even puree.

I weaned my first at 5 months but for the first month was only baby rice or porridge then after a month moved on to puree veg but this was not as a meal. She was still having milk every 3-4 hours.

She shows all the signs for readiness, looks at food, put things in her mouth, sits really well with support, over double her birth weight, grabs out for anything we eat and doesn't have the tongue thrust.

Looking at food, putting things in her mouth and grabbing for food are not signs of readiness to wean. They are normal baby behaviours.

@whatsleep did your DC cry and stuff with the reflux? What symptoms did they have? An i just misreading this sign and its completely normal? As shes never sad or anything, it comes up and she smiles straight after like 'oopsy it's happened again' im a ftm and just wanted to know what others have done etc

At 4 months baby's can have a growth spurt so that could be why she is having more milk.
My DD has reflux and after every feed she would bring what seemed loads back up and it would go between 4-6 feet! You mentioned spit up, that doesn't sound like a significant amount which is what you would normally get with reflux. It also makes babies rather unhappy and not want to lie down flat as it makes it worse.
Where have you read about giving food to line the stomach? I would stick to proper health advice places (nhs etc) as so many give very bad advice. The official advice is wean at 6 months and only do it before if advised by a health care professional.

@Oldfail no, she's not screaming or crying but rearely ever does as i read her cues pretty well and know she's still hungry. See, ive read that's not the case and you can wean at 6 months even without sitting up alone, just need to be able to hold head up and sit up supported. That's what j wanted to try, see if pordidge lr something helped line the stomach, still give her normal feeds and literally just a few teaspoons over the course of the day. Im anxious to even start it, i know mums who've just done kt off their own back at 4 months giving purees, proper pouches, yoghurts.

It doesn't sound like reflux to me.

@Notso everything says they have to do to these before weaning so that's where i based that from as it states she shouldn't be doing these at this age :)

Generally, unless the baby is in pain or struggling to gain weight then reflux is not a problem.

Early weaning should only take place if the heath of a baby is being compromised by the reflux.

Have you considered trying infancy Gaviscon mixed with either water or your breast milk? That’s a route you should definitely try first before considering early weaning.

My baby had severe reflux, vomiting after feeds, screaming and constant pain. It ultimately came out that he had a daily allergy but was kept an anti-reflux medication until he was about 10 months old.

As has been said, watching people eat and putting things in their mouth is totally normal baby behaviour and not a sign they are ready for weaning.

OP, you sound really anxious, this must be worrying you so well done for trying to get in touch with the GP/HV etc.

In the nicest possible way though, every poster here has said not to wean that early without medical input, particularly if you suspect reflux.

It's your child and your decision at the end of the day but maybe have a think about what you want out of this thread?

I got advised by HV to wean my 1st earlier due to reflux. Think I was closer to 6 months with my 2nd and his reflux was a lot worse.

Did it help with the reflux - massive big fat NO.

Did it make the sick coloured and stain absolutely everything - YES

DD was ebf and was very sicky. She constantly threw up. DM watched and informed me that both I and one of my brothers threw up until we were 8 months old so I decided not to do anything about it. I thought that if I went to a doctor, he would only prescribe me STUFF and I didn't want that.

As it happens, bang on 8 months, she started throwing up 4 times per day for two days and then she stopped. Fixed. No more. It was amazing!

And perhaps it helped that I have floors where it doesn't matter what she does to it but I had nappies and cloths always close to hand everywhere. Also, she didn't projectile vomit.

@Daisypod i must be reading some rather out of date advise as it states 3 months is usually a growth spurt. She is going through a developmental leap so could just be shes comforting more then getting more milk than she needs. Think ill wait then as it sounds normal and not reflux!