When can you wean a reflux baby

[mummy2lola]

Hi there, Just curious to know when you can start weaning, as dd has got terrible reflux & I've heard that early weaning can help this. At the moment we're on sma staydown milk, with ranitidine and dompeidone, but these things don't seem to be doing enough to help. Late evenings are very unsettled & getting her to sleep is incredibly hard- tried letting her fall asleep on me, then transferring her to Moses basket, but she wakes as soon as she's out down. She's constantly yawning as if she wants to go to sleep, but the reflux gulping/screaming keeps her awake. Has only just started sleeping well at night, from 9pm and 5am which was a godsend after the sleepless nights of crying & feeling desperate. Anybody else wean their baby early to help reflux, and if so, was it a success? Look forward to hearing from you!

I weaned both mine at 16 weeks as is the advice in my EU country. The reflux baby just wasn't particularly interested in grub the way the eldest was - although his appetite now is erm "ambitious"! ;)

We were advised to wean at 5 months and it definitely helped.

I weaned DD at 17 weeks, on the advice of my doctor 2 years ago. Definitely helped with the reflux, but her sleep became terrible!

I weaned ds at 16 weeks actual (9 weeks corrected) on GP's advice. It made no difference at all until he was about 26-30 weeks and by then I'm not sure whether it was weaning or just being bigger that helped.

We were advised to wean by the peadiatrician early. I'm glad we didn't cos even at 24 weeks it made little to no difference

Hv was happy for us to at 17 weeks, this combined with the usual reflux stuff massively helped
Hope all goes well
Btw don't know if you bf or ff but the is now an Abi reflux aptimal which you can buy in later boots on advise of hv

how old is your dd? when did you last speak to her doctor? I'm wondering if she's maybe outgrown her doseyowe switched from ranitidine to omeprazole after a while and that was a big improvement. we tried weaning ds just after 4 months but he was sicker than before so we stopped and then starting again at about five or five and a half months and he really took to it.

Thanks for your feedback. Sorry didn't mention my dd is only 7 weeks at present but just thinking ahead, as we've had an awful time from day 1 with her reflux & I think weaning her slightly earlier would help her. W've been hugely let down as first time parents with only 1 midwife visit and 1 HIV visit since I was let out of hospital with dd.... Absolutely disgusted & I'm a way I'm peed off that I have to come on here and ask questions that I would usually ask a midwife or health visitor if they could be bothered to come and visit us. Never move to Suffolk!!!! I appreciate very much your feedback as a first time mummy trying her very best for baby Lola xx

My son's reflux disappeared when he was able to have solids AND when he was able to sit. Using a dummy also helped (which I thought I would never wish to use) - I think it helps soothe tummies with the saliva produced.

Maybe consider if your DS has a cows milk allergy or lactose intolerance. Perhaps ask to see a paediatric dietician for advice re reflux?

SHout stain remover is fab for the stains. Muslin cloths were a godsend as well as Terry towelling bibs, then the plastic ones with lips to catch the overflow.

It does get better in time.

I mean DD!

I don't know if its the same in Suffolk as it is where I am, but the HVs here run a weekly drop in where you can get your baby weighed. You can also raise any other issues that you might have. So I could see the HV every week if I wanted to. They run this out of the local family centre. Perhaps there is something similar near you? They might be able to discuss weaning with you - my local centre did a free talk on weaning for parents.

Have you seen the reflux support thread in the breast &bottle section op?

A friend of a friend here in the Colchester area has a DD with severe reflux - she had a referral up to a specialist multidisciplinary team at Brentwood for reflux, ask your GP for a referral too?

Fwiw my DD had reflux, it got a little better when she was spending more time upright once she started cruising - we started weaning at 17wks and I'm not sure whether it made any difference really!

Hi mummy2lola,

My LO will be 7 weeks on Monday and the paediatrician we saw on Friday mentioned weaning at 4 months. We are being referred to a dietitian who will walk us through it closer to the time.

I am sorry you have had such a bad experience with your health care providers - reflux is bad enough. We spent 5 days in hospital as a result of DD's reflux and milk intolerance. One day she just clamped her jaws shut and refused to eat. Smart cookie ensured that we got plenty of support by doing that. She has been on her meds and soy milk for almost a fortnight and she is massively improved.

I hope you get some relief for your wee girl

You may have already tried it, but we put a rolled up towel under one end of the crib mattress for our DS. Raising his head did seem to help him sleep a little.

Thanks so much for the kind suggestions. Or gp is pretty clued p about reflux so I might ask for a referral to see a dietitian or paediatrician - that would be fab. X