Weaning a baby with reflux at 17 weeks

[Beet]

Suppose I am after reassurance. I started giving my ds baby rice dead on 17 weeks in the hope that it improves his sient reflux symptoms. (he isn't sick but really suffers with the heartburn and gets all spasmy) He has taken well to the baby rice and am taking it slowly - only lunchtimes and just a few spoonfuls. Now I have read some advice about not weaning before 6 months and there seems to be so many passionate threads about this that i'm really confused. I will never know if its the right thing to do I suppose.
Having read all the threads about immature guts etc, am thinking about keeping him just on baby rice and taking it slower than I usually would. I have an older child who also suffered reflux (but sicky too) and her symptoms improved once i'd weaned her.
DS is on Ranitidine which I already don't feel great about so I so through stages between feeling - ok - I'm weaning early cos I'm desperate for a happier/calmer baby boy - then - hmmm, what am I doing - the guilt.

Just wondered if anyone else was in the same boat and did symptoms persist with reflux or not.

The other thing is, he would eat much more solids if I let him. He loves it...

Hope to hear from you all

Just re-read that. Lots of errors. Sorry

Don't feel guilty about wanting a calmer, happier baby! I am no expert, but my understanding from what I have read is that the immature gut usually applies to babies under 4 months. Many babies are ready for solids by 4 months, but a few aren't. Moreover there is no nutritional need for anything other than milk until 6 months. Therefore, the official advice is that babies should be weaned at 6 months. In some cases professionals will advise starting solids before this.

Hopefully someone who knows more than me will come along with advice, but if I were you, I would continue slowly. Maybe introduce a bit of pureed fruit (pear is usually a big hit!). Save all dairy, gluten, eggs etc until 6 months.

FWIW I introduced solids slowly from 16 weeks with DS1, who was born before the weaning advice changed, and it worked fine. With DS2, I persisted with exclusive breastfeeding as long as I could, but ended up giving him solids at 22 weeks because he was huge, waking up every hour starving and eating food off everyone's plates.

ps - DS2's reflux improved dramatically when we started on solids to throwing up after every feed to just once or twice a day. The sleep is another story though...

My youngest (DD now 16mo) had severe reflux until fully weaned. we ended up feeding her from frais for every meal instead of milk as it stayed down better. hv said it was a satisfactory substitute (alongside Abidec vitamin drops) hth

THanks for your advice Emilyandj
Yes, will continue with the old rice once a day for now then see how it goes. He's been so hungry today. And he's a big lad - in 6-9 months baby gro even though he's 4 months.
Sleeps well through the night but wakes at 5:45 hungry. THat's hard.
SLeeps really badly in the. Ty[pical refluxy spasms and wake-ups after 20 minute naps. that's hard work. THen wants feeding again. Also really screams before his day sleeps as if he's uncomfortable.
Hope your little one is sleeping better now.

At what stage did you start doing this MAKKA?
It's crazy isn't it. I look at so many babes feeding so calmly with their mums but with reflux babies it's so tricky. Luckily Ds isn't TOO bad - i know it could be worse.

if you have been advised to do so after a diagnosis of reflux and meds are not helping, then yes, do wean, otherwise, see a peadiatrician.

about 4 and 1/2 mo. obv check with your hv 1st but previously she strugglede to regain her birth weight and she piled it on after (and consultant paed approved too).

I haven't been advised to wean but have been given a diagnosis of reflux. Meds are doing that much it seems. May get another app and ask for a referral.

HV advised that it was ok to start.

most hv's wont 'recommend' weaning like they don't recommend formula-feeding. i only used natural organic full fat. gaviscon and sma staydown were next to useless!

If you go to WEANING topic in October last year there is a thread called "Thread for anyone who weaned early due to medical condition."
I weaned a refluxy vomiting baby early on advice of HV at 17 wks. She was quite contented afterwards, but still regurgitated until 10 months.

is there something wrong with renitidine? my 21 week old son has bad reflux and is in renitidine and domperidome as well as infant gaviscon mixed with gripe water and we have to give nutramigen/pregestimil

his reflux isn't getting any better, i'll be back at the hospital all day tomorrow.

but i guess i just posted to show support and to tell you i hope your baby gets better.

i've been trying to wean as well, everyone (including my hv said i could just start at 16 weeks if his reflux was that bad) the gp told me it was ok to do so as well.

try using carabel by cow n gate u can get at the chemist or on prescription its a thickener so u can us it in food n drink my 22mth old had reflux