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Managing reflux baby and parenting multiple children

4 replies

Caspino · 17/12/2025 20:25

Hi, I know every baby is different and this may just be our new normal but wanted to vent/check in with others if this is similar to anyone else's experience!

My baby is 13 weeks, has CMPA and reflux is on neocate and omeprazole, can not toloerate carobel at all. Some things have improved which im grateful for but I am struggling with the frequency of feeds.

My LO eats little and often....like 14ishfeeds per day of around 2oz. It also takes an age for him to actually drink this so it feels like im just constantly feeding. Its hit or miss how much he will spit up after as well, sometimes just a little, sometimes it seems like he vomits up everything he just drank and requires full outfit changes for me and him. He is also incredibly fussy and difficult to put down considering hes likely in pain most of the time.

The main reason im struggling with this is i have a 3 year old as well and its difficult to give them the attention they deserve as im constantly feeding and soothing the baby. The guilt i feel can be overwhelming at times.

My baby can and does tend to drink a larger bottle at night (up to 5oz) and can stretch to 4 hours between night feeds so I know they can manage it sometimes.

Due to the frequency of feeds, its very difficult to get out and about with both kids as I know I only have a very short window before the next feed and its a nightmare if we're out at the park or something as the baby will scream until he can be fed and nothing else soothes him, then there's the inevitable clean up job after the feed. Feels a bit relentless but I do try to get out everyday with them regardless.

Is there anything I can do to help baby take a fuller feed to get a bit more time between feeds or is this just how it is? Should i go back to the GP? Has anyone else experienced this? How did you manage it with more than one child? Advice appreciated!!

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CatsKoalasBunnies123 · 17/12/2025 21:32

Yeah everyone who gushes about how small babies are a dream and easy etc are talking shite and never had a reflux baby. My baby had CMPA and reflux and it was miserable. Thankfully ours did get much better around 3 months as we got the CMPA under control but a friend of mine basically just did not leave the house until her baby was 6 months.

Neocate is very thin so it will make reflux worse. I think around 6 months when they can sit up, it gets much better.

I would put the 3 year old in nursery.

skkyelark · 17/12/2025 22:03

My second had bad reflux (still has it, actually, but that's unusual). When she was really little, feeding was the time she was most settled, so actually, that's when I engaged most with my two year old. We read stories, did jigsaws, coloured, even made some bunting whilst I fed littlest.

I also did a lot of playing 'with' her by verbal engagement rather than physical. For her, that was mostly imaginative games and coming up with challenges for her (Can you point to something red? Can you do five star jumps? etc.).

Caspino · 17/12/2025 22:17

CatsKoalasBunnies123 · 17/12/2025 21:32

Yeah everyone who gushes about how small babies are a dream and easy etc are talking shite and never had a reflux baby. My baby had CMPA and reflux and it was miserable. Thankfully ours did get much better around 3 months as we got the CMPA under control but a friend of mine basically just did not leave the house until her baby was 6 months.

Neocate is very thin so it will make reflux worse. I think around 6 months when they can sit up, it gets much better.

I would put the 3 year old in nursery.

Yeah its really hard. I cant put the eldest in nursery yet for a couple of reasons so not an option unfortunately.

Im glad it got better for you, im hoping we start to see some improvements soon. His cmpa responded really well to the neocate but the reflux seems to be a whole other kettle of fish. Cant seem to get it under control at all. Im exhausted!

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Caspino · 17/12/2025 22:21

skkyelark · 17/12/2025 22:03

My second had bad reflux (still has it, actually, but that's unusual). When she was really little, feeding was the time she was most settled, so actually, that's when I engaged most with my two year old. We read stories, did jigsaws, coloured, even made some bunting whilst I fed littlest.

I also did a lot of playing 'with' her by verbal engagement rather than physical. For her, that was mostly imaginative games and coming up with challenges for her (Can you point to something red? Can you do five star jumps? etc.).

Yeah we do all of that, play i spy, and hide and seek etc, she loves imaginative games so im usually being some sort of character when feeding the baby and on the rare occasion he has a nap or is relaxed on his playmat, I go all guns blazing with the 3 year old, arts/crafts/baking etc but its just seems like im torn in 2 all the time. We tried to read a book together today when the LO was having a nap, he woke up screaming every 10 seconds so had to fly through the book and I felt terrible all round. 😭😭

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