OK, so how do you give your reflux baby "a good drink of water" without get covered...

[TheGabster]

... in puke for the next 2 days?

Anybody got any words of wisdom? I am really struggling. The weaning is going really well and my DS (nearly 6 months) loves his food. Trouble is he has been on extra thick anti-reflux milk since 5 weeks which usually stays in him quite well most days but obviously, water to the mix is causing disaster!

HELP!!! I can't take all this washing on top of all this stupid puree business!! .

[TheGabster]

Oooh, Dawnie you are a love. Exactly what I need to hear right now .

Going out without a bib - who heard of such a thing. You must have been positively grinning all day and everybody thought - "NUTTER"! he he

I have hope though. We do have the odd day with just the tiniest dribbles and I know I am on the home stretch now - just a few more months.

And then I suppose the next "stage" and problems will appear! Ho hum.



G

[Dawnie6577]

TheGabster, just remember that even at the most annoying points (i.e. you've just cleaned the carpet, changed your little one and then he throws up again!), they do grow out of it and then you totally appreciate having a sickless (ish!) baby!

We went out today for the first time without Oli wearing a bib, since he was about 2- 3 weeks old! Believe me, it has taken 9 months, but I think we are finally getting over it, as his t-shirt had no sick on at the end of the day (well, just one bit, but only a bit).

It does end, just when you genuinely believe that you are going to be clearing sick up for the rest of you life

[TheGabster]

Oooh toast - that sounds a goodie MUNorth. I just have another week or two until he is 6 months and can have that.

And yes, I do have something to thicken - the doctor here gave it to us (I live in Germany) but it needs to be boiled up and cooled into a gel, and only keeps for 24 hours which is a lot of faff . Plus we tried it for 10 days and found it made no difference to the pukies so gave up.

We get the Aptamil Anti-reflux milk now instead. I'm not sure if you can get it in the UK but think it is basically like formula with infant gaviscon pre-mixed and it works quite well, although you do have to keep a careful eye on constipation .

Oh, how did I end up here? Does anybody remember what sort of a person they were before they started discussing poo most days of the week??!!

G

[MommyUpNorth]

Can you thicken the water? We use Carobel thickener (on prescription) and I use that to thicken all ds's drinks. I think you just need to add a bit more than you would to milk to make it the same thickness.

When we did puree foods, I used to add baby rice to it to thicken it up.

Now we follow anything thin like puree or water with 1/2 a slice of toast to keep things down.

Good luck with the weaning!

[TheGabster]

OK, so we did the nice watery pear puree thing, with a bit of rice for oomph. All going great to start with, but then we just had peary-watery-pukies the whole afternoon. D'oh!

Back to the drawing board.

[TheGabster]

Kewl, good to know Lulamama.

I worry because my lo has started to get colour to his pee in his nappies. But like you say, I could always just give him more milk for now. I think I am also going to try a bit of water just before tea tonight like you suggest Dawnie.

Otherwise I will have to encourage him to have a sip in the bath!!!

G

[lulumama]

formula is food and drink as it were, it is made with water after all. if weather is very hot then yes, an additional drink for formula fed babies might be necessary. but as long as a baby is getting milk, and water from foods.. such as melon, cucumber, apple, pear etc , then don;t need to stress about getting extra water in, especially if weeing and pooing normally

and yes,they always drink pool and bath water !!

[Dawnie6577]

hi lulumama, i thought formula fed babies need extra water and that all babies need a bit of water when on solids?
especially in this weather?
that said, my lo only drinks a couple of ounces with each solid meal.
but i do agree not to worry too much. i can always tell my lo gets a slightly sunken fontanelle when he is a bit dehydrated. i guess those signs are most important.
ps our lo has a habit of drinking bath and swimming pool water at every opportunity!!

[lulumama]

don;t bother with water!

milk is fine

[TheGabster]

Hey dawnie - good idea. Had noticed my pear puree is watery so will give more of this. Corgette is next on our list of vege too so will try it tomorrow and see what happens.

Was actually giving water hour before feed in hope it does not water down the puree but does not seem to work so back to the drawing board.

Have to love and laugh - I mean I know am lucky that ds really loves his carrot and sweet potatoe. But it would be the two worst ones for stains - and of course we get it on the way in and the way out again. Thank god I have a supply of nappysan!

G

[Dawnie6577]

i know what you mean, my DS's reflux seemed worse for a while with a bit of extra water.
assume you are giving water before feed (food might weigh it down)?
i have found that little sips work better than a big drink.
frequent winding.
sorry not much help, i know where you are at! my DS is only just growing out of his reflux at 9 months. but it does get better, slowly (although don't expect overnight cure, i was expecting solids to be the solution, but it isn't until i have started cutting down on his milk, i.e. very recently that he has got significantly better).
washing for a reflux baby is a nightmare, you have my sympathies!
i would also try to make sure he is having lots of watery fruit/veg (like courgette, apples, grapes, bluberries etc etc).
sorry not much help!

[Dawnie6577]

i know what you mean, my DS's reflux seemed worse for a while with a bit of extra water.
assume you are giving water before feed (food might weigh it down)?
i have found that little sips work better than a big drink.
frequent winding.
sorry not much help, i know where you are at! my DS is only just growing out of his reflux at 9 months. but it does get better, slowly (although don't expect overnight cure, i was expecting solids to be the solution, but it isn't until i have started cutting down on his milk, i.e. very recently that he has got significantly better).
washing for a reflux baby is a nightmare, you have my sympathies!
i would also try to make sure he is having lots of watery fruit/veg (like courgette, apples, grapes, bluberries etc etc).
sorry not much help!