How do you play with your reflux babies?

I feel so guilty because since my babies both have reflux, I feed them and them put them right back in their swings or boucy seats since I can't lay them down flat or jostle them at all. We aren't getting any play time or tummy time. Does anyone have any solutions or ideas?

 

I cannot wait to hear the answers here. Mine have a lot of reflux issues and we have been to the Doctor a million times. Including the last time where I went in crying because I felt as though I was not bonding with them because we never played together. Finally I saw a doctor who helped us a ton. He suggested laying them on their right side for about 45 minutes after eating. This has worked well. After the 45 minutes I can get them up and play with very minimal spitting. If I notice more spitting than usual he said to give them aduly Mylanta. This works as well.

I promise you it goes away. I can see it going away already!

 

Hi,

I actually switched around our schedule so that playtime comes before eating. So, it's sleep, play, eat, sleep, play, eat. That way, they can sleep off some of the reflux and spitting potential and play when they wake up. I rarely put them on their backs, though. We do a lot of playing in papasan chairs, propped up on boppy pillows, and in the exersaucers. Neither of mine are spitters, but one of my daughters will throw up everything in her stomach if she's jostled, so I'm really careful to keep her upright and not moving too much after eating.

As an example, today they woke up about 6:30am, had tummy time and playtime in the crib on boppy pillows (grabbing at blocks, etc.), ate at 7:30, I put them back on their wedges to watch the mobile, asleep by 8, etc, etc, etc.

Good luck...

 

QUOTE(shelley79 @ Oct 3 2007, 02:46 PM) [snapback]434340[/snapback]
I feel so guilty because since my babies both have reflux, I feed them and them put them right back in their swings or boucy seats since I can't lay them down flat or jostle them at all. We aren't getting any play time or tummy time. Does anyone have any solutions or ideas?


boppy pillows! This is what we used when the girls were going thru the worst of their reflux. We put a receiving blanket down over it so they didn't slide around. We put them on the bed or couch near us so I could read to them or just talk or we put them in it under their activity center so they could look at and swat at the toys. I did do tummy time every day too... I just put a burp cloth under them to catch the inevitable spit up. -Leighann

 

I used the boppy pillows also to give them a little elevation. I have actually heard that tummy time helps to strengthen the valve that keeps them from refluxing.

 

I did tummy time, but put a burp cloth underneath at all times. I also did boppy pillows, activity centers and sometimes just layed them on the floor and was in front of them or next to them with toys, books, etc.

 

I know that this is a bit early but keeping it in mind, once mine got good head control I put them in the exersaucer with a bunch of blankets around them or some small pillows to help hold them up. They seemed to like that. Reflux is so hard on moms and babies. But as you have already heard, it does get better with time.

Rachel

 

I seriously don't know what I would do without this website and you ladies. It sounds silly over such a trivial thing, but it is so nice to hear that other people have been through the same thing and survived! Thank you!