reflux & mattress wedges

One of my girls has what the NICU said was "mild" reflux. She hasn't been sleeping very well and I think it's because of the reflux. It seems like it comes up into her nose, too (anybody else notice this?). I feel sorry for her...it seems really painful. Anyway, I was reading that there are mattress wedges that you can buy to put UNDER a baby's crib mattress to elevate one side of the mattress a little bit. Has anybody used these? If so, do they help? Have you heard of any reason why using these may not be a good idea? I also read that a "cheaper" version of this is to place books/blankets under the mattress to elevate one end of the mattress. Anybody done this?

I'm going to ask the pedi about options to help out her reflux. I'm not sure if medications will be an option or not since her reflux was termed "mild." However, I wonder if it's getting worse because she is sleeping worse and worse every week. This week (mainly during the night-time) she cries soon after we put her in her crib and the cry is different from the "hungry" cry so I really think that something is bothering her...I'm thinking that it's the reflux. She doesn't spit up a lot, but I read that babies can have reflux and that does not necessarily mean that the formula will come all the way up and out?

Any advice on things I can do at home to help her out with this??

Thanks in advance!!

 

One of my girls has what the NICU said was "mild" reflux. She hasn't been sleeping very well and I think it's because of the reflux. It seems like it comes up into her nose, too (anybody else notice this?). I feel sorry for her...it seems really painful. Anyway, I was reading that there are mattress wedges that you can buy to put UNDER a baby's crib mattress to elevate one side of the mattress a little bit. Has anybody used these? If so, do they help? Have you heard of any reason why using these may not be a good idea? I also read that a "cheaper" version of this is to place books/blankets under the mattress to elevate one end of the mattress. Anybody done this?

I'm going to ask the pedi about options to help out her reflux. I'm not sure if medications will be an option or not since her reflux was termed "mild." However, I wonder if it's getting worse because she is sleeping worse and worse every week. This week (mainly during the night-time) she cries soon after we put her in her crib and the cry is different from the "hungry" cry so I really think that something is bothering her...I'm thinking that it's the reflux. She doesn't spit up a lot, but I read that babies can have reflux and that does not necessarily mean that the formula will come all the way up and out?

Any advice on things I can do at home to help her out with this??

Thanks in advance!!

 

I'm interested to hear what others say - as this seems to be an issue with Jake and Becca. We find they sleep better in their car seats or bouncy seats - and i attribute this to the angle.

We are still in a pack n play, dual bassinet so the crib wedges won't really work.

 

If your baby is having painful spitups, it's coming out her nose and she is having trouble sleeping, it's not mild IMO. My daughter had the same thing - we had her on prilosec but I have heard good things about prevacid. I bought the matterss wedges that you are talking about and my kids just ended up at the end of the crib (the low side). I finally bought a wedge/sling - google "tucker sling wedge" this wasn't the exact one I had but very similar - I think there are many variations out there - I can't remember the brand I had (I gave it to my girlfriend who recently had a baby with colic/reflux). Anyway, this was a life saver both during the day AND at night (I slept her on her tummy on it at night). She outgrew it at about 5 months but it was well worth the investment knowing she wasn't having bad spit ups/uncomfortable nights.

HTH!!

 

Oh, and the NICU told me she has a "wet burp"...she has/had FULL ON REFLUX - I'd take her to your pediatrician ASAP.

 

It's definately the reflux! Get her some treatment and things will go better. One of mine vomited across the room and the other one would choke on it when it came up into her mouth and nose but never spit up. We still elevate the bed (they are almost 6 months old). We just put a pillow under one end of the mattress. They did slide down a bit until they got used to it. We put them in the little positioners and that helped alot. Oh, and they slept in their car seats until 9 weeks old. Hope this helps. Good luck! Allison

 

Sounds like reflux. And sure seemed painful for my babies to me. They are/were treated with Zantac & Reglan. No more Reglan since it didn't seem to help with the spit-ups. And they seem to be outgrowing the reflux...only when they strain to poop after feeding is when it'll come out of their noses now.
We have adjustable height cribs (which I'm positive most are) and have one end at the lowest setting and the other at the highest and I use rolled up receiving blankets with one laying over the rolls to help keep the babies from sliding down...like they had in NICU. Now that the babies are bigger, I just use the rolls on the sides and they do fine.

 

Thank all of you for your advice and tips...I appreciate it! I tried inclining the mattress last night...it seemed to help, but I will try it for another few nights to see if it really worked or if it was just a "good" night for her. The girls have their 2 month appointment with the pedi on Monday and I'm definitely going to push for meds...it sounds like they helped so many of your babies with reflux.

This is interesting...
"only when they strain to poop after feeding is when it'll come out of their noses now."

My DD is getting constipated and gassy from the poly-visol vitamins (we can't wait to be off of them)...she had a very rough day a couple of days ago when she hadn't had a poo in a few days...she was constantly grunting and she had a lot of reflux that day. I never really thought about the grunting and pushing causing more reflux, but it makes sense!!

Thanks again to all of you!
Shelby

 

I would also ask your pedi about a Danny Sling. It allows you to elevate the crib mattress to 45 degress, The sling will hold the baby in position so she won't slide down the mattress. It was a lifesaver--you can get it a hospital and most insurance covers it. We got ours at 10 weeks. I also ditto the medications. Prevacid plus Zantac was great for us. We also did thickened feedings. Best of luck!