Relux/eating/sleeping

Diane,
Did the doctor suggest adding rice cereal to his formula? My son had a bit of reflux because he was eating too much, but he had a heart issue. The cereal helps to keep the formula down. You could also try giving him the cereal by mouth with a spoon, perhaps at night before bed. It may keep him fuller longer.
M.

I feel your pain. My son was a happy spitter too... I put so much damn milk into that kid, just to keep some of it in him. SO frustrating. So you don't say if you are breast or formula feeding, so I'll just tell you what I did. My ds was about 85% breast fed (both breast and bottle) and about 15% formula fed. In any bottle he got (breastmilk or formula) we added rice cereal, starting at about 15 weeks. My pediatricians are all lactation consultants too, and this was a their recommendation. And I tried to make sure that the bottles he got were from 4 pm and after (I stayed home 5 days a week, worked 2.) So on the days I was home, anything he got after 4 pm was in a bottle with rice. I also started solids right at 4 months. Now, that's earlier than they recommend now, but again, with the heavy spitters, I think you have to make your own decisions. The trick with the solids is that they have a lot fewer calories than breastmilk/formula, but they stay down better. I think it might be a wash in the end, but I often tried to mix some breastmilk or formula powder into whatever he was eating to up the calories a little bit... I would run all this by your pediatrician, but that's what we did.

Now for the sleep thing: You have to get some. My husband and I traded off nights in the guest room so one of us got some decent sleep at least a couple nights a week. If you are a single mom, then, well you are screwed on that front, but if there is another adult in the house then start using him or her. If the baby gets some formula, the world won't end. Either trade nights (what we did) or trade times (he gets up until 2, you get up after 2, or whatever). Personally, I think trading nights works best because if I hear the baby, I'm up. The goal is to survive the next six months... anyway you can get there.

My son was a preemie so I was on the run all day and all night. Exhausted isn't even the word for it!

My best suggestion would be to see if you can catch a nap when you come home from work. Have dinners made up ahead or something that you have done in the crockpot. That way you have some extra time once you get home. After my second was born it helped tremendously that I had made up lots of meals like meatloaf, enchiladas, pot roast, shepard's pie, etc and all I had to do was take them out the day before to start thawing in the fridge. Heat them up, make a veggie and dinner was done!

It's amazing how even a small nap can recharge your batteries and keep you going.

Like you said, he's hungry and doesn't get everything he needs during the daytime. It's just impossible for him at this time. The good news is he will probably out grow it soon.

Oh, Diane. How I can relate. My son was up 5, 6, 7 times a night until he was 18 months old. And I was working full time too. It is impossible to prepare yourself for what severe sleep deprivation does to a person, I know now from experience. Unfortunately, for us, time was the only thing that got us through it. Kind of like a switch, at about 18 months, he just started sleeping much better, and not needing the nighttime feedings. My only solace was in the rare nap that I could take with him to catch up on my desperately needed sleep. Everything else goes by the wayside for sleep. Best wishes to you. I know what you are going through.

I just posted this on another lady's question. I work at a chiropractor's office and I know this will sound weird but have him adjusted. I didn't have chiropractic until I was 30 years old and started working for this office. I had my newborn (2nd child) adjusted at 2 weeks old and she started sleeping 7 hours a night! (I had it throughout my second pregnancy and it made pregnancy and labor a breeze, too.) I went back to work after 4 months with my first and suffered at work. I went back at 6 weeks with my second and I could have gone sooner but enjoyed the time with my newborn. In the last 2 years I have seen many children and parents are amazed, more importantly, I am amazed at the results. It's worth a try. Chiropractic is usually covered by insurance, a fact that I was unaware of until I started working for one. If you have any further questions about it, I always enjoy passing along this information, please send me a message on Mamapedia.

Since he is 4 months, how about trying to spoon feed him some baby cereal? That is the age you can usually start. Some people start sooner and some later. I started my son at 4 months and my daught is almost 3 months and will start soon to. She also has reflux and every once in a while i will even put a little cereal in her bottle to help her and it does. I know not everyone agrees with that but i do and she loves it. Maybe if your little one has some cereal at night that will help with the nightime hunger. Worth a try if your ok with starting cereal.

I can relate. My son had sevre reflux and had to sleep at an angle or in a swing for months. He spit up till he was a year old. But he had heartburn with it as well and was cranky. So that is one thing you should be thankful for is he goes right back to sleep. I cant remember when he slept longer but I know it was awhile. I was also exclusively nursing and than tried formula with oatmeal (i think i cant remember i dont believe it was rice) and he was able to go a little longer. He also held formula down a little better than breast milk. I would ask your doctor and maybe if you are ready to start foods maybe that will help. I know sometimes they dont get as hungry as quick once they have food.

Alot of babies at 4 months wake many times to feed still. ANd you may try something and it works and than he goes into a growth spurt and it goes out the window again. Good luck!!!! Hopefully something will help.

at night... if he wakes up.. wait a while before feeding him. you should increase the time between feedings... if you don't he will get used to eating every 3 hours... try a little rice cereal at night.. 4 months is old enough.. my kids started at 2 months.. and did great. they slept thru the night because their bellies were full.. good luck

Do you have the special bed for him? My nephew had bad reflux that was helped tremendously by making sure that he always slept inclined (head raised up higher than his feet). This may not help him, since it sounds like he spits up during the day too, but it may be worth investigating...

There is a wonderful probiotic LifeStart by Natren. It could help your little ones digestive system and perhaps eliminate the need for medication so early in his life. If the system is relaxed and content he may sleep better.
One the other hand, my first was a regular 2 hour hungry baby through the night until he reached a year! Even with solid foods he still needed those nursings.
It is possible for you to pump and let someone do one of those night feedings?
Good luck - I read a lot of National Geographic on my night shift