swing/rocker/bed solutions re: silent reflux

[indigoin0z]

hello:wave:

hoping you BH's can help me with your experiences of rocker/swing/bouncers etc..

it is becoming evident we MUST invest in one of these items for our Silent Reflux bub:gloomy: .. he will probably have to sleep in it if we can find a comfy/safe enough one...

what have you got [experienced]..
good points/bad points.. average cost.. where did you get it.. [we will likely have to travel a great distance to find ours, so we want to have an idea of where]..

do you have a reflux bub? what does your bub sleep in...

tia

[mim1]

Josh has reflux and I'm sorry to say that he often wants to be completely upright (eg, in our arms) when his reflux is playing up. Raising his bassinette mattress or putting him in his bouncer doesn't really help much (although it does make us feel like we're doing something). Be warned that anything that squashes his tummy (eg. partially curls him into a ball) will actually make his reflux worse, and that will apply to some bouncers.

So, we let Josh sleep in his cocoon with the head of it put on a pillow or rolled up towel ... that worked for the first six weeks or so. By then he was on medication and it made a huge difference and he was much happier to lie flat, so he moved to a flat bed. Then it flared again a couple of weeks later so we raised his basinnette mattress a little (towel under the head). He does sleep in his bouncer, but usually cause he is playing and gets tired without me noticing and suddenly he's asleep.

As for what bouncer, it doesn't have to be an expensive one. Just get something that looks comfortable and keeps him upright. I do make sure I put Josh in his bouncer after a feed, rather than on his back on the floor (I do that a little while after he's finished). Something simple like this one from babies galore should be fine - http://www.babiesgalore.com.au/view_product_new.php?productid=2289&returnUrl2=%2Fshow_product_search.php%3Flim%3D8%26 searchtype%3Dcategory%26categoryid%3D40%26subCateg oryId%3D

And in case you don't know, Babies galore will deliver to your door - you don't have to go anywhere.

My main suggestion is to see a doctor and get your bub's reflux treated and you'll see an improvement in sleep!

[indigoin0z]

thanx for your reply mim1..
& for the link.. hadnt thought of online stores...

he doesnt actually sleep too bad.. often get 2-3 hours at a time..
its the awake time i really wish for magic on..:wizard:
i want to be able to spend some quality special bonding time with him, but all that happens is he wakes up screaming [mostly] & then we have to constantly hold/nurse him in all different positions trying to get him comfortable, & constantly propping him up when he starts to slide down off a pillow etc... our backs are killing us:banghead:

the rocker [etc] -not only for day use- but for a bed thing, is actually because we were frustrated in how on earth he is meant to sleep on a slope without falling/sliding down to the side etc...
we currently have him in our portacot -packed up to the top with beanbags & 2 mattress' on top & have made him a little cocoon area -out of pillows & layers of thick cotton sheets for no slack- that stops his bottom sliding down too much & his body slope with his head still safe for breathing etc.. terrible description of it, but it is much better "& safer!" than it sounds:o

the swing idea was something we were hoping would help him when he screams from wind? pain.. have not confirmed what this prob is.. still trying to pinpoint...

hoping to be able to get in to see a doctor soon... [not alot of options in our area] but to be honest we are doing as much research & experimentation ourselves as we've had nothing but bad experiences with supposed health professionals over this pregnancy & birth & we are just really over the BS of it all...

we have had him on mylanta for about 2 days now, but with the other [wind] problem we think he has, its hard to know whether its working....

thanku again for the advice mim1
p.s. is mim short for miriam.. i have a foster sister named miriam/mim but i have never come across another:)

[mim1]

Yes, mim is short for miriam :).

Have you thought about getting a cocoon or a moses basket? A bassinette attachment for a pram is another option. Something with a firm base, that you can then prop up the head end. It sounds a little safer than pillows, etc. It can then go in the portacot, or on the floor or can be taken out with you too. Josh still fits in his cocoon (which we got from baby target at northland) and he's nearly 10 weeks old.

I just found a great website ... a midwife recommended it, but i hadn't looked at it yet. The midwifes in special care often put unsettled babies in a hammock and you can hire them from www.hireforbaby.com ... it seems you can hire all sorts of things from them! I don't know that they go to philip island, but there are branches in cranbourne/frankston area.