Is it the food or formula flaring up reflux

[Shiny95]

Hi,
My dd is now 6 months and we've been managing her reflux and it was improving over the weeks, perhaps as she grew stronger.
However, just in the last two weeks, it seems to have really flared up again.
Over the past 4 weeks, we've started day care and moved from BF to 100% formula feeding and ive also been introducing some solids, pear and rice cereal.
I've been giving her NAN starter infant formula until two days ago where we moved on to the NAN 2HA follow on Formula 'from 6 months'.
It seems that this follow on formula is coming up alot more than the starter one.
Do you think i may need to add a thickener or is it just her tummy adjusting to the different formula?
Thank you
PS. the only other thing i was thinking is that at day care she wouldn't be kept upright as much as i try to keep her.
What do you think?

[RISA]

Hi shiny95,

It sounds like you have been doing really well, and it can be difficult to figure out where it's all gone wrong. There may be lots of different things contributing all together, or just one of the changes in there has upset her. I can make a lot of suggestions, to offer some ideas, but please trust your instincts. It is still probably all trial and error, so follow your gut on what seems the right thing to do.

Sometimes refluxers don't cope terribly well with a change in their routine, and in fact that is one of the things that can flare reflux, so just the fact that she has started day care may have had an effect (though if that is the case will probably settle down once she is accustomed to it).

Without realising it, you have made quite a few changes too, so it might have a build up effect, enough to flare it as well- if you think about it, going to day care, changing from breastfeeding to bottle feeding, changing formula, introducing solids (a couple of different ones)- well, its actually quite a lot over the last few weeks. PRobably it would be okay with most kids, but it may just be enough to flare reflux in others.

Is there a reason why you changed formula? Perhaps it would be worth trying to go back to the one you first had her on, and see if that helps settle things down- especially as you have noticed that it seems to be coming up more since you changed?

If you wanted to add a thickener, you could try it, and see what happened as well. You could also talk to the day care staff and make sure they understand she has reflux, and how best to deal with it- and that it is really important she is kept upright as much as possible? They may need to be educated a little about reflux too, as most people just don't understand it.

Of course it may also be none of the above; is she teething perhaps? Or trying to crawl? could she be a little constipated? Has she recently had vaccinations? Has she been sick? All these things can also flare reflux, and even if she is over-tired, it can. Some babies may need medication (or have it increased) temporarily as well.

I know it is all very confusing and complicated, but just keep trying new things. I hope you are able to figure out what is going on and that she feels better soon.

I hope that helps,

Glenda