Sleep advice needed for difficult reflux baby!!

**Coopkat** · 20-09-2008 08:09

Were our babies seperated at birth? My son is also on 20mg of Losec from 9wks and is Elecare. It is so funny you mentioned Rene Rees - she is my angel!!! It is expensive but I would pay double for what she has done for our family (especially bub). I live further down the coast and it cost us what you mentioned but she goes through everything (food;sleep;behavour ect).

I am pretty sure she will recommend putting bubba on his belly. Because they are so overtired they jolt alot more than normal "normal sleeping" bubs. I was so stressed at first but I got an angel monitor and now I can rest assure that the alarm will go off if he stops breathing. I figure that my bub is old enough and has good head control, and if he prefers that then so be it.

Also, she says not to wrap baby. I know, I was a bit sceptical but he has no dramas. Even at night (he sleeps on his back-I don't know why he wont during the day? I think there is more noise during the day to wake him) he has no dramas with being free!

Anyway, I would totally recommend getting Rene out. She has changed our lives!! We still have bad moments, but you can get through them because you know that he will be asleep and you can regain yourself!!

Also I have heard that alot of bubs don't like the taste of Neocate. Elecare is the same so maybe ask your peadrician. I hate the fact that these formulas are so thin. My son very rarely spewed but on this he does more. Not much pain though which is better.

I too took him to a chiro and his neck was out. This can also effect there sucking!!? He would favour one side and that can really effect their sleeping. Just like us, if our neck is out it can cause headaches and general discomfort. Hey, anything is worth a go.

I don't know but I always take bub into his room as soon as his jerky movements start and give him cuddles for a few min in his room. Sing a song so he relaxes a bit and then when he goes down I give him a rub on his back, give him a kiss and tell him it's sleep time. He still fusses and I am not sure he will ever not. (You know when you see those bubs that will just lie there and then nod off? Lucky mums! HAHA) But i am happy that he can get through those sleep cycles better.

My bubba went from being a tensed up jerky baby (hyperactive) to a calm relaxed bub in one day.

I don't know about you, but other mums made me feel like I was overreacting. I got the 'all babies cry' - when I knew he was in pain. Reflux! 'My baby only sleeps 40min' - well my baby wakes screaming after 30min and is so tired that he falls asleep on the bottle. Granted some babies wake up after 1hr and are well rested, but mummy knows her bubba and don't rest till you get the answers you want and need!!!

Honestly, at 6mths it is going to take more than one day to change his habits and it will be hard on you. But believe me - you can do it!! I would say, like me, you have been through so much anyway so what is another few weeks of hard work for the reward of a sleeping baby.

Get Rene out!!! She is wonderful. She will tell you what to do and if you do it, it will work. And if not you can call her and she will give you some more ideas. For me, she gave me back my confidence. I had lost my mothers instinct, because I tried everything and nothing worked I believed I couldn't 'read' my baby. Now he is more calm, I'm onto him!!!

Bless these bubbas, they start out in this world in pain and all they want to do is sleep, but they can't! Poor darlings!

You take it easy and let us know how you go!

**Noida** · 22-09-2008 07:51

Bub has seen the chiropractor at least 15 times since he was 2 weeks old. It did seem to help a little at first but it wasn't until the losec kicked in that we really noticed a big difference. Things are going much better each day, reflux wise just need to get on top of the fear of sleeping during the day. I have tried putting bub to sleep on his belly but he has never seemed to enjoy it.

I'll give Rene a call and book her in, my husband was against the idea but thanks to reading your story Coopkat he has agreed!

**Skyhighheels** · 15-03-2011 20:03

Hi there! Sorry to highjack - but I have Rene coming to see me this week.

Ds2 is 6 weeks and is on neocate and losec but still only catnaps and unless I am holding him screams non-stop. He wakes every 2-3 hours at night and is generally miserable.

His brother had cows milk protein intolerance and silent reflux and very similar symptoms so we are assuming we are dealing with the same thing - so we are frustrated that the formula and losec isn't working.

Do you think she can help? What can we expect? I'm at the end of my rope and just need someone to tell me what is going on with my son and how to fix it!!!

**NancyBlackett** · 15-03-2011 20:07

If a swing made a difference try a hammock - bigger than a swing but with the same effect.

I'd also read Baby Bliss by Jo Ryan - has lot of gentle settling techniques.

**Skyhighheels** · 15-03-2011 20:14

Swing is hit n miss. Sometimes he will go in it but usually when he is so exhausted he'd sleep anywhere.

**kar** · 15-03-2011 20:21

My boy was exactly as you describe. once his reflux pain was under cOntrol he continued to scream in arms for 40 mins in order to get a 40 min in arms (on a good day) only sleep. He wad wired, hysterical and miserable all the time. And I was too.
We went to a sleep school day stay thing where basically the midwife taught me tbe Elizabeth pantley no cry naP solution method if rocking babe to sleep in his pram and gradually working up to the cot.
Worked a treat for us. Tbh, he never became a great sleeper until much older but this method seriously changed our lives.

**scout02** · 15-03-2011 20:27

My bub is only 3 weeks and I'm just starting on the reflux ride. Going to see the CHN and doctor tomorrow to get some kind of medicine to help and getting a number off a friend for a baby chiropractor So I'm hoping one of these things work!

**scout02** · 16-03-2011 17:24

The doctor has given me Zantac and told me to try inner health plus powder for her as well he said recent studies have shown this to help babies tummies

**SWandSH** · 17-03-2011 20:22

Sounds like you are having a terrible time, so sorry to hear that. My son had mild-moderate reflux. I sometimes wondered whether the reflux was in my head as so many of his signs and symptoms were a bit vague. But some of them were pretty key indicators. ANYWAY (rambling) I found that when I was able to get his day sleeps and consequently night sleeps better his reflux improved considerably. A MCHN pointed out to me that soo many things can aggravate reflux, including tiredness which in a baby can lead to stress, as it can with adults.
Easier said than done I know. If its some consolation there are so many of us who have been there before you. Take care