I’m happy to have partnered with Enfamil to help bring awareness to a common problem most parents face. One of the problems I experienced with my infant was frequent spit-up or uncomplicated reflux (GER). No one tells you all of the problems that you may encounter when you bring your newborn home
It was not something that I was prepared for and it made me worry about my baby’s health. I learned that this is actually pretty common for most infants, about 2/3 of healthy babies experience this, so I was not alone.
I was given some great advice from my pediatrician about ways to reduce frequent spit up.
I received product and compensation from Mead Johnson Nutrition to create this post written by me. All experiences and opinions expressed in this post are my own and not those of Mead Johnson Nutrition. Consult your pediatrician before making changes to your baby’s diet or if you have concerns related to your baby’s digestive health. Please see the product label/website for acceptable use and benefits. You can contact Mead Johnson Nutrition with product related questions or comments toll free at 1-800-BABY 123 or through the Contact Us link on Enfamil A.R. or Enfamil.com
Luckily, my baby had the uncomplicated reflux (GER) and not the complicated reflux disease (GERD). If your baby is not gaining weight, refuses to eat, and is constantly fussy or irritable, they may have GERD and this is something that you need to discuss with your doctor.
They will usually prescribe some type of medication for GERD. But with uncomplicated GER, my doctor recommended feeding and lifestyle changes. These are some changes that worked for us and helped reduce frequent spit-up.
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Ways to Help Reduce Frequent Spit-Up
Smaller and More Frequent Feedings
I was advised to give my baby smaller and more frequent feedings. It seemed like I was feeding her all the time, so I was not too thrilled about this. It did help though!
Instead of giving her 4 oz at a time, I would give her 2 oz. Instead of feeding every 3 hours, it would be every 1 1/2 or 2 hours. This made her happier and she seemed to feel a lot better.
Feed in an Upright Position
Most people feed their babies in a reclined position, but a good way to reduce frequent spit-up is to try feeding them in an upright position.
This will help the breastmilk or formula go down and stay down. If you are breastfeeding, you may have to pump and then give a bottle to make this a lot more comfortable for the both of you.
Hold Upright for 30 Min. After Feeding
After your baby is fed, it is a good idea to hold them or sit them upright for 30 minutes. This will help the milk stay down…I liked sitting my baby in her Bumbo Seat after eating. Her swing and bouncy seat were too much of a reclined position.
Burp More Often
I would only burp my baby after she finished half of her bottle, and when she finished her bottle. After hearing my doctor’s advice, I started burping her after every ounce or half ounce.
This helped clear out some air bubbles in her stomach. It was something we both had to get used to. She did not like having her bottle taken away so often:).
Best Formula for Baby Who Spits-Up
Thickened Formula
You can try adding rice cereal to your baby’s milk but this made my daughter constipated and then I was dealing with 2 problems. There is a formula that is specifically made to help reduce frequent spit-up, Enfamil A.R.™.
Enfamil A.R. meets the AAP recommendations on reflux management and provides the benefits of thickened feedings with more balanced nutrition and less hassle compared to adding rice cereal to formula.
It has also been proven to reduce spit-up by over 50% in infants with 5 or more spit-ups per day.
I did not use the Enfamil A. R. formula with my daughter, because I didn’t know that it was available. It is something that I will try in the future if I have another baby.
GER is caused by the muscle between the baby’s stomach and esophagus not being mature enough to hold down food. The Enfamil A. R. formula thickens in the stomach, making the formula easier to keep down.
This way your baby gets all of the nutrients they need to grow healthy. For more information, you can head over here.
GER usually hits its peak around 3 months, like it did with my daughter. It can last up to 14 months but this will vary with each child. I think my daughter finally outgrew GER around 9 months.
We went through a lot of burp clothes and outfit changes but these tips to reduce frequent spit-up did help us. Just do whatever you can to make your child comfortable and know that it will get easier.
Make sure to always consult with your doctor before trying any new options.
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