Do you have a little baby that keeps spitting up every time he/she drinks? It can be heartbreaking seeing your little one throwing up so often, but there are some things you can do to help.
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What causes baby reflux?
Baby's spit up for many reasons, from reflux to overeating, and even drinking too fast. Narrowing down the cause can help you fix the problem.
When my son was in the NICU, we learned a different way to feed babies than what I had done with my daughter. It seriously changed everything and he didn't have nearly as many problems with reflux that my daughter did.
1. Slow down the feeding
With babies who have trouble keeping milk down, go slower. This is easier when you are bottle feeding than breastfeeding, but can be done either way.
After a few minutes of your baby drinking, stop baby from drinking and do some burping.
- Use a slow flow nipple, this will automatically slow down how much milk baby is drinking.
- Take frequent breaks when feeding baby to burp them.
2. They are over eating
Babies can't tell you when they are full, which means they might keep drinking even when their tummy has had enough.
When baby has too much in their tummy, it will inevitably come right back up.
Cues that baby is full
- Your baby will turn their head away from the bottle or your breast.
- Your baby might start to fall asleep.
- Your baby's fingers might relax and open up. (A sign that baby is still hungry will be a closed fists)
- Your baby lets go of the bottle or your breast.
- Your baby is becoming distracted with other things, and is losing interest in the bottle or your breast.
3. After eating, keep baby upright for 15-20 minutes
Have you ever eaten then went and laid down and felt food start to come back up? This could be another cause of why your baby is spitting up.
Try to avoid putting your baby on their back or tummy right after they have finished drinking and see if this will help.
Mama, I know it can be frustrating trying everything. That mom guilt starts to eat away at you, but don't let it! You are doing an amazing job! Every baby is different. You might find one thing works for you that didn't for others. It's all a matter of trial and error. Hang in there, mama!
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