Have you tried...
-
Using loose clothing or removing waist elastic from clothing (e.g. over naps, crawlers) for less pressure on baby's stomach? Braces, stretch'n'grows etc. can be used to keep clothing up.
-
Small, frequent feeds? Some breastfeeding mums find it beneficial to feed one side only each feed.
-
Avoiding 'bouncing' and active play?
-
Thickening feeds with Karicare Food Thickener? There are also a variety of pre-thickened formulas available for bottle-fed babies: - Karicare AR, S-26 AR, (the 'AR' stands for 'anti-reflux').
-
Breastfeeding mums may like to try a 'dairy free' diet, bottle-feeding mums may like to try alternative formulas (e.g. Goat's milk, Soya, hypoallergenic - see Silent Reflux document for guidelines).
-
Sleeping baby as upright as possible e.g. bed at a 30% angle or sleeping in a car-seat or propped with a tri-pillow?
-
If sleeping baby at a 30% angle in bed, a Safe T Sleep or nappy used as a sling may be helpful to hold baby in position and prevent sliding down the bed.
-
A cloth (flannelette/towelling strip) or folded nappy under baby's head when sleeping?
-
Dressing baby behind a bib?
-
A dummy?
-
Using disposable nappies (may reduce pressure on stomach, but also means less washing for you!)?
-
Keeping an ice cream/margarine container handy to catch vomit? Some parents manage to do this quite well!
-
A cloth/sheet over the feeding chair?
-
Scotch guarding furniture? (Beware - some medications can stain if vomited up by the baby).
-
Baking soda for removing vomit stains from carpet, clothing etc? If the patch is still damp, simply sprinkle on a thick layer of baking soda, wait a couple of hours and vacuum it off. If it is an old stain, dampen the stain first and then proceed as above. The good thing about baking soda is that it is cheap, readily available, and it will also take the smell away!
-
Using a hard plastic bib with trough to catch the spills?
-
Feeding on a cleanable floor or perhaps on grass or in the bath for a change?
-
Sewing a piece of plastic between two old towels to place on your lap while feeding as personal protection? Also, a square of towelling lined with plastic is a good puddle mat to lie baby on at home or while visiting.
-
Putting a washable mat down in the playpen?
-
Highchairs with large removable plastic trays are handy to empty and clean if the baby has vomited?
-
Can you afford a cleaning person or nappy service?
