5 Tips for Living With a Baby With Reflux

Having a baby with reflux can be messy and frustrating for all involved. It is a struggle to hear your baby cry and not know what to do. Here are 5 tips for how those stressful months can be made easier. From how to sit up a baby with reflux to how to find the best bibs, you’ll find it here.

While Owen was a pretty mild baby, we learned pretty quickly the poor thing had reflux.

Basically, after each feeding, he’ll cry and whine until he spits up, usually multiple times. While my first occasionally spit up, it was nothing compared to what we’ve experienced with Owen.

With all of this gross goo day in and day out for months on end, I learned a few things that have made living with a baby with reflux so much easier. I hope these tips can help other moms and dads as well!

These tips are intended for mild baby reflux!

Psst! Before I get into these tips, I do just want to mention that I will be referencing babies with mild reflux.

Some babies suffer horrible cases of reflux that must be constantly monitored for their health and safety. We were fortunate that Owen only suffered from mild reflux. While he seemed to be constantly covered in ick and you can definitely tell he was very uncomfortable at times, he is still a happy and thriving little boy.

PLEASE always talk to your pediatrician before making any assumptions or changes.

5 Tips for Living With a Baby With Reflux

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1. Invest in some cute, super absorbent bibs.

While the cute part is a bonus, the absorbent part is vital. Those 5 packs of bibs that say, “#1 Grandson” or whatever to use while feeding them are not going to cut it.

They will soak through to the skin and you’ll find yourself changing your poor baby’s outfit every other hour.

I got these off Amazon – they were pretty affordable, have a ton of cute and trendy patterns. They also have multiple snaps to adjust the size for a snug fit, which is also important for catching the ick.

When Owen is sitting up in my lap and I’m waiting for his big spit up, I cup the bib under his chin to try and catch it. It’s not glamorous, but it cuts down on laundry. Find my tips for finding the best bibs for babies with reflux down below.

2. Have some kind of cloth nearby at all times.

I had a stack of cheap washcloths that I kept on our kitchen table next to Owen’s bouncer. There were are also 2 or 3 in my diaper bag, and a couple more in my car. They are absolutely perfect for when it gets on you or furniture as well as for wiping little faces.

Make sure a cloth is always within arms reach so that you’re not scrambling when a spit up surprises you. Bonus: they’re washable and way cheaper than fancy burp rags. I’ve been known to use one when I forgot a bib.

Another option that my dad’s girlfriend actually introduced me to was cloth diaper inserts. They’re SUPER absorbent and relatively inexpensive, so they can hold the same purpose.

3. Bring extras of everything.

In my diaper bag was always: 2 onesies, 2 sleepers, and an extra t-shirt for myself.

I can’t speak for formula fed babies, but breast milk spit up STINKS. So while you might think of bringing extra clothes for your baby, don’t forget to bring a shirt for yourself. It inevitably will get on you as well. This is extra important if it’s summer, because milk + heat is not pretty.

Summertime nursing blues? Check out my post on breastfeeding in the summer!

4. Sit baby up.

After Owen ate, I sat him up in my lap for 5-10 minutes, at least. He was usually crying and needing to spit up. Sitting him up helped it come up quicker and not bother him.

Burping obviously also helps, obviously. With Owen, I had to work a bit to find a position that worked best for him. He liked my forearm pressed against his belly best.

This may mean delaying leaving somewhere so you don’t have a baby choking on spit up in the car or screaming the whole way. Honestly, just be late to whatever you have to get to  – trust me. Not worth the stress.

5. When possible, sleep sitting up.

Talk to your pediatrician about this first, since generally it’s suggested to put baby to sleep on their backs.

During the day Owen would NOT sleep on his back, instead, screaming for hours. So in agreement with our pediatrician, he napped in the bouncer sitting up and he falls asleep happily on his own.

He would take 1-2 hour naps perfectly. The bassinet he slept in also is at a very slight incline, so I think that helps. I know that some pediatricians will recommend a wedge to put under the mattress for babies with reflux, so that could be an option.

How to find the best bibs for reflux babies

The most important thing you need when it comes to a baby with reflux is a lot of quality bibs. Here’s what to look to in a great bibs for spit up.

• Super absorbent. Obviously, look for the most absorbent bibs ever. Fleece or microfiber are usually my vote.
• Easily washable. Skip any bibs that require any kind of special washing treatment. If you’re going through 4+ bibs a day, you don’t want to have to manage that kind of laundry.
• Backed liner. This is one of the most important aspects of a good bib for reflux. A water resistant or waterproof backing that keeps the ick in and not soaking through to their clothes is so important.
• Adjustable snaps. Ideally, the bib should be tight enough that nothing will leak in between the bib and the neck. Be sure to find one with adjustable snaps for different sized babes.

So tell me – did you have a baby with reflux? Did your pediatrician choose to treat it? Let me know in the comments!

*Remember that I am not a pediatrician, nurse or anyone with any sort of medical training. I’m just a mom, hoping that my own experience can help others. Always talk with your own pediatrician if you think your baby is suffering.*

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