Anyone start solids to stop reflux?

curlytop

Thu, Apr 29 2010, 11:24 pm

My baby is almost 5 months and has been spitting since she's about a month. She is on Zantac 2x a day, she isn't too unhappy from it BH but its really gross.
My dr recommended I start her on some rice cereal and see if it holds stuff down better than the Zantac. I hate that she is on medicine since I don't see it doing much, but I don't feel like she needs the food yet.

Anyone ever been through this?

chatouli

Fri, Apr 30 2010, 8:07 am

My DS who is the same age as your DD also spits a ton. I think you and I were posting about this when the babies were younger Smile

I ended up dropping the Zantac because it didn't make a difference and he's a "happy spitter." If he's not in any pain from the spitting, I figured best to just live with it rather than medicate him.

That being said, that's another reason I want to try solids. My ped also said that he may hold it down better and anecdotally I have heard from friends whose babies were big spitters that once they started solids it helped.

However if your baby is EBF I recommend you read up on starting solids young. There are risks. I posted last night, I also don't know if starting solids early is the right thing to do. I hope we both find good answers Smile

small bean

Fri, Apr 30 2010, 9:42 am

my son wasn't gaining (and still isn't) he's 6 months. I started rice cereal at 3 months - and definitely it helped keep milk down. I pumped and then added 1/4 cup rice cereal for 6 oz of milk - and gave it to him in a bottle. it definitely helped keep food down...

right now the doc said he has to be off of it - until we figure what issues he has... but the rice definitely helps the reflux. I didn't give him anything else just rice.

drumjj

Fri, Apr 30 2010, 10:34 am

my daughter is 14 months been on solids for ages and still spits up quite a lot. it goes through stages where she does and doesnt although when she started solids it definately lessened in frequency

gold21

Fri, Apr 30 2010, 10:44 am

OP, as a mom of two boys who both had bad reflux, I would definitely recommend trying Prevacid before starting solids. Zantac is a reflux medication that is prescribed very frequently, but it seems that many moms see little results with it. Prevacid is generally a lot more effective. If you feel your child is not yet ready for solids, I think you should speak to your pediatrician or see a specialist regarding Prevacid. (You may also want to consider using both solids and Prevacid together for optimal results, as solids does usually help with reflux.) Good Luck!!

Twizzlers

Fri, Apr 30 2010, 12:57 pm

when ds had suspected reflux, the first thing e/o said to try was adding in solids slowly. I added rice cereal to bottles. it didnt end up helping cuz his problem wasnt reflux after all, but that was what e/o had suggested.

small bean

Fri, Apr 30 2010, 1:14 pm

my baby is on zantac and prevacaid - and I don't see much help from it.... I'd rather give the rice then medicate my baby.

chaylizi

Fri, Apr 30 2010, 1:18 pm

I have 3 with reflux. One started solids at 6 months. The next 2 at 8 & 10 months respectively. If I have future children with reflux, I will not start them on early solids either. I had one on Zantac & 2 on Prevacid & Levsin. Zantac is only for mild reflux. It did diddly squat for my younger 2. We also did a combo of Zantac & Mylanta Supreme that worked for a very limited amount of time.

Bliss

Fri, Apr 30 2010, 3:49 pm

My 3 kids all had reflux, but none on meds. The Doctor said as long as the baby was gaining normally and doesn't seem to be uncomfortabale with it then it's ok. They call them happy spitters. Even when they were having plenty solids but they were still nursing a lot they did the spitting business.

Mirabelle

Fri, Apr 30 2010, 3:57 pm

YES!
It worked very well for my baby with bad reflux! She is 6 months and eats 3 "meals" a day of rice, fruit or vegtable. We've seen a major improvement! She is on xantac 3x a day.

chams

Fri, Apr 30 2010, 4:47 pm

My daughter was on Zantac from 3 months old . At around 5 months the zantac was not enough, and so we had to add prevacid. Everyone kept telling me that when she starts solids and stops nursing her reflux will go away, but she is not nursing anymore and and is now 14 months and still needs zantac twice a day (she weaned off prevacid). Every child is different but if your child is in pain, and needs to have medication such as Zantac I think you are doing the best for your child. I have friends who tried other remedies and none of them were successful. So don't rush to stop nursing or add solids - it often doesn't make a difference.

miky72

Fri, Apr 30 2010, 5:17 pm

My daughter has very bad reflux.
She is on Prevacid and my GI suggested to add rice cereal to the bottle.
She is doing much better now.
Good luck

curlytop

Sun, May 02 2010, 10:45 pm

miky72 wrote:

My daughter has very bad reflux.
She is on Prevacid and my GI suggested to add rice cereal to the bottle.
She is doing much better now.
Good luck

How old?
I am gonna try it, just gotta remember to buy some next time I'm in the grocery.
Will a TBSP of rice constipate?