Spit Up Never Sleeps: Infant Reflux Sleep Tips for Baby and Family

When I look back on our reflux times, I'm left in a state of wonder:

• I wonder how I survived on virtually no meaningful sleep for 12+ months (and working full-time, taking care of family, etc.)
• I wonder how families battling severe reflux conditions and complications, like the ones you'll see in feeds like this, keep their spirits, and yes, on top of the pure exhaustion. 
• Do moms truly transform into Wonder Woman for a given period of time? 
  
  

When it comes to tips on this topic, I go straight to the source, The Baby Sleep Site, Helping Your Baby With Reflux (GERD) Sleep Better.

According to the article, "Babies with reflux tend to have trouble sleeping through the night and taking long, restorative naps, since their discomfort makes it hard for them to stay asleep." In a similar article, Baby Sleep Site founder Nicole Johnson shares practical tips, and a bit about her breastfed "happy spitters." Happy is a relative term during these times. Just ask Holly Klaassen from The Fussy Baby Site. 

Still we must go on, whether we are going it alone, or have an army of help among us.

Unverified Baby Reflux Sleep Tips

​I've lived long enough to know that I am not an expert in anything. What works for one family, won't work for another, or will sound downright foolish. What I do know is to keep safety in the center of your sleep solutions. Here are some tips for baby and family.

• Lower all expectations and your happy moments will shine brighter. We aren't owed - and rarely bestowed - an idealistic newborn experience, so focus energies on the day-to-day and not on mourning the experience you dreamt of having. I learned this too late in the process.
• Look at, and treat, the reflux issues separately from the sleep issues. This is pretty unanimous from the experts out there. Consider all the options with your doctor. Tackle reflux first; sleep second.
• Focus on "fed." Quickly tune out the noise around breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding, and the umpteen formulas out there, and work with a doctor you trust on YOUR baby's needs, and then find YOUR best techniques as far as feeding, frequency, burping, after-feeding rituals (keeping upright), medication, tools and sleep solutions. 
• Follow the safe sleep guidelines. I know they seem counterintuitive to the tips to keeping babies upright. During infant stages I created an incline under the head of mattress only the thickness of a hand towel, just for the slightest elevation. Research approved sleep solutions that meet the AAP guidelines. 
• Invest in waterproof mattress covers for under the crib sheet. As my child got older I doubled up with cover, sheet, cover, sheet. In the night I'd simply rip off layer one and another one was ready underneath. Again, safety was first, and I made sure the layers were very thin, and all was tightly secured. 
• Create comfort when its hard to come by. We turned to swaddling. Consider baby wearing. Take stroller walks or short car rides. 
• Beg for help. An uninterrupted nap here and there, or an overnight monitoring, can make a world of difference. Call in those favors or offer bribes.
• Try to sleep from 9 p.m.-12 a.m. I don't know the source of this tip, and don't know why exactly, but I really tried to get in these three hours at night. It was the easiest to find someone to help at this time and for some reason gave me rest from the day prior, and what I needed to get through the overnight and into tackling the next day.
• Feed your soul. I turned to processed sugary treats. Yes, I'm well aware it wasn't helping my baby weight problem, but in the wee hours of the night I would treat myself to something already prepared that had both frosting and sprinkles. 
• Use eye serum if you have to go out in public and want to feel better. I didn't, but would've in retrospect. 
• Drink a lot of water, especially if you're downing the caffeine.
• Exercise (yea, I know, groan). Not to work off the overnight indulgences, but so that when you have the chance to catch zzz's, you can go deep! I swear this was a game changer. It gave me both more energy and deeper rest when needed. 
• Establish a routine no matter how much it's disrupted. The most effective mental exercise is to act and behave as if what you are doing can affect your outcomes. And then one day you will find, that you can. 

Hopefully, one day, far from now, when you're back to your eight hours a night, you'll be able to hazily reminisce about these times. Maybe not wonderful, but certainly amazing. 


-Christina

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