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The Struggle of Feeding an Infant or Toddler with Reflux / GERD
Breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, and mealtime with a child with reflux can turn into an ugly battle with screaming, arching, hiding face, and hysteria. Seeing an infant so distressed over food is an emotional experience, but there are different ideas to try to make it through the feeding aversion. Remember, force-feeding is never an option, and if your child's intake is so low that you are considering it, call your child's pediatrician instead for advice. Only force-feed if a doctor has instructed you to do so, as it could cause more problems than good. There are other options!
Advice for Breastfeeding
Aim for calmness! Sara, (ZacsMom) recommends trying to keep both yourself and baby calm during feeds and regroup if necessary! Steal away to the nursery and rock and cuddle to calm your infant before and during feedings. Also, if distractions are an issue, try a quiet room as well where there is nothing else to take attention away from nursing.
Watch your letdown! Shannon, (Mommasmurf) advises that if your letdown is too overwhelming, the baby may stop feeding or get frustrated with the feed. Pump first or use a burp cloth to catch the letdown if it is too much for the infant.
Advice for Bottle Feeding
Turn off all the lights and avoid any loud sound (dog barking, traffic, other family members). Sometimes, a very quiet television or classical music can help, but other infants prefer complete silence if feeding is already that stressful for them.
Try new positions. Prop the infant so he/she is sitting up against a pillow on your bed and try the bottle that way. Allow a different family member to attempt the bottle. Put the child in his/her carseat, bouncy, or swing for the feeding. Also, try choosing a new room and chair for the bottle. Infants can make negative associations about feeding time, so changing it can help!
Try a new bottle. Change the brand of the bottle incase the aversion is more to the bottle than the formula. To avoid confusion, do not go from bottle to bottle too quickly, but attempting a new bottle might help the situation. Dr. Browns bottles (both regular and wide-neck) are popular amongst infants with reflux.
Flavor the bottle. If the infant is averted to the formula, flavoring may be necessary. NOTE: This is only done when a severe feeding disorder is present and must be done under the supervision of a pediatrician or other doctor (GI, allergist, etc.). Depending on age, pur￩es, juices, and flavorings purchased through medical suppliers, and drink mixes can be used to change the taste of the formula. Because giving infants these items at a young age can increase the risk of food allergies and reactions, it is very important to understand and discuss these options with your childs doctor!
Attempt sleep feeding. If you are struggling to get in enough ounces while your child is awake, try giving the bottle while the baby is asleep. This can either be done while the child is still in the crib or bassinette, or you can simply rock the child to sleep and then try to slip the nipple into his/her mouth. This is an extremely slow process, as the infant will not suck with such force or frequency in his/her sleep, but if you can keep the child going for an hour, it can really make up for lost ounces during the day. Some infants also feed well when they are drowsy and not necessarily completely asleep. Try waking your child before you go to bed and trying a feed that way, too. If he or she is not as aware of the feed, he/she might relax through it without being so stressed.
Call for help! I remember sitting in the glider with Noah who was doing a backbend on my lap screaming at the top of his lungs, and I felt every muscle in my body tense and ache. Sometimes this would happen with every bottle, and I would feel so defeated and impatient by the end of the day. Call your spouse, a friend, or a relative for help if the feedings become too stressful. Even though that person may not have better luck, it at least gives you a break to relax and gather yourself after putting in so much effort and dealing with the stress.
Advice for Baby Food and Table Food
Find that one favorite food! Hopefully, there will be at least one food that your baby or toddler enjoys, and you can use it to help introduce new foods! If it is a pur￩e, mix in a tiny bit of a new pur￩e to add a bit of the taste. Gradually increase the amount mixed in until the new taste is acquired. Also, try dipping one food into another. If the child likes hot dogs/weiners, dip a piece of hot dog/weiner into mashed carrots, for example, and try introducing it that way. Be careful with this method so that you do not avert your child to his/her favorite food(s). Watch for cues, and alternate different foods with each meal so that the child has opportunities to taste many things.
Keep the television on! Although it doesn't sound like a good habit during meal time, turning on a favorite movie or show might keep your little one's mind off the food while you shovel it in! He/she might be more willing to feed himself/herself if the focus is on the television and not on the pressures of eating.
Make feeding time fun! Bring out a few washable toys and allow your infant or toddler to play with the toys while eating. Play your child's favorite game and incorporate eating into the activity! Have Elmo take bites along with your infant or child! Or, just allow a certain toy at the table so that you can sneak bites in while he/she is busy playing.
Turn eating into a race! Janette (Evan's Mom) advises parents to race and see who can get a bite in first! If eating can be a game, a toddler or child is more apt to participate!
Get involved! Mommy and Daddy are a child's favorite entertainers, so start singing and dancing and convincing your child that food is fun! Sound effects, songs, and dances that involve eating can help your child see that eating is fun and allow him or her to want to get involved, too.
Because feeding a child with reflux can be very difficult and even impossible at times, feeding therapy is often suggested or prescribed by a child's doctor. These are helpful hints that work for many, but don't be discouraged if professional help is needed!
Written by: Maggie, Noah's Mom
Read more about Reflux Information:
Infant / Baby Formula: What's the difference?,
Foods that Aggravate GERD,
Non-Medical Treatments for Infant Reflux / GERD,
The Ultra-Bland Reflux Diet
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