starting solids
By Cheryl of
Reflux Reality
Oh, how exciting! The time has come to introduce solid foods to
your baby! But, wait a moment —your baby
has reflux. The text books don’t really talk about how solid foods can react
with some babies who have reflux, so that really isn‘t a valid option to
seek information. In my opinion, there is no proven method to introducing
solid foods with certainty that all will go smoothly. It can be a slow,
tedious process that one must take on diligently and proceed with patience.
If your doctor has suggested the introduction of solid foods in the way of
cereal in your baby’s bottle, be aware of possible side effects. Oftentimes,
reflux babies are younger than their non-reflux peers when the doctor
suggests adding cereal to the bottle or feeding cereal from a spoon. Always
call your doctor immediately if you suspect an allergic or any other serious
reaction.
Maybe cereal in the bottle is the answer for your baby to help weigh down
your baby‘s formula or breast milk to help the reflux, but keep in mind that
it may not be the right answer. If it isn’t the answer, be sure to contact
your doctor to let him/her know and together you can discuss the next move
in your reflux game plan.
Listed below are some side effects I have personally seen or heard about as
they relate to reflux:
- Rice may cause gas, constipation and cramping. Many refluxers battle
constipation or slower-moving stools already, and the rice can really
impact this situation and make the reflux worse.
- Oatmeal is usually next in line for cereal introduction and may work
well with some refluxers or cause loose stooling or constipation.
- While Barley is generally the third in line, it may cause loose
stools, or in our situation it caused eczema.
Each baby reacts differently, and of course, there may be a host of
allergic/intolerant reactions that can be readily resourced online. This
article speaks more of the food introduction progression as it relates to
reflux and what works best.
However, keep in mind that some babies who are truly allergic/intolerant to
certain foods can have major reflux flares from foods and your doctor should
be contacted.
WHAT WORKS FOR SOME DOESN’T WORK FOR ALL
Traditionally, first solid-food introductions for non-refluxers are veggie
based versus fruit based foods. However, I have seen many reflux babies who
are already taking their medicine with apples or pears move forward with
fruits as a natural progression. Veggies may be too harsh to tolerate, while
fruits are more easily tolerated in some refluxers.
However, veggies versus fruits is a double-edged sword because while many
veggies can be harsh (hard to digest), many of the fruits can cause awful
reflux acid flare (I‘ve seen many who cannot tolerate peaches for instance).
On the other hand, many who cannot tolerate apples do well with pears. Of
interest to note in my varied experience, is that Puree style versus Stage 1
and higher sometimes work better for refluxers. My son couldn’t tolerate
anything higher than pureed pears for many months.
When it comes time to introducing solid foods, discuss with your doctor what
is nutrionally suited for the well-being of your baby. Keep in mind the
reflux issues when you discuss solid food introductions.
Experience has shown me that sweet potatoes work wonders for some, but for
most are not well-tolerated. Bulky foods oftentimes need to be watered down
with formula or breast milk to a very thin texture. Carrots work for some
but not for all. Oftentimes “bulky” first foods are hard to handle for a
reflux baby’s digestive tract.
It can be very tedious to try and determine which solid food agrees with
your baby and ascertain which ones, if any, disagree. To help minimize
confusion and pinpoint a possible offending food, take your time and spread
out introductions no shorter than every 3 days. Also a good idea is to keep
a food diary. It makes it easier to pinpoint if something has triggered a
reflux flare.
Only you and your doctor can determine what a reflux flare may be coming
from -- be it illness, a particular solid food, etc.. Perhaps a Pediatric
Gastroenterologist or an Allergist may warrant a consultation. There are
many medical reasons why certain foods can cause a reflux flare and your
doctor can best guide you to finding the answer.
My son had severe reflux for the first 2-3 years of his life. He was unable
to tolerate any solid foods for the first 20 months as we continuously
worked closely with his Ped GI and a Pediatric GI Nutritionist. It was
determined in my son’s case that he had an immature GI tract … once it had
reached a more mature level, he was finally able to tolerate solid foods.
He tested negative to all allergies at 8 months of age, yet displayed
delayed reactions to certain foods he ingested (eczema, reflux flare, bad
gas and cramping, colic for hours, etc.). All he could handle was Alimentum
and pureed pears in the way of solids for 20 long months. For us, carrots,
sweet potatoes, squash and apples were an awful nightmare with reflux flare,
cramping, crying, and gas pains that lasted for hours.
My son is now 6 yrs old and has outgrown almost all his reflux issues. He
can eat all foods with success and is a thriving boy with no known
allergies.
Disclaimer: I am a mother who has experienced a difficult
path to success in introducing solid foods to my son when he was an infant.
I am not a medical professional. The information I speak about in this
article is based solely on my opinions and personal experience dealing with
a child who had severe reflux for 3 yrs. This article should not replace
your doctor’s care and advice. Your medical concerns should be approved by
your Pediatrician. Anything written herein, should not replace your
physician’s medical advice.
Written By Cheryl
Feb. 2005
Reflux Reality
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