my little guy is 6 weeks old and nurses on demand. I have read in several places not to refeed him after he throws up everything. I have also learned from experience that he can only nurse on one side per feeding or everything automatically comes up. last night was a bad night for us as he threw up twice across about 2 1/2 feet (it of course ended up on me as I was sleeping, lots of fun) and then again later. He had't eaten in about 3 1/2 hours -which is long for him- and seemed hungry. But then again he could have just been in pain. I didn't feed him then and we were both able to go back to sleep until about an hour later when he threw up again. At this point i was pretty much up for the night. He went back to sleep and woke up later to eat. But in the middle of the night I was really questioning when to nurse. Sometimes he just cries and cries and nothing will work to calm him, even nursing. I just think I'm second guessing myself as to when he needs to eat. My first little man would eat and eat and it would calm him, Corban is so different. I worry sometimes that I don't offer to nurse as often as I did with Ian, but maybe its just that Corban cries so much more. Any thoughts on the whole nurse on demand concept when you're not quite sure he is demanding or just screaming in pain? :hairpull:

This is a tough one. My dd was also a 'round the clock nurser who puked constantly. She would literally puke while on the breast, then go right back to nursing. :sign11: :-(

My doc, my GI and the feeding center all told me to nurse her as soon as she's ready after puking. In my case, that was always. My dd was a comfort feeder who would usually always nurse because it made her esophagas feel better (despite the fact that it made her puke). There were many times, though, that nothing worked to calm her down. Ugh, I remember those days (nights) so well. :-(

In your case, you might want to offer the breast after he spits up like that and see if he'll take it. There may be times he wants it and other times that he's inconsolable. It is awful, but it's totally trial and error when they're tiny like that. If he doesn't take it right away but continues to cry/root, offer it again a little while later. Sometimes once they get worked up, they won't take the breast right away, but do want it a few minutes later, KWIM? Also, a refluxer might want to nurse for just a minute or two to soothe their sore esophagas--so even if he's not "demanding" to be fed, he might want a little nip just to make himself feel better.

I am so, so sorry. I give you a lot of credit for doing all of this--it is not easy to nurse/stay up all night/take care of a toddler to boot. I promise you that it will get better with time; however, right now I know that it's really tough. :hug:

Have you tried a pacifier? It helps Dominic enormously with his reflux... he's the first baby I've used one on, and to be honest i think life would be much more difficult for us now if he didn't take it as soon as he's starting to reflux badly I give it too him and it really helps.