Do most babies with reflux not gain weight b/c they refuse the bottle for whatever reason (ie pain)? My son eats like there's no tomorrow-between 4 and 5 ounces every feeding (knock on wood-hoping it stays that way). He's had so many different reactions to different formulas-this weekend had diarrhea with the Nutramigen and today he started vomiting the Alimentum. But he doesn't seem to care at all. I'm just trying to figure out if he has an allergy to milk and if he is having possible reflux as a symptom of the allergy. He got his first bottle of Neocate this evening so we're hoping for some improvement in the next several weeks. Just wondering though about the eating habits of babies with a reflux diagnosis. Thanks!

Amy

Hi Amy!

I can't speak for most babies with reflux, but I can answer a couple of your questions in regards to my son, Evan. His weight gain (or often lack of it!), especially in the first 18 months, was because of his oral aversion (he's afraid of food, utensils, cups, and bottles coming towards his mouth, especially during the tougher periods) and also because he vomitted alot of what went in.

We found that straight milk and/or cream would make his reflux MUCH worse, but that he's fine eating ice cream, yogourt and cheese. I think that's because they have less lactose. The pediatrician says that it couldn't possibly be an allergy and that he can't be tested until age 2. You can bet that now that he's 2, I'll be pushing for the allergy test when I take him to the ped. next week.

Many reflux babies do have weight gain issues b/c of food aversions and refusing to eat, that's true...certainly very true in our case. But it's also common for them to go in the opposite direction and want to eat all the time. Some call them guzzlers...sucking a bottle back in no time and wanting more. The theory I guess, is that even that at young age it's a comfort thing, food is comforting, as well, the milk may feel good going down on a throat and esophagus that is hurting. Another thing they will frequently do is eat smaller amounts but much more frequently through the day than other kids.

Good luck with the Neocate! Have you noticed a difference yet? With Shae, we can tell very literally within 20 minutes if it's going to work or cause a reaction. Just remember that it will cause VERY loose stools, even liquidy, so don't panic right away :) .

We haven't noticed any difference yet with the Neocate. I know it can take up to 2 wks for everything to get in and out of their little systems so I'm trying to be patient. I'll keep you posted.

Hi Amya,
My son Branden is one of the refluxers who went in the oppsotie direction, one of the "guzzlers" as they are sometimes called. The first 3 months and even now have been and are a blur of feedings. He never seemed or seems to get enough! Even now, at 4 and a half months, he still wants to eat every 2-3 hours and is getting up sometimes still twice a night and is bottle fed soy formula. I think that in the case where the baby is gaining well, it's a little harder to get the "reflux" diagnosis because the weight gain is definantly there. I consider myself very lucky that the one effect I haven't had to deal with is failure to thrive as so many other's on the site have, it would be heartbreaking. On the contrary, my son Branden is my little "chunky-monkey", weighing in now at 17 and a half pounds at 4 and a half months and is doing much better with the reflux these days Some days are definantly better than others.

Meghan was 'once' a guzzler up until about 5 weeks or so, then it went down hill

She was at 95% for weight at 2 months, then dropped, then went back up and down---the rollercoaster of weight! Up until she was 14 months I was still getting her out of bed to feed her at 11:00 for an extra few calories. I sometimes think that if I hadn't done this that she would have been in the 10th %.

It is common for them to go either way on the weight spectrum.

After reading the other responses to this thread I would have to say that my daughter is a guzzler. She is always in the 90th percentile for weight (she lost a lot her first month but then gained gained gained since then). I agree with MomGoingCrazy though, my "chunky monkey" makes it hard for others to understand that yes she really does have reflux...and yes she still doesn't sleep more than two hours at a time and wants to eat every two hours.