I know that you are mean't to take zantac 30min before eating. But do you think it OK if I give his bottle first. He wakes up real thirsty and this is the only tme he ever takes the bottle and he needs the cals- if we wait 30 min, he probably won't drink the bottle. Also before bed or before dinner?
Thanks
Rachel

There's no need to wait with zantac. It can ultimately be given any time, before or after food. Full or empty.

Eric's GI said:
If baby is having pain while eating or refusing food then give before food, to help them eat better, but if there isn't any problems with eating it's more effective to give before sleep.

I used to give Eric's zantac before he ate because it's the only way I got him to eat, but once he wanted to eat and refusal wasn't a problem I started giving it before sleep and I noticed a big difference in his relief. He slept much more soundly, and the medicine seemed to last longer for him too.

I'd go ahead and let him drink his morning bottle like he wants to, and wait a little and then give him his zantac before it's time for sleep. Or if he's predictably refluxy after certain amount of time after he eats give it then. Does that make sense? LOL I hope so.

http://www.infantrefluxdisease.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7491

This has been very confusing for me also! Our GI actually told us to give Connor's Zantac with meals. Right on the front of his bottle it says take 1.3mls 4 times per day with meals. It did always seem to work for him up until recently when we switched to a PPI. Could you call your Pharmacist and ask him?

My new ped insisted that Zantac be given within 30 minutes of a meal. That's the third different story on that that I've heard from our doctor's though...

URGH!
Now I'm more confused than ever before.

I like that article because it kinda still goes with what my GI said in a way (assuming the article is aimed at adults taken GERD medicine) because he talked about the way infant's bodies process medicine differently than adults. Meds go through their systems much more efficiently than grown ups. This is part of the reason why they take up to 3 doses a day to make a full daily dose.

He talked about this is the reason why cold medicine doesn't work for most babies, and yadda yadda yadda.

But I guess he could have been blowing it out his pie hole

Lauren has always been given her Zantac in her bottles and right before she eats lunch. This is as per her GI and it has worked for us.