Help! She's getting too big too sleep!

[Anonymous]

I just found this site and I need help ASAP. Here’s a little info about my daughter. She is almost 4 months old and is on Prevacid for reflux. She has a very sensitive gag reflex which makes her vomit when she sticks her fingers too far in her mouth. It took me about a month or two to get the doctors to take me seriously about her vomiting and she was soon emitted to a children’s hospital to make sure her vomiting episodes weren’t seizures. She was put on Zantac first which didn’t do anything. We started thicken her bottles at 2 months old which helped a tiny bit. She got very dehydrated while staying at the hospital and soon after we got home she did nothing but sleep. She wouldn’t even eat. We then had to go back to our hospital and have her given an IV for fluids and they finally put her on Prevacid which has helped tremendously! She is now keeping all her food down except when she gags herself with her fingers. She’s teething now so she’s been spitting up easier than before but its still a ton better. Before Prevacid she was vomiting most of her bottle after each bottle.

Thank you for reading all that. Now here’s my problem. She arches her back to an unbelievable angle when on her back. So after our stay at the childrens hospital I copied what they did. They had a crib thats mattress was half incline and three towels rolled up two on either side of her and one under her bottom. She sleeps great in this set up. She still arches her back but not as bad. But my problem is, now after a month and a half of sleeping like this she’s getting too tall and doesn’t fit in her bassinet with this set up anymore. I’ve tried everything to find a new way for her to be comfortable while sleeping. I sit on an exercise ball and bounce her until she drowsy (since she was a newborn bouncing is the only thing that helps her fall asleep). Then I put her down while she’s drowsy and she can put herself to sleep from there. I’ve tried laying flat which obviously doesn’t work. I’ve tried a tiny incline which she just slides off of. She’s a very active baby. She is constantly moving and kicking and squirming, even in her sleep. I’ve heard of the tucker sling and I know for a fact she’d get right out of that and slide off. I’ve tried her bouncer, swing, car seat, etc. And she hates all of them. She screams when she’s strapped into anything (car rides are not fun!). She can sleeps fine with me in my bed (which I only do at the worst of times) which makes me wonder if she arches her back while laying down out of habit or if her tummy really still hurts and while she’s with me she just comfy and safe and can fall asleep easier.

I’m sorry I’m babbling and writing so much but I’m at a complete loss as to how to help her. So my questions are:

1. If she is still arching her back like crazy does that mean her medicine isn’t working as well as it should?

and

2. Does anyone have any ideas as to how to help her sleep? Positions, seats, inclines, etc.?

[Anonymous]

With my daughter, arched back meant that her meds weren’t working and we would have to up them.

She didn’t really sleep for the first several months unless we were holding her, so I’m not a huge help with that. But, when we did get her pain managed enough to put her down for sleeping, she only slept on her stomach. She was on a pulse oximeter, so that made us comfortable enough to let her sleep on her stomach. Again, not much help, I know. Sorry

[Anonymous]

Thank you! That does help! Now at least I know her meds might need to be increased. I wish she would sleep on her tummy I have tried (and I would’ve stayed in there if she did fall asleep) but she hates being on her tummy. I appreciate the response!

[hellbennt]

chiming in about the arching and such. there is a name for this it’s called

Sandifer’s and yes my baby did this too when the meds weren’t high enough. once we adjusted meds it would go away. it helped us to know if the meds were right!

[Anonymous]

have you thought about moving her into a regular crib so there is enough room for the towel set up that seemed to help her sleep? i also slept my baby on her tummy.

[Anonymous]

Try looking at pollywogbaby.com. It’s another website for infant reflux. It’s helped us get some new ideas. They have these things on the site called the Zacky Pillow that’s supposed to help babies sleep better at night. Hope this site helps!

[Author]

Posts