This page is intended to provide some ideas for family and friends as to how they can support a family caring for a baby or child with reflux. Over time, we’ve collected a few ideas and listed some of them here to give you some practical suggestions. Attached is a letter to families and friends to help explain what’s happening and give ideas on how best to help.
Managing a feed refuser can be a tough assignment and quite exhausting work. And everyone has their bit of advice to give. Its made that bit more tricky with kids who are also allergic or intolerant to a variety of foods so please take all of these hints and tips with a grain of salt and consult your doctors / dieticians and other medical professionals with regard to new foods that might be an issue for your child. Please also take into consideration the developmental milestones of your child.
Dealing with reflux can be very stressful, and many people think that they are being helpful by offering advice. Even though their suggestions may be helpful, the constant advice, and inferred criticism of your parenting, can make your journey all the more stressful. In addition to that, the advice may conflict with your beliefs or the advice you have already been given e.g. someone will tell you that you should not nurse a baby to sleep as it ‘will create a rod for your back’, while someone else will tell you that you should. As a result, it can leave you feeling very confused, inadequate, frustrated and resentful.