4 month sleep regression, reflux flare up or both?

[myra]

The day before she turned 4 months, my daughter went from being a great night sleeper (waking 1-2 times/night) to waking up 4-6 times per night. At first I put it down to 4 month sleep regression...then she got a cold so that interrupted her sleep and caused her reflux to flare up. She got over her cold a couple days ago but sleep is still rough and today I had to keep changing her clothes since she had tons of spitups (usually just a couple spitups/day). We went up on her meds (Prilosec and Zantac) 2 weeks ago.

She also isn't taking much milk during the day (no more than 2oz at a time, less than her usual 3-3 1/2 oz). At night though, most every time she wakes she takes a full 4 oz. so daytime she's getting maybe 10oz and nighttime about 16.

As for maps, she usually takes 3 45 min naps but we've been lucky over past few days that she took a 90 minute nap a few times.

So now I'm wondering- can sleep regression cause reflux flare ups? Could this just be reflux and is it time to consider changing meds? (GI doc a couple weeks ago presented that as a possibility). Or could his just be a case of the 4 month sleep regression that's lasted a month now?

 

[_Meep_]

Teething always made my LO much more refluxy/a crappy sleeper. She got her first tooth at 5 months but had symptoms and pain from about 12 weeks. Is your LO showing any teething signs - dribbling, biting, chewing?

 

[JumpingIn]

I was going to ask the same thing... Our have you introduced any solids for the reflux? Both can cause flareups... With teething all that drool has to go somewhere, and what doesn't come out stays in... Then comes up... and goes down...All.Night. I'm there right now.

Our paed also advised introduction of solids and he had an allergic reaction and it's been horrendous since then. I think we may be coming out the other side now. We were on the verge of changing meds but didn't because I figured out what it was

 

[Wugz22]

My baby's sleep has gone to pot since I've been back to work over the last few weeks. Like yours, she wasn't taking as much milk during day from the bottle so she was compensating at night. I've been working to make sure she takes her full feeds during the day and it has definitely cut back on the night wakings.

 

[PoppyPainting]

My daughters four month sleep regression coincided with a reflux flare up and a heat wave and it took forever to get her sleeping half decent again. I'd up the reflux meds and also make sure her bed is sloping up a bit. And mutter 'this too shall pass' to yourself at every wake up!

 

[myra]

Thanks for the replies and advice. I hadn't connected the reflux so much to teething but it makes sense (can't believe I must have blocked that our from our challenging first 8 months with our reflux son!)

Anything help you all to manage the teething and flare ups? Started Tylenol with her yesterday and we've been supplementing her increased reflux meds with Mylanta 2-3 times/day. She already sleeps on an inclined mattress in her crib.

We were thinking of switching kids from nanny to daycare since we can't afford the nanny anymore and we thought my daughter was doing better- wel enough to go to a daycare. Not sure now what to do...ill try posting a new thread on that too to see if others have experience/advice on reflux and daycare

 

[_Meep_]

To be honest, we just sat it out. Our daughter never seemed miserable enough with silent reflux to warrant medication, though she constantly went on nursing strike. That and the reflux got a lot better when we discovered her tongue tie at 4 months and had it treated, though.

With teething, the swallowed drool tends to really aggravate the stomach, making it MORE acidic. It's totally unfair. I believe that's why teething poops often reek of acid and burn tiny bottoms.

There's no way to stop your baby swallowing her drool so I guess all you can do is just up her meds and hope for the best. And remember it won't last forever. Teething is way more bearable for us these days, though our poor LO still teethes for three months at a time before a tooth actually cuts. I'm genuinely looking forward to her growing up!

 

[klink]

My son has severe reflux (still spitting up tons at 7 months) and at 4 months it definitely had flared up. Once you start solids it's probably getting progressively better. Like others said, teething can make it flare up too. Also watch out what foods you give when you start solids, cause certain foods are very acidic and cause the reflux to act up too.

 

[myra]

Our GI doc recommended starting solids as well. We started with oat cereal but I don't think it agreed with her. (skipped past rice cereal since it made our sons reflux and constipation worse when he was this age). Tried pears with daughter (it was the only solid food out son could tolerate for 3 months without a flare up), but she doesn't seem to really like the taste yet. Will give it a couple days and then try carrots...

 

[_Meep_]

Pears are meant to be one of only two foods on the planet (I think the other is lamb?) that nobody is allergic to ... could all be a load of bollocks of course.

 

[klink]

Maybe your little on is allergic to soy? Jace has a milk protein allergy on top of the reflux and a lot of times that goes hand in hand with a soy allergy. So I buy rice cereal without soy (from beechnut). Also be careful that the solids you're giving don't have too much acid, otherwise it'll make the reflux worse. Pears work like a charm here too!

 

[myra]

Yes, she allergic to soy, dairy and eggs. So I also get the same cereal without any allergens. Carrots has been a hit for 2 days now though

 

[klink]

Great! I'm glad that she likes the carrots!