babyREFLUX

Why a wedge? Why not just prop up the cot with some books?

JP — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:01:03 +0000

Would you be surprised to know that lifting the cot legs 6 inches (3 house bricks/about 9 books) only gives you 6 degrees of incline!!!

One of the most common questions we get asked is:

“…can’t I just stick some books or bricks under the cot legs? Doesn’t this do the same job…?”

The answer is simply – it doesn’t do the same job.

The sole reason of providing an incline is to raise the babies head and upper body well above the tummy so that gravity reduces the amount of stomach acid (and contents) that travels upwards to the oesophagus and into the mouth. Technically the bigger the incline the stronger the force keeping the stomach contents down.

Although propping the bed up may be sufficient for very mild reflux it does not achieve any where near the same incline as a wedge positioned locally to the baby, in the cot.

The amazing fact is that a standard 15 degree babyREFLUX cot wedge will provide nearly three times the incline of using 6 inches worth of books or bricks!!!

Sound far fetched? Let’s do the maths…

No No Stop! We believe you! It all looks too much like school. Just show us some examples please.

OK, the cot to the right is a standard cot with all feet on the floor and a standard Lift Safely Cot Wedge being used. The cot wedge is 60cm wide and 40cm long. The incline along the 40cm length gives the wedge a height of about 11 cm and an angle of 15 degrees.

We know the length of a standard cot and applied the incline created by raising the legs.

Now we need to work out how high the bricks need to be if the cot bed is to have the same 15 degree angle as the wedge.

Amazingly the bed needs to be raised by 37.51cm (15 inches)!

That is nearly SIX house bricks…and at that height the bed isn’t very safe from tipping over.

The reason it’s so high is because the angle is created along the whole bed, whereas a wedge has the incline over just its 40cm length, local to baby.

If you prop up the legs at the head of the cot with 6 inches (15cm) of books or bricks then you create an angle of ONLY 6 degrees. Any higher than this it becomes very unstable and there is the danger of the cot toppling. 6 degrees is better then nothing – and if it helps your little one then this is a great result. However, in most cases of reflux you will need to start at a minimum of 15 degrees before any results are noticeable.

The summary bit…

So to achieve the same incline as a standard wedge – how high do you have to lift the head of the cot?

6 house bricks
(at least) the length of the keyboard you are using
1.3 x the length of a one foot ruler
the height of an adult Wellington boot

In summary, the only safe and effective option is to use a Lift Safely Cot Wedge.

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New Cot Wedges launched. Designed for Leander and Stokke rounded cot ranges.

JP — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:07:41 +0000

Positioning and inclining the upper body of your little one is the single most important thing when trying to manage reflux. By having the head raised gravity helps keep the stomach acids down and stops them elevating up to the throat. There are standard rectangular wedges available, but what happens if you have a new shape cot, which is slightly different width and shape?

Stylish and luxurious oval shaped cots are becoming very popular, but require a specially made reflux wedge to fit the individual rounded shape of the cot. The babyREFLUX Oval Cot Wedge has been re-designed to fit both the Leander and the Stokke Cot ranges. These new wedges are cut to meet the mattress template of both cot brands and to top that they are hand made in the UK.

We offer wedges to fit the following rounded cots:

Leander Cradle
Leander Cot Bed
Stokke Sleepi Mini
Stokke Sleepi Bed

If there is a wedge you need and you can’t see it in the list above, please ask and we can make it for you.

Each wedge comes with a cotton cover that can be washed at 60 degrees to kill dust mites. We also offer a spare cover for these specially shaped wedges, so that you can have one in use and one in the wash.

The foam is made from Combustion Modified High Resilience 25 density (CMHR25) and is hypo-allergenic.

Simply position the cot wedge under the sheet in the cot to gently elevate baby’s head and upper body. Fantastic for babies with acid reflux or congestion helping your baby to breathe easier and be much more comfortable.

For further information about these rounded cots, please check the manufacturers websites. Leander and Stokke

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BabyREFLUX has a range of thank-you cards!

JP — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:01:20 +0000

A range of original greeting cards designed exclusively for babyREFLUX by top card designer Lyndsey James. The cards offer very specific messages which are not possible to find on the high street.

Say thank you to your midwife; paediatrician; hospital ward or consultant. Write a special message to your mum; dad; sister or brother; special neighbour or friend.

Each card carries a special message on the front leaving the inside blank so you can write your own message. Complete with white envelope and cellophane wrapping. Currently 99p each!

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New Guide to cot wedge video uploaded!

JP — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:30:23 +0000

We have updated our cot wedge guides to include new sizes and more detail on each. Hope you like. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to drop us a line at h...@babyreflux.co.uk

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Breastfed babies ‘are more cranky and cry more’

JP — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:07:24 +0000

Michelle Roberts

Health reporter, BBC News

January 2012

Not all cries are about hunger, experts advise.

New mums should be advised that it is normal for their baby to cry more if they are breastfed, say experts.

The Medical Research Council team says this irritability is natural, and although formula-fed babies may appear more content and be easier to pacify, breast is still best. If parents have more realistic expectations more may stick with breastfeeding, they hope.

Most UK mums try to breastfeed. Within months the rate drops to a third.

The Department of Health recommends that mothers exclusively breastfeed for the first six months after birth.

The most common reason given for women to stop breastfeeding is that “Breast milk alone didn’t satisfy my baby”, which the MRC scientists say reflects their perception of irritability as a negative signal.

But they say this crankiness in babies is normal and just their natural way of communicating their needs to their mother and is no cause for alarm. For example, some cries will be down to tiredness not hunger. And the reason formula babies are so serene could well be because they are overfed.

Lead investigator Dr Ken Ong said: “Bottle-fed babies may appear more content, but research suggests that these infants may be overnourished and gain weight too quickly. “Our findings are essentially similar to other stages of life; people often find that eating is comforting.”

In their study, they asked more than 300 mums to comment on the temperament of their own baby and to state whether they were using breast or bottle. Overall, 137 of the infants were exclusively breastfed, 88 were exclusively bottle-fed, and 91 were fed with a mixture of formula and breast milk.

Breastfed babies were deemed to have “more challenging temperaments” and tended to cry more. Rosie Dodds, of the National Childbirth Trust, said the new observations were useful for parents. “Mothers and babies may experience starting to breastfeed as demanding or stressful in this society where bottle-feeding is seen as the norm and breastfeeding is unfamiliar to many new parents.

“It would be interesting to compare this with countries where almost all babies are breastfed. “We often hear from mothers who say that once both they and their baby got the hang of it, breastfeeding was a breeze.”

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Win for Tummy with Mummy

JP — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:28:43 +0000

Tummy With Mummy®, the world’s only foldaway off-the-floor tummy time activity centre has won the Glasgow’s Got Business Talent Award. The ‘Dragon’s Den’ panel of entrepreneurs and investors were looking for innovation and market potential.

“We’re delighted at the award because it recognises that bringing something new and worthwhile to the market is still celebrated” said Geraldine Abrahams, director of TWM Productions Ltd. “It’s easy to be passionate about something that helps improve children’s lives, but we are under no illusions that it is a slog getting recognition in a very sophisticated marketing arena.”

The increasing problem of delayed motor skill development in infants is a big problem for parents and it has not been sufficiently addressed by tummy time mats. Parents are unhappy seeing their infants face-down on the floor – and most babies hate being there!

Tummy With Mummy® is the world’s only all-in-one off the floor tummy time activity centre. It comes complete with a seat (with harness), recliner, and tummy time platform – and folds flat for storing or taking on trips. Wipe-clean, with a machine washable mat, it is an essential aid for babies’ physical, social and emotional development. Our testimonials speak for themselves.

See the Tummy with Mummy at babyREFLUX

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Totseat featured as essential

JP — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:26:25 +0000

Totseat, the award-winning chair harness, was delighted to be included in the Which? Toddler Travel Essential Guide for Christmas.

This accolade rounds off a great year for Totseat which has included winning the much coveted Practical Parenting GOLD for the Best Booster/Travel Highchair, The Tots to Travel Feeding Award and a Practical PreSchool Gold Award. In addition, Totseat’s international expansion has continued, as has growth in the UK with Hippychick.

Designed from a safety perspective, the Totseat travel highchair anchors a baby in safety and comfort in an adult chair. It adapts quickly and easily to fit chairs of all shapes and sizes, and clips firmly behind the chair, with the minimum of fuss. Machine, washable, pocket sized and with a lifetime guarantee, it’s the perfect accessory: funky yet practical.

Whether at granny’s, the local cafe or in the Med, Totseat gives parents peace of mind for those ‘no highchair’ moments. Perfect for Christmas…and babies who lunch.

See the Totseat at babyREFLUX

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Tummy with Mummy Seat and Recliner

JP — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:56:19 +0000

Tummy With Mummy® is the world’s first and only all-in-1 off-the-floor tummy time activity centre with built in tummy time platform, seat and recliner.

Perfect for refluxers who need a comfortable place to nap or sit after feeding. Also great for plagiocephaly and flat head syndrome.

It comes complete with a safety harness and it cleverly folds away compactly for easy storage and travel. Features: All parents want their child to be strong, healthy, happy and smart. We want that too. Tummy With Mummy®, our unique all-in-1 tummy time activity centre, is designed to improve babies’ physical, social, emotional development and motor responses in those precious months. Its high sides, solid back and safety harness can make babies feel safe.

Check out the Tummy with Mummy Seat and Recliner in full at babyREFLUX.

Features:

Helps to control reflux
Reduces the risk of flat head and plagiocephaly
Portable and storable
Washable and wipe-clean
Strengthens muscles
Ideal for taking on trips
Improves motor responses
Improves infant development

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Wholesome Breastfeeding Foods

JP — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:59:06 +0000

We recently hooked up with Jacqui Nancey a trouble shooting midwife who specialises in Breastfeeding, baby colic & sleepless nights. With years of experience and colleagues input, Jacqui has put together a fantastic wholesome guide for breastfeeding mothers to use. With her permission, we have included it here:

What foods to take or avoid in the first 6 – 12 weeks after birth.

FRESH FRUITS
Bananas / plantain (very ripe)   - Potassium, Magnesium (Mag)
Apples                                       – Potassium, Vit C
Pears                     – Potassium, Vit C
Peaches                    – Potassium, Vit C
Plums                     – potassium, b-carotene
Pineapple                    – Vit C, Mag

* DRINK WATER – Most effective thirst quencher for hydration

DRIED FRUITS
Mangoes                – Potassium, iron
Sultanas, currants             – Mag, Pots, niacin B3, Vit C, E
Apricots                     – Potassium, iron, copper
Paw paws              – b-carotene, Mag, Pots, iron
Dates, baby figs              – carotenoids, Vit C, Pots

AVOID: Cranberry juice, Lemonade, Citrus fruits/Berries, Strawberries, Grape juice, Lime juice, Fizzy drinks, Alcohol, Curries (If not part of a cultural diet)

CEREALS
Quinoa                  – Iron
Organic millet          – Iron, magnesium
Rolled grain oats              – Magnesium
Oatibix / wheatabix              – Iron / copper / magnesium
no added sugar muesli         – Mag, cop, Niacin, Vit E

AVOID: Sugary cereals, tarts, processed cereals and Processed fine oats.

FRUIT JUICES                       Wholesome Fruit smoothies
Apple juice                                  With Apricot/Avocado/banana/carrot/melon/passion fruit
Pineapple                                    Mango/peach/coconut/vanilla/pear/kiwi/ginger/yoghurt
Litchi                                          ALL OF THE ABOVE

VEGETABLE / SMOOTHIES / SOUPS
Spinach                                       With Celery or cucumber / leek / tomatoes / green beans
Broccoli / Cauliflower                    WASHED DOWN WITH STRONG FENNEL OR PEPPERMINT TEA
Egg plant/Aubergene                    With Oily fish/salad/beetroot/lettuce/mushrooms/okra/pea
Peppers              ALL OF THE ABOVE/Root vegetables/chicken/lamb/beef/egg

DELICIOUS NUTS: FIRST CHECK YOUR FAMILY NUT ALLERGY HISTORY
Pine nuts / pistachios / brazil nuts /sun flower & pumpkin seeds
Dry roasted nuts / mixed fruit & nut snack

ROOT VEGETABLES / FRESH / DRIED BEANS
Butter nut squash / turnips / suede
Carrots, courgettes / sweet corn / tofu / butter beans
Yellow split peas / red kidney beans / baked beans / black eyed beans /haricot beans
Potatoes / pumpkin / parsnip / sweet potatoes / yellow plantains ?(NB: Wash down bean soups with fennel or peppermint tea afterwards to prevent your baby’s tummy discomfort from the resultant gas)

MEAT, POULTRY & FISH
Lean Beef / mince / steak / grilled burger / 100% beef meat balls
Lean Lamb / mince / grilled kebabs /
Oily fish like Mackerel, sardines
Other fish like Tilapia (St. Peters ) cod

WHOLESOME HERBAL TEA
Fennel tea             – (3 or so mugs/ day)
Peppermint Tea      – (3 or so mugs/ day)
Fenugreek       – (2 – 3 mugs/day only)
Green tea          – (Limit intake 1-2)
Decaff teas /coffee             – (limited intake)
Malt drinks / Milk

DRINKS TO AVOID – Fizzy water / drinks, Instant coffee / tea, Squash drinks

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PPIs don’t work for infant reflux

JP — Wed, 25 May 2011 08:27:29 +0000

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), in common use for treating gastric reflux symptoms in babies, are unnecessary and ineffective in this age group, concludes an Australian systematic review.

Published in Pediatrics, the review of 12 studies of almost 900 children aged 0-17 noted the paucity of evidence to support the current widespread prescribing of PPIs in infants, as well as in older children.

Although some guidelines recommend considering antisecretory treatments for distressed infants or for children and adolescents with heartburn, the authors noted the evidence to support this had been “extrapolated from adult studies”.

Furthermore, clinical recovery with PPIs “may be ascribed to a placebo reaction or physiologic symptom resolution over time”, the authors wrote.

The review found that for reduction of GORD symptoms in infants, PPIs were not effective in two studies, equally effective in two studies compared with placebo, and more effective in just one study compared with hydrolysed formula.

Meanwhile, placebo-controlled trials in older children were lacking.

For gastric acidity in infants and children, PPIs were more effective compared with placebo, alginates or ranitidine in four studies.

And for reducing histologic aberrations, the studies showed no difference between PPIs compared with ranitidine and alginates.

Although PPIs were generally well-tolerated, the authors noted they “may increase susceptibility to acute gastroenteritis and community acquired pneumonia, respiratory infections, gastric polyps, and bacterial overgrowth”.

Speaking with Gastroenterology Update, study co-author, Dr Taher Omari from the Women and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide said that “on balance you have to accept that the weight of evidence suggests that these drugs are not very effective in treating infants with gastroesophageal reflux disease”.

He added that diagnosing GORD in infants was “extremely problematic” and a process of elimination.

“PPIs have been the mainstay of treatment in babies with GORD symptoms…and anecdotally the paediatricians and the parents all believe that these drugs are effective in reducing vomiting and irritability,” he said.

However, he said there had now been a number of RCTs, including in Australia, showing that half the babies on placebo improved significantly. Meanwhile no trials had demonstrated significant improvement in infants given PPIs “no matter what drug you’re looking at”.

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