Method
If you are going down the pureed route (some parents choose Baby Led Weaning) then consider the way you are going to give solids in relation to the sickness & reflux. Think of the solids as the weight that will keep the milk down. As the milk is very important and familiar territory, always give it first – either half or all the bottle (ensuring to keep up with the normal winding frequency) then give the solids to lay on top of the milk in the tummy, perhaps even finishing off with an ounce you have kept back which is quite a nice comforting finish for baby. This isn’t going to stop the sickness, but in terms of gravity it will help to thicken the milk and weigh it down, thus managing it better.

Keeping a note
It can be very tedious to try and determine which solid food agrees with your baby and ascertain which ones, if any, disagree. To help minimize confusion and pinpoint a possible offending food, take your time and spread out introductions no shorter than every 4 days. Also a good idea is to keep a food diary. It makes it easier to pinpoint if something has triggered a reflux flare. What works for some people doesn’t always work for others!

Further reading

Listed below are some things to look for relating to solids with reflux:

• Rice may cause gas, constipation and cramping. Many refluxers battle constipation or slower-moving stools already, and the rice can really impact this situation and make the reflux worse.
• Oatmeal is usually next in line for cereal introduction and may work well with some refluxers or cause loose stooling or constipation.
• While Barley is generally the third in line, it may cause loose stools.

Each baby reacts differently, and of course major reflux flares from foods should be reported to your doctor.