;Lesson 13 BATHER; VERSUS; CAR SEAT; VERSUS; ROCKER; VERSUS; WEDGE PILLOW VERSUS BOUNCERS

Whenever I complained to the pediatrician about my baby’s refluxing issue, he would ask me 1st thing to burp and 2nd thing to raise his head end of the bed by 30 to 45 degrees. For the first two months my and my husband’s lap was his bed as we could never make a satisfactory bed for him with the feeding pillow, pregnancy pillow, sofa cushions, rolled towels, or even meticulously stacked up sheets. Nothing ever helped the reflux. He had to be either on the lap or upright on the shoulder for the first 3 months. As a premature baby born at 34 weeks, he was only 1800 gms at discharge from nicu and his weight gain was also very slow. So initially I couldn’t think of putting him in any furniture unguided so I bought the wedge pillow to get some rest while sleeping beside him. But he would always slouch to any of the sides. Not even once I could make him sleep on it.;
WEDGE PILLOW- As the cheapest option available in the market, I went for this but it wasn’t useful at all as the baby slouched to the sides anyways.;
CAR SEAT CUM ROCKER- At three months this was something I felt I could trust because it is safe even if you are not around the baby, baby won’t fall or even won’t reflux through nose. But the back support in it is not so good. And gradually it becomes too clumsy and uncomfortable for the baby. The rocking function of the car seat is manual, so it wasn’t of much use.
BATHER- The Mee Mee bather was really helpful at 3 months. My baby used to bathe in it also and nap in it also. The material is super quick to dry and the seat is a mesh.; It is like a mother’s lap only. Baby can sit in it very comfortably in it; somewhat like a hammock. The baby doesn’t slouch to any side in it. It has two reclining settings only which are enough until 6 months age. It also has a buckled up belt to secure the baby in it.; It helped to reduce the number of spit ups and no nasal spit ups in it at all.; But it has no rocking or baby soothing functions.;
ROCKER- The newborn to toddler rocker by fisher price served as the savior and was winner of all. It is the best bet for a refluxing baby. I bought it late, at 4months, but I realized what a great mistake it was. I should have bought this earlier. I had specially taken out time and dragged my zombie self to the first cry store to get these things, so that I can try and buy, as I was not sure of what to buy and what not; as nothing helpful regarding this problem is available on the internet too. But the shopkeeper didn’t allow try and buy for this product, so in confusion I skipped it. I am sharing my experience here so that nobody else goes through the same. And also you don’t need to go through all the hit and trial methods I have gone through. Simply go and get this rocker or any other similar rocker which has minimum of three reclining settings with the battery operated vibrating function if your new born baby is giving you tough times with his/her numerous messy refluxes, wet burps or spit ups, like mine. The vibrating function is important as it will serve the function of burping, and help in digestion and reduce colic also. The vibration is just like the vibrating massage chairs for adults that we see in malls or spas. I went with fisher price for the brand value and also its long term utility feature as it can serve as a toddler chair until 3 months also. It has a secure buckle up and also a beautiful eye catchy toy bar. The seat is very comfy, removable and washable. The built is super sturdy, that’s what you get undoubtedly with the brand.;
After feeding and burping the baby for 15 to 20 minutes I put him in the rocker and he falls asleep on his own. After 60 to 90 minutes or whenever he wakes; whichever is earlier, I pick him up give him a short in house stroll to calm him down and then again back to the rocker or his play gym. I try to keep him in the rocker for at least an hour after each feed.; Since he has started rolling over, even after an hour in the rocker, he spits up when he is on his tummy. But now I have become used to managing his spit ups, I don’t get as worried as earlier. I let him be on his tummy, as tummy time and play time is essential too. So despite the mess he creates I let him to roll over and be on his tummy whenever he wants. But I keep an eye on him and always ready to clean the mess so that it doesn’t get into his nose or ears.;
This little baby furniture will definitely give you some mess free me time. If the baby is too small and you think he/she will slouch to the sides in it, then you can put the baby in it and support him/her with two small roll pillows on both sides and buckle up along with the pillows.;
BOUNCERS- If you have a higher budget, you can go for bouncers with additional features of auto rocking and music etc.;
#refluxingbaby

If you own any of these please share your experience too. And also if there is any other better option available that can help to raise the head end and reduce refluxes in infants and babies, then please do share with this distressed mommy of a messy refluxer.