Whether you are a new mother or an experienced one, you learn quickly that enough sleep is one of the first things you lose with a newborn baby. Between the feedings and needing to be changed, you can find yourself up and down several times throughout the night. One of the happiest moments for a mother is when her child finally sleeps through the night peacefully allowing you to finally get some much needed rest. However, there can be several reasons why a good night’s sleep can evade a parent and their child. One of the most common causes is when the child suffers from gastroesophageal reflux. GER or acid reflux is when the sphincter muscle that separates the esophagus and tummy from each other does not do its job properly. The baby’s food then goes back into the throat or mouth to irritate their esophagus causing them pain. The baby can suffer from this in various forms from mild to severe that can keep them awake and vomiting often after eating. An infant acid reflux pillow is a great way to help reduce or eliminate the symptoms that the child suffers from when it comes to GER.
What to Look for When Buying a Reflux Pillow for Your Infant
- You should find one that is reversible: a wedge pillow that allows for your baby to rest on their belly for tummy time yet is also comfortable in the back-lying position.
- A reflux wedge pillow should be designed to help prevent head molding issues and help with shoulder retraction to promote a shoulders forward posture.
- You want a wedge pillow that is waterproof to stop any build-up of moisture that can come from spitting up or diaper blow-outs. A great covering is a leather-like vinyl that is medical grade.
- The wedge pillow should also be adjustable so you will be able to correct the height and position of the sling as the child grows.
- If you are using a sling, you want to be able to reposition your infant on either side of the reflux wedge pillow easily with Velcro that can be moved for adjustment.
Search Online to Buy Your Pillow from a Reputable Company
You should find a trustworthy company who has designed their pillow with the help of a trained medical professional. A reputable wedge will be FDA registered. It would also be desirable to have a professional consultant on hand to answer any questions you may have with feeding problems and positioning on the wedge.
