Older babies with reflux

[ashleysmom]

My daughter is currently 19 mo old. Since she was born she suffered from GERD. She was on Pepcid for the 1st year of her life and every bottle was Isomil thickened with rice cereal. She used to cry hours on end before we took her to the GI doctor and he put her on the medication and we changed how we gave her her bottles. I've been told she will outgrow the refluxing. She is 19 months and still refluxes. She hasn't shown any discomfort since about 3 months old, however, milk will come up curdled or she will get a mouth full of juice that comes back up. Does anyone know of children this age that still reflux?

[supermum?]

my son still had severe reflux and was very unsettled on meds at 9 months. i am sure that he would have continued that way except that we saw an osteopath who treated him and within 4 visits he was completely off the meds. every now and again (he is now 18months) he starts bringing up milk etc again now and i take him back or to the chiropractor for a readjestment. i know that a lot of people may not want to go down this road but i know a lot of people who have had success with chiropractors. the interesting thing is that he now also walks much better - he was a little clumsy before. it seems his body was out of alignment. its is certainly worth a try for you.

[Roni]

My daughter is almost four and still has severe reflux. Hers is a severe case (tube fed since birth) but I know of tons of kids who aren't outgrowing it by their first birthday. The good news is it doesn't sound like it's causing her any discomfort so I'd try not to worry about it too much. Try feeding her smaller amounts more frequently so that her tummy isn't as full and it may help with her reflux episodes.

[mom2]

Hi there,
I was interested to see the replies to this thread. My daughter is almost 18 months and is still taking her Prilosec. Every time we try to wean her from it she has a hard time sleeping and gets real cranky.You can tell she is very uncomfortable. Our pediatrician said he has never had a patient who still had reflux after their first birthday. It has been somewhat frustrating because first we were told when she started solids that would help, then when she started to be more upright and walking that would do it. Well, here we are and nothing has changed. Our ped. wants to keep her on her meds until she is two but I am almost thinking we should try to wean her again after she runs out of her current bottle of medicine. She is so happy it is hard to believe she could go back to the cranky babe she was in the beginning.Maybe I shouldn't push my luck.

[ashleysmom]

I was also told by my Daughter's Pediatrician and Specialist, that she should outgrow the refluxing when she starts sitting up, walking, eating solids etc. My Daughter is off medication, however, she still refluxes. My main concern is damage to her esophagus. The specialist said they would see her when she turns 2 years old if she is still refluxing. He said they would treat her like an adult and do a scope in the endoscopy department and go from there with medications. I guess, I just wish I knew if this is a life long problem for her, or if there is still a chance she may outgrow it.:confused:

[NB'S MOM]

First, to the new ladies at this juncture, although my son seems to have outgrown the gerd, I have it and have to control what and how I it. If in fact your children don't outgrow it just make sure to keep making your visits to the peditric gi specialist to avoid any corrosion of their esohphaugus. It is a completely manageable illness but has definately altered my eating habits.

Ok older ladies, i am at my wits end and am scared to death due to the following: NB had his x-rays come back and everything appeared normal. Although he sits immediately down like a frog and I try to correct it (my daycare said sitting this way will lessen his joints strength) I just learned that my brother always sat this way so may be its hereditary. But thats not altogether whats troubeling me. I took NB to the pediatric neurologist at the university with the dad and she fears that there may be autism. There is no doubt that Nb is debvelopmentally delayed (i.e. rakes food and doesnt pick up to well, no words other than dadadadadada, or ppaaaaa or bubbbbbb...; little attention span, frenzied behavior, walking on tiptoes, sensitivty to sound and touch, poor social skills). NB is 16 months. Although many of this stuff could be attributed to just being a toddler and taking a little longer to get caught up, I am absolutely petrified. My dad saw him this weekend and everyone agress that NB does need therapy and I am on a wait list to wait-if you can belive that. Meanwhile, I have NB set up to see three other specialists ENT, beahvioral pediatrician and another pediatric neurologist. If someone is going to assess my baby as autisitic (even through they really should be doing that before 36 mo.) I want three different opinions. I am trecking him down to UCLA to see the specialists there. Of course I am nauseated. The dad is pollyanna and saying hes just a littl ebeind and the negative me is thinking hes autisitic and will never be able to function by himself. WHat scares me is if anything happened to me or dad, hed be all alone with no fanmily to help and hed have to be institutionalized. I am ready to have a breakdown over this and am trying to be optimistic. But I want to start therapy ASAP and must wait till theres an opening.

Mom 2-is Sohie saying anything now or does she exhibit any otf the above?

[mom2]

NB's mom,
Glad I checked in again. Sophie is still not saying more than about 5 "words". She doesn't have any of the other behaviors that your little guy is showing. However, didn't you mention that he may need tubes in his ears? I mention this because my sister-in-law is going through a similar thing with he son. Two weeks ago they diagnosed with autism--mild end but still very scary for her and her husband. Her son has been having trouble with his balance, not walking well, not talking, not really responding to people, and doesn't try to break his fall with his arms,rubbing his head on the ground. I can't remember what else. Anyway, they finally had his ears checked again. He has been having problems with ear infections since he was 3 months old. What they found is that he only has 13 percent hearing in one ear and 8 percent in the other!!!!!He is in effect almost deaf. Of course, that will affect all of the other areas of development--walking, speaking, responsiveness. She is now taking him to another specialist who recommended tubes. So now her dr. is not sure the initial diagnosis of autism was correct. Be persistent and seek out other opinions as you have been. It may be something different entirely! Keep me informed. Thinking of you.

[NB'S MOM]

Mom2: thanks for sharing that story-we are all concerned but I finally got in to have him have the autism test on april 26, 2004 and his hearing test will be done in may. so i will be sure to tell them that i have not excluded ear troubles yet. pray, pray pray for NB!