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How to Handle Nighttime Nursing with a Reflux Baby in 21 Simple Steps
Before becoming a parent, I was led to believe by the Blissed-Out Organization of Breastfeeders that nursing would be a walk in the park: easy, painless, and that every baby would be a perfect little angel during feedings. I imagined myself effortlessly nursing while multitasking like a pro—baking cookies or typing a blog post—all while looking fabulous.
Well, reality check! As a proud member of the BOOB club, I can tell you that breastfeeding is not always smooth sailing. Especially with our second baby, who has reflux. If you’re dealing with something similar, you might find this 21-step nighttime nursing guide helpful!
- Wake up to the sound of soft cooing. Jump out of bed before it escalates into a full-blown wail.
- Stumble over to the rocking chair in the dark—any light will surely wake the baby. Attach the Boppy pillow around your waist, ensuring a pile of burp cloths and wipes are within reach.
- Politely ask your partner for a glass of water, because nursing makes you thirstier than after running a marathon in the desert.
- Bring the baby to your breast.
- The baby will nurse well for a few moments, then suddenly become fidgety. Is he still hungry? Did he gulp too much air? Or maybe he’s just looking for comfort? You’ll have to play detective.
- Bring the baby back to breast.
- Nope! Baby unexpectedly spits up all over you. Acknowledge that he needs to be burped. Struggle to hold him upright while milk dribbles down your shirt.
- Pat his back until at least one shoulder is soaked with spit-up—realize you’ve probably made things worse.
- Still in the dark, head to the changing table because his pajamas are now soaked. Remove the wet clothes and discover a diaper that could double as a water balloon.
- Change the diaper and brace yourself for surprise pee—more than you anticipated!
- Flick on the light.
- Fasten the diaper tabs while quickly wiping away any mess nearby with baby wipes.
- Get your little one into dry pajamas.
- Place him back in the bassinet, but alas, the light has awakened him, and he’s now ready to party.
- Ignore the newly awakened baby for just 15 minutes—please let me have a moment of peace! Crawl back into bed, smelling like a dairy farm.
- Listen for choking sounds. Panic sets in as you realize he’s gagging on spit-up. Wipe his face and neck frantically.
- Lie back down.
- For 15 minutes—until the grunting starts again, signaling he’s hungry once more.
- Bring him back to breast and repeat steps as needed.
- Decide it’s okay if he sleeps in a soggy diaper with a bit of milk on his cheek.
- Remind yourself it’s just one night, and tomorrow you’ll wake up looking fabulous.
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Summary
Nursing a reflux baby at night can be a challenging experience, but with a little humor and patience, you can navigate these sleepless nights. By following these 21 steps, you can find some balance and perhaps a bit of joy in the chaos.