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I have had three babies with MPSI (Milk Protein and Soy Intolerance) and GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease). Not only are the diagnoses a mouthful, but caring for a baby with them is a handful, to say the least. While I am only techincally certified to advise on sleep, speech, and feeding, I wanted to write this to share my experience. I hope it makes you feel less alone on this journey and maybe gives you some ideas you haven’t tried yet.

Always consult your Pediatrician or GI (gastroenterologist) before introducing anything new!!

First of all, both of these conditions require a diagnosis by either a Pediatrician or GI. I personally prefer having a GI follow my kids, as they specialize in treating these conditions. So, if you think your baby may have one or both of these diagnoses, don’t be afraid to ask your Pediatrician for a referral to a GI! You won’t regret getting another set of eyes on your situation, I promise.

Robert:

Robert, my firstborn, was the definition of a “colicky” baby. Not only did he cry all the time, but he wouldn’t sleep unless being held, and then he started refusing to eat. I was dismissed every time I voiced my concerns because he was still gaining weight. I don’t know how this was possible since most days I was lucky to get a total of 12 oz into him. My entire day was spent trying to get 1 oz in at a time. I had a process where I would get him sucking on a pacifier, he would start to doze off, and then I would slip the bottle in until he noticed and started screaming. I would replace the pacifier and start all over again. This is how he ate. It was exhausting to say the least! Forget about anyone else feeding him a bottle.. it was an art form only I could do. Which only confounded my anxiety. Babysitters, Grandparents, even my husband couldn’t figure it out, and I would have to come home and feed him.

Since he was still gaining weight, I was told some babies are just “fussy eaters.” I spent so much money trying out every single bottle under the sun, thinking maybe the bottle was the issue… nope. I knew something was wrong, so I asked for a GI and Feeding Therapist referral. In the meantime, I was told to put him on rice cereal and was given an antacid medication just to pacify me. I now know that rice cereal is never a fix for these kids (in fact, it can inflame them more and is an aspiration risk!), but I didn’t know that then! So, we tried the rice cereal and the medicines while I waited to see the GI and Speech Therapist.

Like most first-time moms, I was very anxious about what I put in my baby’s pure little body. If I couldn’t breastfeed, I wanted him to get the purest and cleanest formula out there. So, I was devastated to find out there was no organic hypoallergenic formula when the GI suggested we put him on one. I decided I had to give up the obsession with clean ingredients in order for him to start healing. So, we put him on Alimentum, and he started to improve! By nine months old, I had weaned him off all of the reflux medications (Famotidine and Lansoprazole), and he was tolerating dairy! YAY!

Lucy

Now, my daughters are a different story. I knew from the start that there was a very high likelihood they would develop MPSI and GERD, as there is a strong genetic correlation. I considered breastfeeding and doing the full elimination diet, but I knew my postpartum anxiety would go haywire if I had to read a label every time I ate! So, knowing my second child, Lucy, would most likely have MPSI, I immediately put her on a European brand of formula that was organic and hypoallergenic (yay!). I thought we would be smooth sailing… but nope! After four weeks on that formula, she was officially having visible mucus and blood in her stools (damnit!). So, back to the GI I went. Because she was still reacting to the hypoallergenic formula, she needed to be put on an Amino-Acid based formula (we chose PurAmino). Once again, I hated the ingredients, but I gave in because there was no better option for her. She started to improve, but it took a solid month to really notice a difference. She had all of Robert’s same symptoms of refusing bottles and horrible reflux pain… but she did sleep better than he did!

Hayes

Finally, with my third child, Hayes, I was determined to get it right from the start! A new formula had come out that was organic, dairy-free, soy-free, and didn’t use corn syrup… FINALLY! It was a Pea Protein-based formula by a company called Baby’s Only. The formula is technically only approved for use with toddlers. However, it meets all the nutritional requirements for an infant formula! The FDA has a lot of red tape for getting a formula approved for infants—it can take years! I liked what I saw: the ingredients were amazing, and it was SO much cheaper! So, this was a no brainer. She absolutely thrived on it! She still needed reflux medications, but her symptoms were not nearly as bad as her brother or sister’s.

I wanted to write all of this down to let you know I truly have been there. It’s SO HARD! I am always happy to talk with a MPSI/GERD parent to talk through options! I was that parent desperate for someone to tell me, “I get it, this sucks!” So, while I cannot diagnose or treat these conditions, I can be a sounding board for ideas on how to get through it. Because you WILL GET THROUGH IT! Contact me via email or instagram and let’s chat!

You’ve got this!

xoxo,

Elizabeth

I cannot WAIT for my kids to go back to school. BUT, I need to undo some bad summer habits before they start. Anyone else?! 😬 Ok, let’s do it together: As we start to think about the upcoming school year, I wanted to share some tips on helping your child get a good night’s sleep. We all know how important it is for our kids to be well-rested and ready to tackle each school day!

Here are a few simple ideas to help establish a healthy sleep routine before school starts:

1. Set a Consistent Bedtime: Anyone else been letting their kids stay up WAY too late this summer? 🙋🏻‍♀️ Start moving bedtime earlier by 15 minutes every few days leading up to the first day of school. This way it feels like less of a shock when they have to go to bed so much earlier than they have been this summer! Consistency is key to helping your child’s body adjust. Need help figuring out your child’s ideal bedtime? Email me, and I’d be happy to assist! 
2. Get Back to That Bedtime Routine: Whatever your normal routine was before summer, let’s get back to it! At our house it’s dinner, bath/shower, play time (yes, play here is a link to my post about the benefits), brush teeth, books, then bed! Get back to your routine now so you aren’t fighting them the night before school starts!
3. Start to Limit Screen Time: I’m just as guilty of using the TV as a babysitter this summer! If you have trouble winding your kids down before bed, try to turn off electronic devices at least an hour before bedtime. (Swap out your bedtime routine with play time instead!) The blue light from screens can interfere with the natural production of melatonin, the hormone that makes us feel sleepy.
4. Ensure a Comfortable Sleep Environment: Make sure the bedroom is cool, quiet, and dark. A cozy bed and a favorite stuffed animal can also help your child feel secure and ready to sleep.
5. Be a Role Model: Children will mimic their parents’ habits. Show them the importance of sleep by prioritizing it yourself. The physical and mental health benefits of a good nights sleep are innumerable! 

Establishing a good sleep routine now can make a big difference when school starts. A well-rested child is more likely to be attentive, perform better academically, and be in a better mood overall.

Wishing you and your family a smooth transition back to school! As always, reach out if you need any more help.

You got this!

-Elizabeth

You finally have a baby that sleeps great… and then BOOM they are a toddler and all hell breaks loose! They suddenly protest bedtime, become masters at stalling, and have very big opinions! Don’t worry, we can fix this! I am starting a new “my favorite things” series! After polling y’all on instagram last week, we will be starting with my favorite toddler sleep item!

Drum roll….

It’s a colored night light system! These are A MUST for training your toddler to stop fighting bed time, stay in their bed all night long AND wait until a reasonable hour to get up in the morning! These issues are SO common with toddlers. But, the problem is, they are too young to understand the concept of time! Enter…. a colored light system. Telling a toddler it’s 7:30 and time for bed means nothing to them. Tell them “the clock is red , it’s time for bed!?” They get that instantly! Let’s talk about some of the options, and then I’ll tell you how to use them!

My top picks:

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How to use it:

Now that you have chosen your clock, let’s learn how to use them!

1. Introduce the clock to your child and explain how it works. “When the clock turns red, it’s time for bed. We stay in our bed allllll night until the clock turns green!” Practice with their stuffed animals/baby dolls/favorite super hero, etc. Put them in their bed when the light turns red, then 1 minute later turn the light green and act excited for the stuffed animal to get out of bed!
2. Establish a rewards system as they learn to use this. I like to use a sticker chart. They get a sticker every night they stay in their bed all night long until the light is green! I created a bedtime sticker chart you can use for this here!
3. HOLD THE BOUNDARY. If you are committing to this red light system, do it! If you waiver and let them delay bed time/get out of bed/come into your bed this will not work! Stay calm and consistent and hold firm! “The light is red it’s time for bed”

If you need any additional assistance with this, or anything toddler sleep related, reach out and let’s do a $99 Quick Fix call and I can walk you through any additional questions you may have.

As always, I’ve got your back and you’ve got this!!

xoxo,

Elizabeth

Ok, let’s talk about swaddling. I had NO idea it was so controversial until I posted a reel on instagram demonstrating Dr. Harvey Karps’s “5 S’s of Soothing a Baby”. You can see it here. In the comment section I was berated, in multiple languages mind you, about how horrible I was for swaddling my baby. HUH!?

So, while I fully believe in swaddling a newborn for soothing and sleep- I’m here to say, if its not for you, that’s fine! I’m a huge supporter of “if it works for you, keep doing it”. There is no right way to raise a baby or child. I’m here to support you and meet you where you are. With all that being said, my job is to give you the facts- and the fact is, swaddling has been proven to soothe a newborn baby. It mimics the tight hug sensation of the womb, and calms their nervous system.

Now, obviously we aren’t keeping the baby swaddled all day every day. This tool is used for sleep and when baby may be over stimulated (aka the witching hour). During the other hours of the day when baby is awake we offer things like tummy time to develop their motor skills. I recently posted a video of how to properly swaddle a baby on my instagram page, but here are the non negotiables in safely swaddling a baby:

Swaddle safety:

• Tightness– we want it tight, but not too tight. Make sure you can fit two fingers under the material wrapped across their chest. We also want their legs and hips to be loose to prevent hip dysplasia, so focus mainly on wrapping their arms down.
• Breathability– make sure they aren’t getting over heated. I only use cotton swaddles for this reason. Also, make sure there is good airflow in the room they are sleeping in by using a ceiling or box fan.
• Age– swaddling is for newborns only. If the baby is 3 months, or starting to roll, it’s time to stop swaddling.

Have any questions about swaddling? Send me a message! I teach all this and more in my Newborn Sleep Foundations package.

You’ve got this!

Elizabeth

happy as a clam in the famous double swaddle!