After seeing 3 ped-GI's, 4 pediatricians, 3 therapists, I learned something very interesting about the GERD medicines given to infants. I also joined a local feeding therapy group and we chat online and exchange issues and ideas about medicines, doctor's advice, new products etc. I also met 4 other reflux parents in person and three by phone-- we exchange all the details about our child's feeding problems and GERD. Here are some new things that parents and doctor's brought to my attention. Hope this helps you in asking the doctor right set of questions regarding GERD medicines.

One important thing that I learned: never blindly follow any internet based web-site that gives you a range of dosage that might be appropriate for your GERD child. Do not use it as basis for arguing with doctors because only a specialist will evaluate your child and find out what may be right for her. Many of these websites are operated by over aggressive and argumentative folks who might make you lose focus from your child's real problems. Many sites give phone numbers and email addresses of so called 'experts' but numbers that are not in service and you will never meet a real person. Discussion groups such as this one on healthcentral has been more useful for me in terms of productive discussion.  

Of course before you go to the specialist, make sure you ask around to see if other parents in your situation have recommended her, how much experience does she have in this matter, is she going to base her diagnosis on personal bias or thorough evaluation (not necessarily invasive techniques). You certainly don't want to go to a doctor who is very inexperienced, but then you also don't want someone with a tunnel vision. Open minded specialists who listen are more desirable. I have found that doctors at Children's Hospitals are more experienced than doctor's who are in private practice, but on the other hand doctor's affiliated to Children's Hospitals might be more busy and you do run into the risk of coming across someone with a 'tunnel vision'.

Let's begin with the first line of action against Acid reflux in your baby:

Diagnosing Reflux and starting the treatment:

When you go into your baby's Pedi's office and let her know that your child:

• 1. Shows unexplained colic like symptoms that persist beyond fist few weeks of birth.
• 2. Arches her back while feeding or after feeding
• 3. May or may not vomit but looks like is very upset after feeding and looks like is regurgitating her formula.
• 4. Is irritable when she spits or burps
• 5. Fussy feeder: Either drinks very little, refuse bottle or breast or both (aversions),or clings to the bottle or nurses as if the child has been starving (comfort feeding?).
• 6. Is losing weight because of insufficient feeding.
• 7. Wheezes during breathing (night) or has episodes of apnea.

A feeding problem is diagnosed by the pediatrician and many a times a good doctor will ask you to feed your child in front of her to evaluate what the problem is. They might ask you to bring two three types of nipples and pacifiers. If your child has begun sleep feeding as a result of aversions they will want you to show how your child accepts bottle while asleep.