As a qualified teacher, mum, parenting coach and all-round Early Years expert, Sophie has a wealth of practical, real life experience to share with parents.
As a mum of two and a registered GP, Stephanie has seen more than her fair share of little ones! She has lots of practical tips and professional know-how on hand to help parents.
Katie is a mum of one, and also our resident Nutritionist. Bringing over 12 years’ experience, and a passion for infant weaning and nutrition to our Expert Panel.
Early Years Child Development Specialist Sophie Pickles explains:
Colic isn’t a specific thing, like reflux is, and it often happens around the same time each day; but we don’t know why. There are many factors that can cause colic: your little one could be over-tired or over-hungry or they may have a sore tummy. Remember, it’s not something that you have caused, it just happens and in most cases your baby will just grow out of it.
General Practitioner Dr. Stephanie Ooi adds:
Reflux is similar to gastric reflux or what we often call ‘heart burn’, that you may have experienced as an adult. But what causes this for little ones?
General Practitioner Dr. Stephanie Ooi explains:
When babies are born, their gut are quite immature. All babies have a sphincter, which is a circular ring of muscle that helps to guard or close the opening between the food pipe and the stomach – if it’s not working very well, milk can move from the stomach back into food pipe, which is called reflux. It can be uncomfortable for your little one as the contents of the stomach tend to be a little bit more acidic.
Early Years Child Development Specialist Sophie Pickles says:
General Practitioner Dr. Stephanie Ooi adds:
You might notice that your little one is uncomfortable during feeding or soon after feeding, as Sophie pointed out. It’s also important to note that’s it’s normal for babies to bring up small amounts of milk after feeding, so don’t be too concerned if your little one is. However, with reflux they’ll often bring up much larger amounts of milk after feeding, and your little one may be a little slower in putting on weight. Don’t worry, as once reflux has been identified, with the right help and support it can be treated.
Sophie Pickles, Early Years Child Development Specialist, suggests that keeping a journal can be helpful: “Write things down, in notes on your phone or in a diary. Collecting and then sharing this information can be really useful, especially when you speak to your GP about your little one. If you’ve noticed any patterns in your baby’s symptoms; when they flare up, how they are behaving – jot them down, as this will help your GP identify what the issue could be and how you can best treat it.”
Early Years Child Development Specialist Sophie Pickles explains:
I know how hard it can be in the middle of the night when you are tired, you’ve just fed them and then you’ve got to wait 30 minutes before you lay them back down. But this is a great time to involve your partner, who may be able to step in and let you get some well-earned rest between feeds.
Kiddylicious Nutritionist Katie Angotti says:
With severe cases, your GP may recommend medication to help settle reflux. You can seek support through on and offline community groups, your healthcare professional or GP. There are also lots of support services for parents you can take advantage of online and over the phone. Know that you’re not alone and great advice and support is available 24/7.
All of our experts recommend if your little one is experiencing any issues with feeding, then speak to your healthcare professional or your GP for tailored advice and support.
Sign up to get tips and expert advice straight to your inbox as your little one grows. We'll also let you know about competitions and new products.
