The Best Baby Clothes for Babies With Reflux

When my first baby was born, I quickly realised that feeding a baby with reflux was very different from what I had expected.

Like many new parents, I imagined a few outfit changes here and there. The reality was that we were changing clothes constantly. Some days we would go through six or seven outfits before bedtime.

If you're currently dealing with a reflux baby, you're probably doing a lot more washing than you ever imagined and wondering which clothes are actually worth buying.

What Reflux Was Like For Us

My eldest suffered with reflux for several months. He would often bring milk back up after feeds and sometimes between feeds too.

We tried different approaches and eventually found that reflux milk helped settle things down, but it took time. In those early months, there always seemed to be another muslin cloth, bib or sleepsuit heading for the washing basket.

The good news is that it did improve. Once he moved onto solids, things became much easier.

The Clothes We Used Most

Without question, the most useful items were simple vests and sleepsuits.

We weren't interested in fancy outfits because they were often changed before we'd even left the house. Practicality became far more important than appearance.

A vest underneath a sleepsuit gave us flexibility throughout the day and made it easier to cope with frequent changes.

Why Zips Beat Poppers

One thing I wish I'd discovered sooner was zipped sleepsuits.

When you're dealing with multiple outfit changes every day, the last thing you want is to be struggling with lots of poppers.

Zips made changes quicker and easier, especially during the night when everyone was tired.

It's a small detail, but when you're changing clothes six or seven times a day, it makes a huge difference.

Bibs Become Essential

If there's one thing you can never have too many of with a reflux baby, it's bibs.

We always had one on hand because it helped reduce the number of full outfit changes needed throughout the day.

Anything that buys you a little extra time between washes is worth having.

Don't Buy Too Many Clothes In One Size

One thing reflux taught me is that babies grow through clothes quickly enough without needing extra changes because of sickness.

I would avoid buying huge amounts in one size. Instead, focus on good quality basics that wash well and can cope with frequent use.

This is one of the reasons I became such a fan of preloved baby clothes. Better quality brands often survive repeated washing much better than cheaper alternatives.

It Does Get Better

If you're currently in the middle of reflux and feeling exhausted, I promise it won't last forever.

At the time it can feel relentless, but things do improve. For us, moving onto solids made a huge difference and life became much easier.

In the meantime, keep plenty of vests, sleepsuits and bibs nearby. You'll probably use them more than anything else.

Final Thoughts

Having a baby with reflux completely changed the way I thought about baby clothes.

Comfort, practicality and easy changes became much more important than cute outfits. Looking back, simple basics were worth their weight in gold.

If you're dealing with reflux, don't put pressure on yourself to have the perfect wardrobe. Focus on clothes that make life easier, because that's what you'll really appreciate during those early months.