One of the first lines of defense in dealing with an
infant with reflux or GERD is propping the head of the bed or crib
at least six inches. Some doctors even recommend elevating the head
of the crib slightly (ten degrees) for all babies, believing it may
help prevent SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). There are several
products on the market that assist with this, some of which you will
on this page. If funds are tight, as they often are when living
with a child who has health issues, you may not need to purchase
anything to effectively prop the crib or bed. Here is a
suggestion*: |
s p o n s o r e d a d (what's
this?)
The Positioning Pillow
for Preemies to
Babies up to 28lbs
www.arpillow.com |
- Place large, stable blocks under the feet of the crib (at the head
of the crib) or life the head of the mattress and place pillows
underneath until it's an acceptable height.
- Very tightly roll up three medium to large towels placing one on
either side of where baby sleeps and one underneath (to support the
baby's bottom) forming a snug "U" shape that will provide a "nest"
around the baby. Placing a waterproof crib pad underneath might be
advisable if the baby frequently spits up or vomits, this will help
protect the crib.
- Laying another large towel flat over the rolled towels and tucking
it in snugly around the rolled towels may give extra stability and help
prevent the rolled towels from slipping. Tuck the flat towel under the
outer edges of the crib tightly if it will reach.
- A fitted crib sheet can now be placed over the mattress and towels.
If it sticks up too much within the formed "U" shape where the child
will lay, gently pat it down in the center. If your child frequently
spits up or vomits, placing another waterproof crib pad over the sheet
can protect everything from getting soaked. It's much easier to wash
the crib pad several times than to strip the sheet/towel combination
several times and redo it when it gets covered in vomit.
It is advisable to keep the crib nearby (bedside your bed if possible),
especially if the mattress is elevated extremely high. This is not
recommended for older infants or ones that are excessively mobile.
We also suggest propping the child during
diaper changes, particularly if changing the diaper after meals.
Reviewed By Dave Olson, MD
Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics
Graduate University of Michigan School of Medicine
*InfantRefluxDisease.com does not guarantee the
safety of this method and suggests discussing it with your pediatrician or
doctor before proceeding. InfantRefluxDisease.com can not be held
responsible or liable in any way for providing this suggestion.
PRODUCTS
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