Red Nose recommends that all babies are placed to sleep on their back on a firm mattress that is not tilted or elevated.
How Should My Baby Sleep with Reflux?
Reflux is common for up to half of babies under three months of age, and 70% of healthy babies less than one year old. Most reflux stops after six months and completely stops within twelve months for 95% of babies.
Babies with reflux should be placed to sleep on their back from birth, on a firm, flat mattress that is not elevated at one end. Tilting the sleeping surface does not reduce reflux and is not recommended.
A baby in a tilted cot may slip down the cot and be covered by bedding. A pillow used to elevate the baby may be a suffocation hazard and can increase the chance that the baby’s chin drops onto their chest which can reduce air flow to the lungs.
The risk of sudden death when a baby is placed to sleep on their tummy or side outweighs any benefits.
Medical staff should advise parents in writing if, for a medical reason, a baby must not sleep on their back. They should also advise of other ways to reduce the risk of sudden and unexpected death.
Always place baby to sleep on their back, on a firm mattress that is not tilted or elevated.
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