Is it safe to tilt a baby mattress is a common question asked amongst the parenting community. The answer here really is that it depends on the type of mattress and crib you’re using. There certainly are safe ways to tilt your baby, but every parent and child is different. We would advise only doing what you and your healthcare professional feel comfortable with. Here at Nini Baby, we’re going to take a closer look at the safest way to tilt baby for comfort.
A Safe Incline
A very slight incline can be more than effective for nasal decongestion and acid reflux. According to the NHS IHV, simply elevating your little one’s crib by a few degrees is recommended to relieve uncomfortable symptoms. Baby must always be laying on their back. An attachable swaddle is recommended to reduce any risk of them slipping down the cot. It is not safe for baby to be propped on a steep incline because this increases the risk of an unsafe sleeping position.
Tilting the Cot
If you’re wondering, ‘is it safe to tilt a baby mattress’, then it may be worth ringing a health care professional for peace of mind before you make a decision. It is suggested that tilting a cot is better for baby because there is a much lesser risk of them rolling over. Their mattress should stay flat. Putting something underneath it without an attaching to the cot and having an attaching swaddle isn’t safe. A baby mattress should never bend in the middle, as it becomes a health risk. It is much safter to have the entire mattress flat and tilt the cot instead.
For the first 3 to 4 months, babies only usually breathe through the nose when they’re asleep, and don’t have the strength to move their head. Titling your cot and raising the head when decongested can help to alleviate the pressure and allow baby to breathe more clearly. Additionally, you can place a humidifier in baby’s room to humidify the air and help reduce congestion.
What If Baby Has Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux in babies can lead to a restless sleep for you both. Unfortunately, it tends to get worse at night. The acid concentration in the stomach is higher at night and when lying down, the acid can flow backwards more easily and stay in the oesophagus. The acid does not flow back to the stomach once there and can become very irritating for your little one. Putting baby to sleep on their back and tilting the cot can ease excess acid away from the throat.
Is It Safe to Tilt A Baby Mattress with A Pillow?
You should never put pillows and sheets in the cot with a new born baby to prop them up. It can be dangerous and puts them at risk of getting caught amongst the material whilst asleep. For ultimate comfort for your little one and peace of mind for you, slightly tilting the cot is best.
Our NiniPod is safe, secure and fully adjustable in height. One of the things that sets our cot apart from anyone else is that it comes with an attaching swaddle. This can always be secured comfortably and safely within the Pod. Although baby can still make the pod rock and bounce a little through their natural movement, they would not be able to roll and get stuck. There’s also the option for you to lock off the swinging function completely. The mattress is fully breathable and fits snugly to the cot base. This means that baby will not slide after the pod has been adjusted for incline.
Get in Touch
This is advice that has been put together from our own parenting experiences, our knowledge from creating NiniPod and of course, information from health care providers that is publicly available on the internet. If you’re ever unsure about your little one’s health, we would always recommend that you first check with your health care provider to make sure that what you do is best and safest for your child.
These are just some of the brilliant benefits of a rocking baby crib. If you’d like to join the better sleep movement and learn a little more about Nini Baby products, then we’d love to hear from you! Follow our journey @ninibabyuk, or feel free to contact us with any questions here!
