How to Elevate a Crib for a Baby With Reflux

When your baby suffers from acid reflux, you know that bedtime can often be the worst time of day for symptoms; as your baby lies flat on his mattress, acid can be more easily splashed up into the esophagus, causing your little one pain. Elevating you baby's mattress can help him sleep on an incline and reduce reflux symptoms. Check with your doctor, and once you receive approval, you can use pillows or a rolled blanket to complete the process.

Remove the bedding and the mattress from your baby's crib.

Measure 6 inches with a ruler and use a small piece of tape to mark the spot. Elevating the mattress to about 6 inches at the head brings the incline to about 30 degrees, which is the height recommended by Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Elevating the mattress too high could result in the mattress sagging or your baby rolling in the night.

Roll a towel or stack pillows on the crib base at the head of the crib only. Stack enough material to reach the 6-inch mark. While baby stores sell wedge pillows for the same purpose, because the pillows or towels aren't coming in contact with your baby, you needn't use any special safety materials.

Replace the mattress on top of the pillows, towels or wedge. Place a fitted top sheet over the mattress.