If babies are supposed to sleep flat and not at an incline, why do they do that in the hospital?

nofrogs

My DD hated sleeping flat, but I didn't prop her mattress, or use a rock n play, because I heard it wasn't safe for them to sleep at an incline. As I second time mom to be, I just want to preserve my sanity, and I am questioning the validity of this rule, because whenever I visit a baby in the hospital, and when I birthed my DD, the nurses propped the baby in the bassinet into a steep incline to get the baby to sleep. So why don't medical professionals follow their own advice?

NoSugarCoating

Uh, babies at our hospital were laid flat in the bassinet. You will have to ask the nurses at your specific hospital.

nofrogs

Hmm, that's interesting that it varies so much.

lilnessi

ive never heard that it wasn't safe for a baby to sleep at an incline. Our pediatrician actually recommended it for our DD when she was a a newborn as she has really bad reflux.

nofrogs

I thought the incline increased the risk of SIDS?

FunnyGal18

Use a foam insert so he can sleep on his side and he doesn't choke if he vomits during sleep.

My sister got me one from ebay, I think.

It's a side sleeper.

NoSugarCoating

FunnyGal18 said:

Use a foam insert so he can sleep on his side and he doesn't choke if he vomits during sleep. My sister got me one from ebay, I think. It's a side sleeper.

Baby sleep positioners are not recommended. https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/21/officials-warn-against-baby-sleep-positioners/

oneblessedmess

From what I understand, sleeping in a "flat inclined" position is generally considered okay (so propping up a mattress is fine because baby is still flat on their back) but a "inclined sitting" position is more risky (the way a baby would be positioned in a rock n play). Of course there is a lot of debate about this. Talk to your pediatrician for more info.