Acid reflux isn’t only an adult problem. It also affects many children, and symptoms of reflux keep many children awake at night. Acid reflux is when stomach acids backflow into the esophagus. This produces unpleasant and painful symptoms, such as coughing, a sore throat, vomiting, nausea and heartburn. Symptoms of reflux tend to worsen at night when lying flat, but there are several tips to help kids sleep with reflux disease.

1. Feed smaller meals. Overeating can trigger acid reflux symptoms and make it more difficult for kids to sleep. You can help kids sleep better by serving four to six small meals a day, as opposed to three large meals.

2. Eat hours before bedtime. Feeding children right before bedtime can trigger reflux. If reflux occurs in an infant, make sure the baby burps before falling asleep. In the case of older children, serve meals at least two to three hours before bedtime.

3. Elevate the head of the bed. Raise the head of the child’s bed six inches by placing a block underneath the legs. Keeping the head elevated helps kids sleep because stomach acids remain in the stomach and do not travel up the esophagus.