One hears of numerous expert opinions on why babies do not require pillows and how dangerous pillows can be for the health of your baby. Most of such advice is needlessly exaggerated and do not give the right picture of whether to use baby pillows or not. It is a fact that children less than one year of age do not usually need pillows and in some cases, the pillows may not be safe for his/her health. However, past that age, using a baby pillow is no more harmful and can actually aid your baby in sleeping better.
During the early years, the skull bones are very soft and keeping the head in one position may result in the skull developing a lopsided appearance. A rigid on the back sleeping posture can lead to the development of a hollow at the back of the baby’s head. A baby pillow helps stave off such a happening by giving the right support to the head. It is important to select the appropriate baby pillow. Never choose a feather or soft pillow as the baby may develop allergies due to the feather or be smothered due to the extra softness enveloping the nose and mouth. A pillow such as the latest memory foam baby pillows are good products which provide the requisite support and firmness and are accident free.
There are different kinds of baby pillows available in the market. It is necessary to choose a correct pillow depending upon the requirements of your baby. Baby pillows used in cribs are just as safe as any other provided they are thin and narrow. The proof of this statement lies in the fact that all hospitals use crib pillows in their childcare units. Should your baby develop a cold, a baby pillow is advocated. A baby pillow helps keep the head up and aids breathing which is disturbed by a congested nose. A baby pillow also helps prevent acid reflux and ear infections. Some parents advise that the right time to give your baby a pillow is when the baby graduates from the crib to a bed. The reason that they base this premise is on the fact that on a bed the chances of smothering are greatly reduced as the pillow is liable to fall off. Some babies even start exhibit signs that they need a pillow. They do this by holding a stuffed toy or a towel under their head and use it as a makeshift head rest. Then it’s definitely time for you to buy a good baby pillow.
December 11th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Test the firmness before buying a baby pillow so that the baby will not be smothered by sinking his or her little nose into it. Two years is the deemed age when you ought to teach the child to sleep using a pillow. There is a high chance of suffocation in earlier stages. It might prove dangerous to do otherwise. When the baby starts using a pillow the baby pillow should be small and non allergic body pillow.
December 21st, 2008 at 12:30 pm
During my early first trimester, I agonized over what I may have eaten before I knew I was pregnant or whether I worked out too hard and raised my temperature too much for the baby. To save my sanity, I decided to put away all the pregnancy books a couple months in, so I would stop reading about everything that could happen. Doing so made me a much happier person. My husband still laughs about something I said during my first trimester. It was something along the lines of not worrying ever again once the baby is born.
January 16th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
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January 27th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Also, always make sure that the pillow cover is made of soft cotton or linen and not synthetic material which can also cause skin irritation. Hospitals and maternity wards use narrow thin pillows for baby cribs which are firm yet soft. Baby pillows are also made of memory foam which is a good bargain. Most supermarkets, malls and specialized baby care shops stock baby pillows. While costs vary, it is always more prudent to buy a recognized brand for the assured safety and quality.
February 1st, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Feather pillows are known to cause an allergic reaction among some babies and it is best to avoid them. All the better to sleep with if the pillow has a washable cover that can be removed at will as it promotes better hygine.
Testing the firmness of the baby pillow to avoid suffocation or sinking or breathlessness due to nose pressed against the hard to too soft surface of the pillow, is an ideal thing to do before deciding upon the pillow. Two years is the deemed age when you ought to teach the child to sleep using a pillow. There is a high chance of suffocation in earlier stages.
March 6th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
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