As a parent, you may be wondering if it is the right time to give your child a baby pillow. Most adults prefer to sleep on a pillow, so it is easy to assume that your toddler needs one as well. Of course, you want your child to be comfortable while sleeping. However, there are many good reasons to hold off on giving your little one a baby pillow.
It is only realistic to be concerned about nighttime safety. The chances of suffocation increase greatly when an infant sleeps with unnecessary objects in the crib, such as a baby pillow or soft toys. Sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, is a concern that should be taken seriously by all parents. Older babies who can move around well and even walk are still at risk of suffocation while sleeping, because they are not as aware of their surroundings.
A baby pillow can also be a safety hazard in another way. At some point, generally between their first and second birthdays, nearly all infants try to escape from their cribs. Those who have a baby pillow quickly learn that it makes an excellent climbing device. This can lead to a dangerous fall. Therefore, you should at least wait until your child is sleeping in a toddler bed before using a baby pillow.
Pediatricians often tell their patients that an infant should not have a baby pillow until at least one and a half years of age. In light of research, some doctors are now switching to a newer recommended age of at least two years. It is perfectly fine to wait longer if that makes you worry less. A toddler does not really need to use a baby pillow at all. This is especially true for little ones who sleep on their backs. Introducing a baby pillow when it is not needed can actually cause pain by curving the spine unnaturally.
As long as your toddler is above the minimum age and sleeping in a bed, simply waiting until he or she asks to have a baby pillow makes the most sense. At this point, be sure to get a baby pillow that is created for little bodies. A baby pillow is smaller and firmer than what an adult or older child would use. Using the right kind decreases safety hazards. If your baby is sick and congested, you can place something underneath the crib mattress on one end to elevate it instead of using a baby pillow.
June 18th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Along with the baby pillow, these sleep positioners help ensure that the baby is able to get a good night’s rest.
Many in the medical community are of the opinion that the use of a baby pillow is not necessarily in the child’s best interests. While some children seem to do fine without them, many will need a baby pillow in order to sleep more comfortably through the night. In any case, you may want to hold off on using a baby pillow until the time when your child moves from the crib into a real bed. If your child is below two years old, the use of a baby pillow can actually be quite risky.
August 2nd, 2009 at 11:58 am
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August 14th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
You must keep in mind that pillows for toddlers are different from the pillows of mature children.
A perfect baby pillow is suitable in size and thickness. High quality baby pillows are washable and tested for allergy. Tight fitting sheets are perfect for baby pillows. It is better to remove extra strings and ribbons from the pillow to increase the safety of your pillow.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Blog was awesome.
September 10th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
The comfort of the child is one of your biggest priorities. This is because when the child is comfortable, he or she is able to sleep and relax, and when the baby can sleep and relax, you can, too! One often overlooked item that can increase the comfort of your child is a baby pillow.
You may be thinking that your child is too young for a baby pillow, and you are right. This could be the case, because most physicians ONLY recommend them for kids over the age of two. Regardless, sometimes a baby pillow can be used to good effect before the second year, and certainly after.
October 1st, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Great blog.
December 7th, 2009 at 3:23 am
This was a great post. Awesome post dude.
January 28th, 2010 at 6:04 am
The reason is that it may increase the change of your baby suffocating from the pillow if his face accidentally end up on it.
So when is it safe to let your baby use pillow? Well, according to the recommendations of doctors, unless your baby is out on the crib and is sleeping on his toddler bed, you should not have your baby use a pillow. In other words, the baby should at least be two years old. And that is if you want. There is really no need for them, even for toddlers, to use pillows yet.