As a first time parent, I research and over analyze everything. 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. The best thing I ever did during my first trimester was to finally put away that “What to Expect When You are Expecting” book and stop driving myself crazy. After I put the books away, I found that I enjoyed my pregnancy a lot more. I still get quoted from one zinger I told my husband during those first couple months. “Once this baby is born, I will not worry about anything again.” He found it quite humorous and told me I would most definitely find some causes for worry in parenthood. He was right. And here my latest worry is the topic of the baby pillow.
When you purchase a crib set (blanket, crib bumper, sheets, crib skirt), a baby pillow is frequently included. This is quite confusing. Unless a child is older than the age of 2, he or she should not use a pillow. When a child is under two, the presence of a pillow can increase the risk of suffocation. Duvets and big blankets are not recommended for the same reason. A baby should be placed on his back to sleep, should not have soft things in his crib, and should not have anything covering his face. Sleep sacks are suggested, rather than blankets, when babies are young. There is debate over whether a child older than 2 years of age even needs a pillow to make him more comfortable. All experts agree, however, that you should wait to give your child a pillow until he is out of the crib.
A baby pillow, like what you get on an airline flight, is the right size to introduce to a first time pillow user. Choose a pillow that is not feather or down, as such a pillow can often allow the head of a child to sink down too much. We followed these guidelines when introducing a baby pillow to our almost 3 year old daughter recently when we moved her to a big bed. We would always find her hugging the baby pillow, instead of actually having her head on it. It was not much of pillow, so it would frequently get lodged between the wall and the bed or disappear in the blankets. After a couple weeks, we ditched the baby pillow and got her a normal sized pillow. Unlike when she was sleeping with the baby pillow, she actually uses the new pillow like an adult would. She even props it up to lean on when she reads, which she thoroughly enjoys.


