Infant pillow

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. You might worry that he or she is uncomfortable at night. However, there are many good reasons to hold off on giving your little one a baby pillow.

The most important issue is that of 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. Risk factors for SIDS should not be taken lightly by caregivers. Unfortunately, even babies who seem like they should be able to move away from an object that is covering their face sometimes suffocate at night.

A baby pillow can also be a safety hazard in another way. Infants who sleep in cribs generally start trying to climb out sometime between one and two years of age. If available, they will often use a baby pillow as a step to get over the crib rails. 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.

Many pediatricians cite eighteen months as the minimum age that an infant should use a baby pillow. 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. There really is not an age at which it becomes necessary to give your toddler a baby pillow. 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. When you do decide to give your child a pillow at night, you should make sure that it is, in fact, a baby pillow. The difference is that a baby pillow is not as large or soft as one made for adults. Using the right kind decreases safety hazards. For sick babies who need to have their heads elevated to breathe, stuffing blankets under the mattress is an easy alternative to giving them a baby pillow.