When to Introduce a Baby Pillow
I am a new parent and I tend to be worried about everything new I introduce to my child. 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 laughed and asked if he may quote me on that in the future. He was right. And here my latest worry is the topic of the baby pillow.
A little baby pillow is often sold in crib sets. This is misleading. 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. It is the same rationale for not using heavy blankets and comforters. 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. Some experts say that even giving a child over the age of 2 a pillow may not make them any more comfortable than they would be without one. The advice from experts is that a pillow should not be given until the child is no longer sleeping in a crib and is in a bed.
It is suggested that a small baby pillow be introduced first, rather than an adult sized pillow. Something the size of an airplane pillow is perfect. It is recommended that you avoid down and feathers at first, to minimize allergic irritation and because those type of pillows are often too fluffy and big for a child. 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 put her to sleep with her head on the baby pillow, but whenever we would check on her, the pillow would be somewhere else in the bed. 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. She actually sleeps with her head on it and seems to enjoy the fact that her bed is now just like that of Mommy and Daddy.
March 27th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
I liked reading this post. I read your blog every day.
March 29th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Baby Pillows are used to assist newborn and toddlers get a comfortable sleep. Recent advancement in technology has seen manufacturers provide ample safety measures to prevent SIDS, a sudden and unexplained demise of a child between one month and one year old. Nowadays, most pillows are tested and are made on scientific principles which not only provide safety to a child but also help them relax and prevent any future deformities.
The recent surge in demand of baby pillows is due to its varied qualities that include the use of foamy material to protect tender body muscles. There are numerous baby pillows that carry a seal of the American Society of Pediatricians.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Wonderful stuff here. I will use this site in the future.
April 12th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
If a baby should end up with his face in a pillow he is not able to turn away from or push away the pillow. Babies under the age of two often roll over face down into a pillow and can not roll back on their own. A tragedy can result if a baby rolls over face down into a pillow when a caregiver is not around to roll them back over.
Introducing a toddler to a pillow can begin around the age of two. Not all toddlers view a pillow for just sleeping.
April 19th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
This info will be helpful.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:27 pm
The latest and most popular way to accessorize and personalize a baby pillow is by getting the photo of the baby printed on it. This service is provided by various online sites. It is an extremely original idea that you can toy with on a baby pillow. A baby pillow does not have to be the end of your creativity; a matching blanket is sure to be appreciated as well. Family pictures and photos of the pregnant mom for unborn babies are ideal substitutes.
April 29th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
So even if parents secure the beddings and sheet, if the baby pillow is not removed, the baby is still not safe from rebreathing.
To reduce the risk of SIDS doctors recommend to parents not to use baby pillows until the baby is out of his crib and is already on toddler bed. This means that the baby is not ready to use pillows until he is on his toddler age. The baby do not need pillows to sleep comfortably so this is not really a problem. Babies and even adults do not need pillows to get a good and comfortable sleep according to medical sleep experts.
May 11th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Crib pillows should be very thin and not too wide. Doctors do suggest that a baby pillow be used if your toddler has a cold or is congested. Again, these baby pillows are not to be used for children under the age of 12 months. To relieve earaches, use a baby pillow.
One tip to keep in mind when looking to buy a baby pillow is to get one that has colorful colors and fun prints.
May 15th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
I needed this info last month.
May 19th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Post more soon please.
June 8th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Have a nice day. Helpful info.
June 10th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
A number of frills can be indulged in while making a baby pillow. A baby pillow is meant to comfort the child in the crib, not protect it per se. This gives you a chance to explore various creative options while making the gift.
One of the most interesting and of late, popular methods of personalizing that baby pillow is to print the baby’s photo onto the baby pillow. This can be done by logging onto the net and choosing from the various online printing services on offer.
June 21st, 2009 at 7:57 pm
She happily slept snugly in a sleep sack and pajamas. She could not swing her legs over the rail, while wearing the sleep sack. I don’t know that she would have anyway, as she was so happy in there. It was an easy transition when we moved her to a big bed. After getting her used to the big bed with a few naps, we transitioned her to nighttime too.
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS is the main cause of fatalities under that age is something that the parents should know. SIDS is associated with suffocation, strangulation and rebreathing. The baby pillow plays an important role in most of these cases.
Strangulation and suffocation in children under the age of one is caused by soft bedding, baby pillow or when the baby sleeps on his stomach. Aside from soft bedding and sleeping on their stomach, the baby pillow is as harmful.
July 8th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
There is more than one type of baby pillow, and not all are created equal. One thing that can be useful to have for mother and child from day one is the nursing pillow. Since a nursing pillow is designed to cradle the head of your child while nursing, mommy can relax more during the process. These sort of baby pillows can also be beneficial to help the child relax. Often, you can coax the baby into a new position with maximum comfort obtained, which can frequently lead to a much needed nap for everyone involved! Even when nursing is not involved, the design of these baby pillows makes it easier for other family members to hold the infant as they support the head so well.
July 12th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Cuddling with a baby sleep pillow is something a child over two likes to do. A baby sleep pillow can offer a child comfort when they are trying to go to sleep.
Doctors do not recommend using a baby sleep pillow under the age of two. Babies often roll over face down onto a pillow and may not be able to roll off the pillow. Suffocation can result if a baby rolls over face down onto a pillow and cannot remove themself from the pillow.
July 18th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
If parents do not remove the baby pillow from the crib, the baby is still not safe from rebreathing even if the sheets and beddings are well secured.
Doctors advise parents, to reduce SIDS risk, not to use baby pillows until the baby is sleeping on toddler bed. This means that the baby is not ready to use pillows until he is on his toddler age. This should not be a dilemma because the baby can sleep comfortably even without baby pillows. Babies and even adults do not need pillows to get a good and comfortable sleep according to medical sleep experts.
August 16th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
But after about a year, using the right baby pillow actually helps your baby sleep soundly.
The skull is very plaint during the formative years, keeping the head in one side position during sleeping may result in the skull being deformed or lopsided. Sleeping on the back can lead to formation of a depression on the back of the head. A baby pillow helps stave off such a happening by giving the right support to the head. Choosing the right kind of pillow is vital.
September 18th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
If you use these nursing pillows for the neck of your child AND yourself, you can both be considerably more comfortable. In many cases, a baby pillow for nursing has helped children fall asleep.
You may still be very interested in having a baby pillow not just for nursing, but also in the crib with your child. In selecting the right pillow for your baby, there are some guidelines to keep in mind. A baby pillow that is small in size is the first guideline.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:01 am
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