Why You Should Wait to Give Your Child a Baby Pillow
As a parent, you may be wondering if it is the right time to give your child a baby pillow. It seems to make sense that your toddler would want one, since nearly all adults choose to use pillows. Of course, you want your child to be comfortable while sleeping. Before your little one starts sleeping with a baby pillow, there are some things to take into consideration.
It is only realistic to be concerned about nighttime safety. Research has shown that having extra items in a crib, including stuffed animals, blankets, or a baby pillow, increases the risk of suffocation. 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.
There is an additional reason why a baby pillow is a safety issue. 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. To help avoid bumps and bruises or even a trip to the emergency room, do not give your child a baby pillow before the transition to a toddler bed.
Pediatricians often tell their patients that an infant should not have a baby pillow until at least one and a half years of age. Some experts say that it is better to wait until the second birthday, due to recent research. Of course, there is no harm in waiting longer if you want to do so. There really is not an age at which it becomes necessary to give your toddler a baby pillow. It may even be counterproductive for children who lie on their backs while sleeping. Using a baby pillow too early can lead to stiff and sore muscles, because it causes the spine to curve.
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.
July 29th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
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. Before the age of two babies can get suffocated on a pillow. It may be dangerous to use a baby pillow before the age of two because the baby may be suffocated by the pillow. A non allergic body pillow is not a bad alternative either.
August 19th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Great blog.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
There are many choices out there to choose from. However, if you want to make it really special, you can make one yourself. All you have to do is buy a firm travel pillow and then sew up a new cover for it with the fabric of your choice. You will find a lot of cute material you can choose from. Finish off by embroidering the name of the child on it.
November 3rd, 2009 at 6:47 am
However, it may be a good idea to wait until your child makes the move from the crib onto a real bed before you use a baby pillow. There can be a risk of the child suffocating with the use of a baby pillow, particularly when he or she is less than two years of age. If you absolutely must use a baby pillow, make sure that it is small and firm. A baby pillow that is soft and contains feathers can trigger an allergic reaction and even smother a baby if his or her head sinks into it while sleeping.
A baby pillow that is made out of memory foam could be well worth looking into as well.
November 12th, 2009 at 6:52 am
Several such pillows that are used for this specific purpose are commonly available in the market and stores near youActually they aid to tuck the baby in the crib safely, ensuring that the baby does not fall in case of any movement made by them.
Further still when a baby has contracted a flu and is having trouble breathing, in that case the baby pillows are used to elevate the baby’s head at such an angle that would help much in the provision of easy breathing. They are also commonly used for other purposes such as provision of support while the baby crawls on the floor and also for propping the babies head when they are being nursed. Several also ensure that the toddler has not only a safe but also a comfortable journey when traveling on road by car. If the baby pillow is available in brilliant colors, that is all the more better as then it will surely catch the toddlers eye.
November 14th, 2009 at 6:54 am
Included in the recommendations was a clearly defined list of items to place in the crib: a firm mattress, a fitted sheet, and the baby. A bumper pad, if used, must be firm and snugly fitted. No baby pillow or toys or other objects should be included. To address the findings of increased flat head sydrome, the AAP recommended other preventive measures. Positioning other than on the back or use of a baby pillow were not deemed worth the risk of SIDS by the AAP.
December 1st, 2009 at 7:01 am
A semi circular pillow can be used in this case to cradle the head of the child, so that your hands are free. This can be used for your own neck as well as the neck of the baby, and often boosts comfort drastically for everyone involved. Often it has been found that a baby pillow around the neck of the child has helped him or her fall asleep while nursing.
If you are interested in having a baby pillow in the crib of your child as well as around his or her neck while nursing, keep reading. In selecting the right pillow for your baby, there are some guidelines to keep in mind.
December 13th, 2009 at 7:06 am
It is quite ironic that the safest position for babies to sleep in is actually lying on their back. This position greatly lessens the risk of SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome from occurring. For this reason, the use of a sleep positioner along with a baby pillow can be quite effective. Sleep positioners are designed to keep babies sleeping on their back in the safest possible position. Along with the baby pillow, these sleep positioners help ensure that the baby is able to get a good night’s rest.
December 14th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Amongst one of the first and the foremost importance of a baby pillow in a baby’s life is that they are used for shaping the head of the baby. The right kinds of pillows that are employed for this purpose are widely available in the market. Actually they aid to tuck the baby in the crib safely, ensuring that the baby does not fall in case of any movement made by them.
Further still when a baby has contracted a flu and is having trouble breathing, in that case the baby pillows are used to elevate the baby’s head at such an angle that would help much in the provision of easy breathing. Apart from that they baby pillows can also be used as tummy tuckers whilst the baby is on the floor or even as a nursing pillow when you are feeding them.
December 16th, 2009 at 7:06 am
My son decided not to follow the crib path his sister did. He learned how to unzip his sleep sack shortly after his first birthday. He could easily swing his leg up on the crib rail. He was happy to just do that exercise for months and months. One night, he finally flung the other leg over too.
January 2nd, 2010 at 7:23 am
It might be a good idea to discover what colors or theme the bedroom will be decorated in prior to designing a baby pillow. This way, you can choose materials that will match the decor of the room. Picking neutral colors, on the other hand, means that the baby pillow will go with many different decorating themes.
What type of design do you want to create on the personalized baby pillow? There is a lot of room for creativity here. Including the name of the newborn and information about the birth, like weight, height, and birthday, is a great traditional option for a baby pillow.
January 16th, 2010 at 8:14 am
Write more soon. Groovy blog.