One hears of numerous expert opinions on why babies do not require pillows and how dangerous pillows can be for the health of your baby. Well, most of these judgments overstate the dangers and do not correctly portray the need for baby pillows. It is true that very young babies, less than one year of age do not require a pillow under normal circumstances, and that some baby pillow products may actually be unsafe. However, past that age, using a baby pillow is no more harmful and can actually aid your baby in sleeping better.
During the early years, the skull bones are very soft and keeping the head in one position may result in the skull developing a lopsided appearance. Sleeping on the back can lead to formation of a depression on the back of the head. Using a baby pillow can help prevent this and provides the requisite support to the head of your baby. Choosing the right kind of pillow is vital. Never choose a feather or soft pillow as the baby may develop allergies due to the feather or be smothered due to the extra softness enveloping the nose and mouth. The new memory foam pillows are a good buys because they provide the right kind of hold to the baby’s head and are non hazardous.
There are different kinds of baby pillows available in the market. The key is to identify which sort of pillow is best for your baby. Baby pillows used in cribs are just as safe as any other provided they are thin and narrow. The proof of this statement lies in the fact that all hospitals use crib pillows in their childcare units. Doctors also recommend baby pillows when your baby develops a cold. A baby pillow helps keep the head up and aids breathing which is disturbed by a congested nose. It is also believed that using a baby pillow helps prevent baby ear infections and acid reflux. Some parents advise that the right time to give your baby a pillow is when the baby graduates from the crib to a bed. This advice is on the basis that smothering is unlikely as the pillow will probably fall off the bed. Some babies even start exhibit signs that they need a pillow. The signal comes in the form of the baby using a stuffed toy or a towel as a headrest on its own. Such a gesture is your baby’s way of telling you to do just that; buy a good baby pillow.