Pillow for Toddler - What Age?

S.,
The bumpers are long overdue to be removed! No matter how tight they are, toddlers will use them to stand on to hoist themselves over the top in order to spring free.
A pillow is fine once the child is able to roll over and right themselves.
A.

I'm interested that so many mamas have worries about suffocation. My daughter is 16 months and sometimes uses a pillow. I have no concerns about her suffocating at this age. She is more than capable of moving herself around to keep herself comfortable and breathing. I personally would have no issues giving a child that age a toddler pillow.

You can always put a full-sized pillow under the fitted sheet... that's what we do :)

Hi S.,

We gave our son a toddler size pillow around 1 year. Ped had said it was fine at that point. Found a memory foam one at BabiesRus for 19.99. Has a zippable, washable cover. They also had another small normal pillow for 9.99. Good luck and happy sleeping!

I gave my daughter a flat pillow when she moved to her big girl bed just before 2 years. A pillow is a suffocation risk, especially as they move around at night. Also, remove the bumpers! If she is trying to use them as a pillow, she could become entangled in them and either suffocate or choke. I know you said you have a video monitor in her room, but you can't be watching her all the time. Sorry to be so blunt...just want your darling to be safe when she slumbers!

I started both of my kids with low pillows in their cribs probably around 15/16 months....they acted like they needed it too. It worked fine for my daughter but my son got upset and would wake up if he rolled off the pillow. Hope that helps :)

Scandinavian Down has great down small toddler pillows. www.babydown.com

At about that age I bought my daughter a toddler pillow because she was doing the same thing. I got it off of the site www.babythisbabythat.com. She still has it and loves it.

Hi S.,
Realistically, as soon as a baby is old enough to hold his/her head up on their own without difficulty, there shouldn't be a problem. Now, I don't think a 6 month old is interested in having a pillow, but my point is as soon as they can hold their head up with no other support, it should be safe. I started my hids all around 1 year of age because that's when they looked like they were wanting something under their head. We actually made our own little toddler pillows. Very easy to make. You probably could find a pattern for one at a fabric/arts and crafts store, or you can make your own pattern based on what dimensions you want. I would just stuff it pretty full of filler so it's nice and firm to begin with. All three of my older children think they can't live without their special pillows. My 9 month old doesn't use one yet because she doesn't stay in one place while she sleeps yet. She is, however, getting quite attached to a blankie!
I just love when mamas ask safety questions about their babies....it just shows how wonderful the heart of a mother is! God bless and enjoy motherhood to it fullest!

S.,
We gave our kids a pillow when they started looking like they wanted one, or when they went into a twin size bed.
W. m.

We gave my son a pillow at 2 when we switched him to his big boy bed. It took a couple of months for him to stop rolling around so much. Now he sleeps on it most of the night. I figure it is there if he wants it.

We gave my son a pillow after 2y and he started sleeping on it the "right" way pretty quick, and my daughter will occasionaly sleep on one in our bed, but she prefers the upside down and all over the crib still :-)
I believe that the reccomendation is NO pillow for kids under two, but if you feel compelled, for sure give a really firm and very Small pillow - airline/travel size - no feather or down pillows, and nothing giant and floppy. The danger of suffocation is still a concern.
But if she is trying to use Something, I would say try out a small one, and see if she prefers it... but you need to watch how she sleeps on it. If its just a new "toy", probably not ready for a pillow. :-)

Hi S.,

We gave our daughter a pillow at 14 months and she loves it. The key is to find a really flat pillow so their neck isn't too raised. We tried toddler pillows which ended up being smaller in length, but still really full, so ended up with regular sized pillow that was flat which has worked out great.

I think if she does that with blankets she would be ok with a pillow. Maybe try to find a small one or one of the soft throw pillows you see used as decoration.

We gave our daughter a very squishy stuffy (Manhattan Toy Co. Ragtails Bear, Linus)at 8 months that she fell in love with immediately. Cuddles has been her pillow for years. She is 7 1/2 and still sleeps on him. He starts out as a stuffy and quickly turns into a pillow.

Stephanie

My first son got his first pillow at 18 mths when he moved into his new "big boy" bed. He is now 2 1/1 and NEVER uses it, prefers face down on the mattress (still freaks me out to see him like that, I always think he's suffocated himself).
My second son is just now 1 year old and he stuffs his blankets under his body, and I'm considering getting him a pillow in the next few months. My only concern is with him being in the crib, that it will give him that extra few inches of height to be able to fall over the rail. He is 32 1/2 inches as it is, so on the tall side.
I believe it's safe sleeping wise for him now, but am still concerned about the other issue.

I think that at this point, it's a personal choice, you know your child and if you feel like she's able to move her head around if she is having a hard time breathing in one position, than I say go ahead and get her one.

K.

S.,

I gave my twins their own 'regular' pillow at 12 months. However, I bought the FIRM pillows so that they had less of a chance of burying their faces into the pillow. Soft pillows at this age would be a hazard.

Both of my children have slept on their pillows with no problem, and they are 2.5 years old now.

Best of luck!

~ L.

Thank you for asking this question. My daughter is the same age and keeps using a blanket as a pillow for a few weeks. I'm looking forward to seeing the answers you get.

I put a pillow in my sons bed probably around the same age, because he would always bunch the blankets under his head. He wouldn't sleep on it, so I took it out and put it back when he was around 2.

We started our son with a pillow at around 18 months. It started becuase he had a cold and was so congested that we decided it was safer to give him a pillow then raising up one end of his crib to elevate his head.

He loves having a pillow and sleeps better too.

N.

I agree with the other Mom about removing the bumpers if she is re-arranging them. As for the pillow, that really is up to you. My daughters are 33 months and still do not use a pillow. They each still sleep in a crib and move around a lot at night so a pillow would be useless. Good luck.

I gave both my kids pillows at about 14 months. I gave them relatively flat pillows without a lot of stuffing in the beginning, but we have never had any issues with them.

IKEA has a great little pillow for kids, it is kind of flat and really light weight so small kids can use it comfortably.