When to Provide a Pillow?

When my son was about 6 months the doc said he needed slight elevation of his head to help with sinus drainage. She told me it was ok for him to sleep on his boppy. He has used that for a pillow ever since. Now he won't hardly sleep without it. I have to take it to the babbysitters if he is staying over night.
I was worried a first about him rolling over and smothering, but he has been jusr fine.

My daughter was about that age when we gave her a pillow. We got the flattest one we could find in a full size so that it takes up one whole end of her bed. She is now a little over 3 and we have not had any problems.
J.

I've heard they can have a pillow at 12 months. I don't know where she got it, but I have a friend who has a little kid-sized pillow for her daughter's crib, so you don't have to get a regular adult pillow which might be too huge and fluffy.

I gave my girls pillows at a little over a year. I got a travel size pillow from Wal-Mart,(the same one I put between my knees when I was pregnant) I had to make covers for them, but now they make that size cover if you can find them. When my daughter turned 3 we moved her to a full size bed and she started using a full size pillow. Neither of them actually use it much-they lay on it when they first lay down, but move away from it while they're asleep. If she wants to lay on her lovie that works too-she'll be safe at this age.

I found a small decorative pillow that was pretty firm (but still soft enough) and just sewed a few covers for it. My daughter started using it around two years and still uses it today. Might take some looking for the right pillow, but I think she sounds ready! Good luck!

That is the same age I gave my oldest a pillow. I read that at 2 is when it is recommended or allowed. My daughter was 22 months and I figured it was close enough. We gave her an adult pillow but it is incredibly flat.

I would think that she is ready for a pillow. Unless she has problems breathing while sleeping, she should be able to move her head through the night to where she won't suffocate. I've been using a pillow with my son since he was about a year old and he'll be two next month. Some days he would stay on the pillow and some mornings he'd be down at the end of the bed! Your daughter sounds more than ready, especially since she understands that the pillows are for bed.

Since she's almost two I would say it's fine. Just make certain it's a baby or child sized pillow, as she grows she'll ask for a bigger one. That's about the age mine started using a pillow on a regular basis.

M.

From the daycare point-of-view, we are allowed to let children 1yr and older use pillows. The main reason you don't give it to little ones is the risk of suffocation, but at her age, she probably already moves around at night, so I wouldn't worry about it.

I bought a small toddler-sized pillow for my son around 18 months old. I bought it at www.onestepahead.com. He loved it and used it for almost a year until he started bringing a bigger pillow to bed by his own choice. Now the smaller pillow becomes a travel pillow for us.

All of my kids have used a pillow from age 1 on. My mother-in-law always gives them each a pillow with their name on it for their first birthday, and they love having their special pillow for nighttime. I do make sure the pillow is very flat, too. My baby (16mo) loves to lay his head on a pillow when he's tired also. Sometimes my mom just puts one on the floor in her living room and he'll lay down to nap!

I would think that it's okay to start trying it out. My daughter is 19 months old and she loves to lay on the pillows on our bed and when we put them on the living room floor. I've started putting her to bed with a pillow and she loves it but since she's a mover all night I usually remove it from the crib after she's been asleep for a few hours. I'd go ahead and try it, you can always move the pillow after she's asleep. Thanks for asking this question, I'm anxious to see what others say.

My son started sleeping on a pillow around 27months or so but I think that was because he always say his older sister with one. My great nephew however has slept on a pillow before he turned a year old. I think 21 months is a great time to start, especially if it helps her sleep. Take care.

I think finding a small pillow would be fine for your daughter. I certainly wouldn't go with a full size one yet. My daughter is 3 1/2 and has a full size pillow on her toddler bed. She starts out with her head on the pillow when she gets into bed, but after she falls asleep, her head is off the pillow. When I check on her after I know she's asleep, usually her head is right up against the bottom of the pillow or sometimes under it. Each night I take the pillow off the bed and lay it on the floor so there is no danger of her getting under the pillow and not getting enough oxygen. As long as you are observant and don't let the pillow remain in her crib with her overnight, see no problem with it.

By the time both of our children were 24 months, so really close to yours, we had them out of their crib and in twin sized beds with side rails. The regular bedding was used, pillow, comforter and they LOVED their "big boy/girl" beds. We never had a problem. I think by that age they are very physically able to turn over and move their heads without any problem and they won't be limited for breathing at all. If there are any physical limitations, then that would be a factor for not doing so. Otherwise, it sounds like it's time to change the bedding set-up - use a flatter pillow though.

I think my son was 18 months old when we gave him a pillow, because he too was always wanting to rest his head on something. He did great with the toddler pillow and has now (at 2 1/2) moved to a full sized pillow. It sounds to me like your daughter is telling you she is ready for a pillow.

This is a judgment call on your part. If you feel that she is ready, then give her one. I did not give my kids a pillow until they moved out of the crib and into a toddler bed at like 2 years. She is right at that age, so it is up to you. Be blessed!

Good morning - it sounds as if she is ready for her own bed pillow. She certainly is telling you something :-) Try a fairly flat "junior" pillow and see how that works. Perhaps your pediatrician can advise you. Or, ask friends, family, and co-workers how they handled this issue. Good luck in your future and God bless you both.

By 21 months my twins were both in toddler beds with their own pillows. I think she should be fine with a pillow.

Im not sure what the "officials" would say, but my daughter has slept with a pillow since she was 12 months. She insisted on having one and cant sleep without it. I would say by 21 months she probably is capable of sleeping safely on a small thin pillow. Good luck and God bless!

I provided my oldest with a pillow when he was about 15 months old. I think I am going to wait that long until I give our now 8 month old a pillow also.

Sounds like she's ready. I never worried about SIDS with my girls - my older one loved to sleep on her side or belly with an "armroll" I had to make (she was an arm-hugger sleeper, I had never seen it before), and my youngest got her first pillow pretty young. I used a pretty flat one tho, so her head wouldn't sink into it. Hope this helps.

She could have a pillow now. My son who is only 18 months has been sleeping on a pillow for several months, my daughter also started sleeping on a pillow around 12 months or so. I bought them both a pillow from Target, it was like the $3.00 one, it seems to be the one that is pretty flat, but now they would sleep on any pillow I think ( my daughter is 2 and a half and my son 18 months). Good luck and I hope you find your answer.

My son was the same way, just loved pillow. So i put a full size pillow, fairly flat to protect the neck, in his crib at just a over a year old. It actually reached from side to side so we never really had a problem with him moving it around alot or ending up under it. I kindof worried about him ending up under it a bit, but let's face it a good healthy 21 month old is completely strong enough to lift a pillow of their face!! Most moms will tell you no way!! My son is about to turn five. He made it through just fine with a pillow and stuffed animals in his crib. Another no no you know!! Anyway, my brother in law in a doctor and when i asked him about the pillow, he just laughed and said it sounds like the little prince has it made!! Best of luck!
Have a fabulous day and god bless!!

My daughter is 22 months old and has been in a toddler bed(50 bucks at walmart) since she was 19 months old. I have recently(last Thursday) given her a pillow and she sleeps more soundly. The first few days I checked on her a million times to make sure she wasn't suffocating although her doctor said that she has a reflex that will make her head turn if she begins to suffocate, but I was still a bit wary nonetheless. Her naps are 30 minutes longer now that she uses the pillow.