When Can I Give My Baby a Pillow to Sleep?

Hi L.! I just came across your post. I think my daughter was about 15 mos. old when we gave her her own pillow. It was small a a little bit fluffy. She had climbed out of her crib at 14 mos. so she had to be in a bed. The SIDS risk is almost totally gone by one year and even mostly gone once a baby can move around (push themsevles up, rollover) One thing to keep in mind would be if your child is still in the crib make sure she can't use the pillow to help her climb out. I don't know how ours started doing it, but "they" say that a baby needs to be in a bed after they discover they can climb out b/c they will just keep doing it. Also. . . CONGRATULATIONS!!! babies are so much fun. Enjoy every minute of it. I sure you'll find that you wouldn't want your life any other way! =0)

I have two boys close in age - 15 months apart, and number 2 was a surprise! They are 3 and 2 years old now. I'm the same age as you, I also stay home and finances are a challenge, but I did get to have my husband all to myself for the first 2 1/2 years of our marriage. I miss those days! But they will return! And you will experience them, almost for the first time. Start planning that 2nd honeymoon for your 20th anniversary now! (I like to dream)

I think I gave my babies pillows when they were about a year old. We use the standard size pillows, just make sure they are pretty "flat" so it's not bad for their little neck or back. I think they make small size pillows for little ones, but I had a couple of the regular size ones that are flat enough so I didn't bother looking. It just provides a little extra cushion. My oldest was all over the bed in his sleep and I was hoping the pillow would help him learn to sleep more in one place, in preparation for the big boy bed. It didn't really help :) but he is now starting to mellow with the sleep aerobics. I don't know of the "expert" advice, I never looked into that, but my sisters said it was OK, and they are my favorite experts!

My daughter is now 5, and to be honest I don't remember when I gave her a pillow. I forget what "they" were recommending as the right time. But the one I ended up getting was one of those memory-type pillows, and I believe I got it from One Step Ahead (catalog or online) or their next age up catalog, Leaps and Bounds. It's flat, firm, and has some weight to it so I can't imagine them getting it over their mouth. It was pretty small, maybe 18 x 8 inches? I bought her two, and one she later took to preschool for nap time.

Since then she discovered my small down travel pillow and has claimed that as her favorite, but I for sure wouldn't have started out with that at a young age. Too fluffy and light.

I have three babies, the first one, a girl is 9, the boys are only 1 months apart and are now 4 and baby will be 3 in a few weeks. I am not sure about the pillow, it seems that mine all started sleeping with a pillow about the age of 18 months or so, I just cant seem to recall. I was surprised to see that you had no other responses yet. Anyway the boys all napped with a pillow at about 1 then I think shortly after that I gave them one at night too. I wish I could be more help, so sorry. Congrats on your new one arriving soon, and there are some challenges to having them close together, but now that the boys are older it has been very entertaining to say the least LOL.

My son had a pillow in his crib from about 15-18 months... I can't remember exactly.

But yes, he sleeps better with it... in his case, he was good with his motor skills and coordination, and after analyzing it and him... I felt he would be fine with one. The pillow I have for him, is a small pillow, not "adult" sized, and it is not overly puffy. If anything... you can perhaps find a child size pillow... something that would be half the size or smaller than an "adult" pillow, for example. And not a "heavy" pillow. Something light and airy.

BUT, you need to evaluate your daughter and see how she is with her motor skills etc. If you put a pillow on top of her face for example... can she fling it off of herself???

Suffocation is a "silent" accident. You cannot "hear" a child suffocate. Bear that in mind.

I don't know, I think perhaps 12 months old is too young to use one. I would wait until she is older. The recommended age is 2 years old... and if they are in a toddler bed. The reason for "not" using a pillow in a crib...is that they child can climb out of the crib...thus being a danger.

My son has been using a pillow since before 2 years old... but in his case, he does not climb out of the crib, and he doesn't "play" with it. He's good about leaving it be, and keeping it in place.

Here are some links:
http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/sleep/pillow.html
http://www.babycenter.com/404_when-can-my-child-sleep-wit...
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/baby-pillows-...
http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/15502/parenti...

Good luck,
Susan

I honestly don't know what "they" say either, but the concern with bedding is SIDS or other breathing difficulties, which isn't much of a danger past one year. My daughter didn't want a pillow until she was almost two, but I think a one-year-old who is already putting something under her head is ready for a pillow. A small, firm one would be safest if you're worried.