When to Introduce a Pillow

My son was about 20 months when he started climbing out of his crib and we bought him a twin bed WITH a pillow. :)
A smaller, flatter pillow than you would use will be safe for him.
I don't think you need to worry about transitioning him to a pillow because he's already using a stuffed animal so it won't be new for him.
They grow up so fast, don't they?! Congrats on the baby coming! I have two boys and it's great fun! :)

I started my kids on a pillow everyonce and a while at about nine months and then at a year they got one all the time. My three year old still doesnt use his all the time it is more just on his bed he usually slides down to the middle of his bed through the night. I think it would be ok to move to a regular pillow since he has been using a stuffed toy.

Both of our kids started pillows at 8 months we use the small travel size pillow (got our at wal-mart) they get quit flat pretty quick after use. I don't think they really need a large adult size pillow. We just made small pillowcases to cover them. I wouldn't get him anything super fluffy kids just don't need that.

My son is two years old and he's had a pillow for quite a while. His grandma took those travel pillows and made each of my three kids their own personalized pillow case with fleece on one side and a cute design on the other. It was the perfect size for my son.

We took a soft blanket and folded it to the width of the crib. Than I put it under the crib sheet. That way I didn't have to worry about my son (22 months) getting under the pillow or suffocating. He is kind of a wild sleeper anyway so this was a great solution. I forgot to put in his "pillow" the last time I made his bed and he was very upset. It has been a great, safe solution until he is ready for his big bed.

You are his mommy! You know what's best! If you think he's ready, go for it! We transitioned our 2 year old to a big bed and pillow and everything all at once at 23 months. He's doing great! He was ready. He fell out a few times but now he never does. He loves it!

we never had pillow's in the crib for either baby... we set up my daughter's "big girl" room when she was around 21 months old to get ready for my son's arrival. the plan was just to nap her in it and get used to it... she took to it right away and was out of the crib within days. -back to your question- she didn't really know what to do with the pillow, it took a while before she actually started sleeping on it. i think at that age you don't need to worry about having a pillow or light blanket in their crib.

HI,

I just gave my 17mo old almost 18mo old a fairly flat pillow. He LOVES it! I was feeling bad that I waited so long. I was a little nervous at first for all the same reasons, but he is doing great with it. I'm also worried that he may figure out that he could step on it and try to get out of his crib. It's always something . Good luck!

I made my boy’s pillows when they were around 21 months old and in "big boy" beds. I just took two cloth diapers stuffed them with a little bit of stuffing from the fabric store and sewed them up. They love it. It’s small enough that I don’t have to worry about them getting caught under it and can just throw them in the wash when I wash their sheets.

The reason that we don't want babies to use a pillow is related to their age. Once they are able to turn over and move around in the crib a pillow is OK. Before that the concern is that they could push their face into the pillow and be unable or perhaps even unaware that they needed to move it in order to breathe.

I agree that it would work best to use a small pillow or one that is on the flat side so that their head isn't propped up too high causing their neck to bend forwards in an uncomfortable position. To be sure they wouldn't use it then.

Whether or not a baby uses a pillow once they're mobile is a personal decision. My granddaughter, 8, and my grandson, 5, rarely actually sleep on their pillows. By the time they're asleep they've also scooted down towards the middle of their bed.

I don't know why most adults use pillows. It must be a cultural thing. Some cultures do not use pillows. I've also know other adults to not use a pillow.

I had the same problem. I did some research and even called First Candle (www.sidsalliance.org ). Basically, everything I found was that it was NOT safe to put a pillow in a crib (because of suffocation). I was informed that a folded baby blanket or loosely wove afghan is okay. That's what I ended up doing (because our little girl REALLY wanted a pillow) and it worked fine. She was happy and, more importantly, safe. :-)

Our 2 1/2 year old little girl just got her "big girl", full-sized bed this weekend, and I'll tell you, she is in heaven! I think she was so happy to get a pillow and loves being tucked in. I see you have a baby on the way. You might want to think about transitioning your little guy to a "big boy" bed before the baby arrives. Then he can have a pillow in bed. I know the friends we have that have two boys totally recommend doing it before baby number two comes along. That way it's done far enough in advance so your toddler doesn't feel like he's being "pushed-out" of his crib from baby brother. We're only having one, though, so I can only tell you what friends have told me.

I don't know how safe pillows are in cribs (what the actual age limitations are), but I have had one in my daughters since she was like 14 mos. old. She enjoys having something to sleep on. If she is comfortable throughout the night she sleeps better and then so do I. If he is using stuffed animals as pillows already just put one in his crib and see how he likes it. I would go with a flat pillow. My daughter has an adult size pillow but it super flat. If your son is mobile he should be able to use a pillow with any problems.

If he's using his stuffed animals as pillows he's probably ready. I used a very flat pillow and I think it worked out fine. My kids had pillows after 15 mths. I just think they slept so much. Of course they were all over their cribs all night, but they liked it.

I moved my boys to a toddler bed at 15 months, and that was when we introduced a pillow. Some nights they used it, some they threw it on the floor, but they never had any problems with it. I just started with a half size one so there was less of a chance of it getting over there face. In a crib I would be concerned about the sides holding the pillow in if they try to push it out or off of them.

Our son slept in his crib until he was 2 1/2... We put a pillow in his crib when he was around your sons age and he was completely fine with it. He didn't always use it, but it was never a safety problem. Try to find a flat, dense pillow, since a really puffy one takes up a lot of room and holds their little heads up too high...it's uncomfortable and won't end up using it all.

J.

My daughter is 18 months now and has been sleeping with a fluffy pillow with a fleece pillow case for about a couple of months. It started out in there to elevate her head while she had a cold so she could sleep better(suggested by my pediatrician) and she liked it so much, we've never taken it out! I don't put just her head on it though. I put her whole upper body on it to elevate her. I asked our pediatrician about it and he said she is old enough. You really don't have to "introduce it" into the crib, just put it in. If he is already using a stuffed animal, it won't be too much of a change. My son (now 4) has used a pillow since about 18 months as well. Good Luck! Now, a question for you: has your 21 month old tried to crawl out of his crib yet? My 18 month old is already trying!

it can't be any less safe than a stuffed animal. check out onestepahead.com they have pillows that are smaller and not so bulky specifically for toddlers.

Once your son is able to pick up a pillow with out any real strain I think it would be safe for him to sleep on a pillow. I don't remember when exactly we introduced a pillow to my son. But I would imagine as soon as they are fully capable of moving themselves and bigger toys...I would assume that a they would know when to move a pillow out of their way. They grow up so quickly. Almost to quickly sometimes.

My son (20 months) used to always use the boppy pillow, and just last week I got him a regular pillow. He has done fine with it so far. I just made sure not to get one that it too fluffy.

Good luck!

K.,

Ikea has these great flat crib pillows, pillowcases, and quilt covers made just for toddlers! They are flat enough to be safe for kids over 1 year old. If your son is already using a stuffed animal as a pillow, I'm sure these will be great. They are sized just for a crib or toddler bed. Check out http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/72897210 for the pillow and http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10098459 to see a quilt cover and pillowcase. I hope you have an Ikea in your area. They are awesome stores! Good luck to you!

He is old enough for a pillow especially if he is using a stuffed animal. I started my kids out on the little kid or travel pillows. they are not as soft so there face does not sink into the pillow and cover there face.

Hi K.,
Well I have three kids and I started them all with pillows at about 1 year. For some reason, I just had this need to give them pillows. I also felt like they HAD to have a blanket too. I thought that they would be more comfy and cozy and therefor sleep better. Not sure if this was actually the case, but I do have great sleepers! As for safety, I figured that they can wiggle, roll over and actually pick up the pillow if they had too. They never had to though. Anyhoo, I gave my kids full size flat pillows. My two older kids (5 and 3) always use a pillow now. One last thing, my little guy is 23 months and I'm starting to transition him to a big kid bed next week. (My oldest was 18 months!)That might be the ticket for you. Big kid bed AND a fancy pillow! In fact, if he's already snuggling with his stuffed animal, a pillow and a stuffed animal might keep him from rolling around the bed too much.
Good Luck!
A.