Baby - babies spend most of their time in a dream, naturally, for such a rest should be created comfortable and safe for health conditions. The choice of a crib and mattress does not cause much difficulty, parents often think about another question - when a child can sleep on a pillow and how to choose it correctly among the many products for children.
Pillow for crumbs - from what age to use
Pediatricians advise an ordinary pillow with a large volume and natural fillers do not put in the crib of the baby the first years of his life - preferably up to 3 years!
After birth, there is a danger that the baby, tossing and turning in his sleep, may bury his nose, so when using a large pillow, there is a chance of stopping normal breathing. Another complication that can be obtained by falling asleep on such bedding is the development of allergic reactions. Therefore, doctors advise arranging a place under the head in the crib as follows:
- Put a folded soft diaper several times. This method allows you to replace the soiled head roller with a new one at any time.
- Lift the mattress and place a folded towel under it. Many of the mothers choose this method - the baby will not be able to bury, there is no need to endlessly change or adjust the diaper, and the angle of inclination can be done by anyone (but not more than 30 degrees).
- To purchase a flat pillow made of hypoallergenic materials, its height should correspond to the shoulders of the child, usually one to two centimeters.
A small angle of inclination is necessary so that blood circulates normally in the parts of the brain, and the neck does not leak. An improvised pillow ensures the safety of those babies who often spit up. It is necessary to raise the head end of the mattress and in those cases when the nose is clogged in the baby, this will facilitate nasal breathing. Closer to the first year of life, you can buy a special, small pillow. But here everything is strictly individual, if the baby sleeps well, does not try to put pens or a toy under his head, then the purchase process can be postponed.
Related article: how and which mattress to choose
Baby and pillow video
Necessary situations for buying pillows for babies
There are a number of acquired or congenital diseases and conditions in which a pillow is essential for babies.
- Congenital torticollis requires correction in the first months, the success of treatment depends on the correct location of the head. The attending physician will be able to recommend certain models of orthopedic pillows.
- Incorrect formation of skull bones. It happens that from birth, a baby gets used to sleep in a certain position, while the soft bones of the skull undergo deformation. You can correct the situation by buying a pillow with a convenient recess that helps keep the head level.
- Orthopedic pillow if detected hypertonicity or muscle hypotension serves as an auxiliary method of treatment.
- With frequent spitting up, you need to purchase a product that holds the head of the crumbs on its side.
Orthopedic pillows according to indications can be used from the hospital on the recommendation of a doctor. Modern enterprises have developed anatomical pads for children, providing a normal physiological position of the body. Decide when the child needs to sleep on pillows, focusing on his health and on whether you can purchase a quality product in your city. If this is not possible, then it is safer to use a diaper or a raised edge of the mattress for sleeping.
Criteria for choosing a baby pillow
On a conventional product with dimensions 40*60 the baby can fall asleep after a year. Until this time, pediatricians are advised to choose a pillow, focusing on the following characteristics:
- Dimensions and shape. The pillow for the crumbs of the first months of life should be flat, you can not choose a product that strongly raises the head.
- As a filler, you can choose hollofiber, comfort, synthetic winterizer, their only drawback is poor ventilation, so on hot days the baby's head can sweat. Buckwheat husk is considered to be an ideal filler, it perfectly passes air flow, does not cake, takes the desired anatomical shape. But not also has a drawback - an unpleasant rustle that annoys primarily moms. In orthopedic pillows, the best filler is lyocell - soft fibers made from eucalyptus wood. When choosing natural fluff, preferences should be given only to high-quality goods, the manufacturer of which conducts anti-allergenic and heat treatment of the filler.
- The external design of the pillow provides comfort during sleep. Preference is given to natural fabrics with flat or internal seams.
- For babies of the first weeks of life, special pillows with sponge filler are produced. Having buried in them, the baby will not suffocate, as the perforation of the sponge provides free passage of air.
- Pillows of different models with straps are available for fixing it to a crib or mattress. Having bought such a product, mom will not have to worry about the fact that the child will push it at night.
Photo of pillows for children
At what age should each mom decide on her baby’s pillow on her own. It will help determine the choice and behavior of the child in the early days. If the baby likes to fall asleep on his tummy or turns over on him in a dream, then you need to provide a small raising of the mattress or buy a sponge product.
Pillow for baby video
The baby, who constantly spits up, has a pillow that fixes the lateral position of the body. Some of these models are equipped with elastic bands that do not allow the heads to slide off the main surface during sleep.
When purchasing a pillow for your child, be sure to read all the information that should be printed on the product label. A reliable manufacturer indicates the type of filler, for what age the pillow is designed for, the type of model - orthopedic or anatomical, washing conditions. You need to buy the pillow that can be washed regularly, and its filler dries quickly. It will not be superfluous to determine the smell, not high-quality products have an extraneous aroma. It’s not worth saving on a baby, because by giving preference to cheap models, you can provoke an allergy.
