Properly choose a pillow for children

Pillow - an essential attribute of good sleep. It should be comfortable and pleasant to the touch. This does not mean that it must be soft. For some, such a criterion is completely contraindicated. So let's see how to choose the right pillow for your child.

Why is it so important to choose the right baby pillow?

In childhood, there is an active growth of the organism. Especially actively the body grows and develops during sleep. Therefore, sleep should be comfortable and calm. It should not interrupt anything. The baby needs a strong and healthy sleep, which is exactly influenced by all bedding, as well as the bed itself.

Another important reason for paying special attention to choosing a pillow is the spine.

In infancy and young age, the child only forms bones, as well as posture. The position in a dream plays an important role here. Oddly enough, but the development of scoliosis can begin precisely due to improper selection of pillows. If it is too high, then there is not only a slight bend, which affects the blood circulation, but also the formation of the wrong location of the spinal bones.

If you want your child to be strong and healthy, and his spine, which is the root of life, functioned correctly, go responsibly to the choice of such an attribute as a pillow for sleep.

What should be a baby pillow

We found out why this attribute is so important. We now turn directly to the analysis of the topic, what should be a good children's pillow. Definitely not answer this question. First, a lot depends on age. The infant will not fit sleeping accessories teenager. And in general, does a baby need a pillow? But more about that later. Secondly, individual characteristics, congenital disorders, weight and height are important. But first, let's look at the general criteria for choosing this attribute.

What material and cushion filler to choose

The pillow consists of three parts:

• the foundation;
• filler;
• pillowcase.

Let's start with the basics. It is made most often from flax or thick synthetic fabric. Here strength is important, the fibers at the base are closely intertwined.The main thing is that the filler does not break through the base. This part can be made from both natural and synthetic fabric.

Next, the filler. There are many options. And this element is already of paramount importance.

Here, the best option would be an ecofiber. However, it is worth listing the possible options.

• Feather and down. Once the most common fillers. But now, with the advent of modern safe options, they are a thing of the past. They are dangerous in the first place because they can cause allergies. Also, the feather accumulates dust, which contains pathogenic bacteria. Do not forget about moisture. This material can accumulate and its, as a result of which it quickly falls down and becomes polluted.

  Too soft pillows from down can not support the fragile baby’s spine and can cause allergies.

• Wool. Good filler, compensates for all the shortcomings of the previous one. Sheep, camel, angora wool is well suited. The only drawback is that it keeps its shape poorly, which is also not suitable for a child’s body.

  Natural wool fibers are very elastic, the filler can pass air and moisture, but quickly falls into clumps

• Natural silk. It wins among all listed: hypoallergenic, moisture-resistant material, passes air well, does not electrify. But it has a high price, which is unacceptable for a children's pillow, which has to be changed often.

  Filler for blankets and pillows made of natural silk - a great, but expensive option

• Ecofiber. As already mentioned, this is the best option. Despite the fact that it is synthetic, it has all the positive qualities of natural silk. Price category, in turn, is lower than the previous version. But in this case it is worthwhile to take care of antistatic impregnation or a pillowcase, since the eco-fiber is capable of accumulating static electricity, and can shock the baby.

  Ecofiber is a great choice for those who value their health and the health of their children.

• Bamboo. For younger children is not suitable, because it keeps bad shape. In other criteria it is not inferior to the previous one.

  Bamboo filler is a thin and elastic thread, does not need chemical treatments and is an environmentally friendly material

About latex worth forgetting. Such fillers are quite tough, they are suitable only in the case of recommendations by the doctor, as well as for older age.

Pillowcase. The third component. It is also of great importance. This part should be hypoallergenic, anti-static, well-breathable and does not trap moisture. It is best to choose a natural soft material. Do not forget that it is recommended to have several pillowcases, especially pillows for young children.

Children's pillows for different ages

We dealt with the general criteria, now we turn to the main indicator - age. It primarily affects the choice of the right accessory. At different ages, a child needs different cushions in composition and size. We analyze options for all ages.

Do I need a pillow for a newborn

Here opinions are divided. Most mother claims that the baby does not need this accessory, referring to the recommendations of orthopedists and pediatricians. However, this statement is incorrect. Doctors, in fact, recommend a newborn to sleep on a height of 1-1.5 cm. This does not mean that the pillow should be completely absent. This means that it should be suitable for a small height.

In general, you can refuse this accessory, however, in this case, as in the case of selecting the wrong pillow, there is a risk of suffocation. Babies love to sleep on their tummy, face down. The mattress, in turn, does not allow air to pass through, so the child in this position may suffocate. A pillow for a newborn should have the following criteria:

• hypoallergenic;
• air permeability;
• naturalness;
• low;
• quite wide.

These criteria are valid for regular pillows. There is, for example, nepodeika. It is 1.5 cm high, wide around the perimeter of the crib, the filler is buckwheat husk. A natural diaper folded in several layers will also be a good option. But there are also special pillows for newborns.

The special pillows include an inclined, positional, butterfly pillow and a bagel. What it is? The inclined pillow is a dense inclined plane made of durable material so that the child does not fall through. It usually has a width across the entire bed, and a length such that only the upper part of the baby’s body fits on it. The slope of the pillow is not more than 30 degrees.

On a positional cushion, the baby is placed all over. It has special limiters that help keep the body in a certain position. This type is shown with muscle atony, and it can also be used if the child is very much tossed in his sleep than he wakes himself up.

Butterfly and bagel pillows have a speaking name, therefore, the corresponding form. The butterfly helps to support the head of the newborn in a certain position, and does not allow him to spin much in his sleep.

It has a recess for the head, and it turns out that the child sleeps on a hill no more than 1 cm; the cushion under the neck is missing. A bagel is indicated only for diseases of the spine. It is placed under the neck, forming a roller in this place.

Pillow for children from 3 years

At 3 years old, doctors advise me to change a pillow, exactly like a bed. The baby "moves" out of the crib, and leaves all the devices for newborns in it.

At this age, the optimal size of the pillow will be 50x40 cm. The filler can also be buckwheat husk or ecofiber. Bamboo is still worth giving up, as the spine has not yet been fully formed. At this age, you can pay attention to the orthopedic pillows that will support the head and body of the child in a certain position, and will not allow curvature to develop.

Cushion for teenager

A teenager is a transitional phase between adulthood and childhood.With regard to bedding, we can assume that a teenager is already an adult. At 11 years old, the child may already move to a larger bed, and, consequently, change accessories for sleeping. A pillow at this age can be 50x70 in size, which is considered a Eurosandart. Or 70x70 cm, which is considered the Russian standard. It all depends on the preferences of the child and parents. However, the best option would be the size of 50x70.

Should I trust the pillows of unusual shape

Unusual forms include pillows in the form of a flower, a rainbow moon and others. The market is now crowded with all sorts of pillows in the form of popular animals, plants, cartoon heroes and other forms. Such pillows are not recommended for sleep. They are decorative. They can perform their role of decoration well, being in a bed or a cradle next to the child, but without disturbing him to sleep.

How to care for baby pillow

Pillow care for a child is of particular importance. At this age, a person sweats a lot, in the youngest there can be frequent regurgitation. In view of this, it is worthwhile to select a material of such a quality that it is easy to clean, and remains in good condition after numerous washes.

Wash the pillow for the child in the machine can only be if it is not made of buckwheat husk, or other similar fillers, latex and orthopedic bases. In other cases, it is better to take it to the dry-cleaner, where to warn that this is a children's pillow so that it can be cleaned with special means. A pillow of buckwheat husks, herbs, cherry seeds or similar fillers should be cleaned separately: wash pillowcase, fill the filler - dried. Also do not forget that when washing children's products should use special tools.

Video: How to choose a pillow for the child? - Doctor Komarovsky

50 options for baby pillows for different ages: