At what age does a baby need a pillow?

The birth of the baby is a reverent event in the life of every family, especially if the baby is welcome and long-awaited. All responsibility for the good upbringing and well-being of the child lies entirely on the fragile shoulders of the parents. To minimize all possible risks to health, it is necessary to pay attention to the arrangement of the children's room. Not the last role in this process is played by a sleeping place in which a new family member spends most of his time after being born.

When the bed and the mattress are matched, loving moms start looking for a pillow that matches the parameters of the playpen or cradle. But is it necessary, or can you postpone the search for the future?

Whether the baby needs a pillow - recommendations from pediatricians

Being in the maternity ward, moms did not once notice that the child was placed on a flat surface (this is in most cases an arena with an orthopedic, but not hard mattress). It is at this moment that the question arises “for how many months does the crumbs need a cushion, and does it need it at all in the first years after birth?”

The ratio of the head to the whole body of the baby is much greater than that of an adult. Being in a level position, the load on the spine is virtually absent.

Given the anatomical features of the baby's body, pediatricians give an unequivocal conclusion - a pillow or any other devices for lifting the head can not only bring no benefit, but also cause serious damage to the health or even life of the toddler.

It is important to remember that at this age, the cervical vertebrae and the anatomical curvature of the spine are strengthened and formed. Ignoring expert advice can cause serious back problems or weaker muscle tone at an older age.

Possible threats to the life of the crumbs due to the use of pillows in infancy

If the baby was born without deviations, and its development is normal, official medicine prohibits the use of a pillow due to the following dangers.

• Sudden Death Syndrome - the little tot is unable to cope with their bodies. Having turned over on its side and buried its nose in the pillow, it can independently block the access of oxygen to the body, which causes cardiac arrest.

  The anti-choke cushion is a monolithic block made of spongy material that allows the baby to breathe unhindered even if he snaps into it

• Aspiration of vomit - being in an elevated state of the newborn is much more difficult to turn the head during regurgitation, which can cause mass to enter the respiratory tract.

  For children who often regurgitate, we recommend special inclined pillows with an angle of no more than 30 degrees.

• Curvature of the spine - since the baby’s bones are very flexible, anatomical features can be formed incorrectly, which can be the basis for the onset of the development of diseases of the neck and spinal region of the baby.
• Allergic reaction - natural fillers are no longer so popular among young parents, because they can cause not only irritation throughout the body, but also cause asthma, shortness of breath or any respiratory system diseases in a growing organism.

  Pillows with natural fillers need to be selected individually - they can cause allergies

But in medicine there are cases when the use of a pillow is mandatory. If your child has the following symptoms, see your doctor. His recommendations will help you choose the best option for a comfortable and, most importantly, healthy baby’s sleep.

When does a child under one year need a pillow?

Pillow for the baby is necessary with the following deviations.

• Krivosheya (both congenital and acquired) - the doctor attributes to the newborn an orthopedic pillow, the height of which depends on the severity of the disease. The height is adjusted along with the positive dynamics of recovery.
• Deformed bones of the skull - natural childbirth imprints on the shape of the head, therefore, to achieve symmetry of the size of the head, the pediatrician selects an anatomical pillow according to the individual parameters of the child.
• Too frequent regurgitations - it is hard to stay at the crib every minute even for very caring parents. If regurgitation for the baby is a frequent phenomenon, it is better to consult with a specialist about the pad. It is better to protect yourself and your baby from negative consequences and calmly do household chores, rather than guarding the baby one by one.
• Hypotonus and hypertonicity of the muscles - to normalize muscle tone, the doctor recommends sleeping on a pillow, which helps to fix the position of the newborn at the time of sleep.
• Intracranial hypertension, birth trauma - the elevated condition of the head reduces pain in the child and normalizes blood flow.

Even with one of the above diseases, it is unacceptable for a newborn to use a regular pillow, which adults are used to using. For a growing body, the ideal option is an orthopedic pad with a hollow for the head.

At what age can you put your baby to sleep on a pillow?

According to pediatricians, acquaintance with the crumbs of a new bedding is better to postpone until such time as he was 2 years old. If there are no deviations and indications, you can wait up to 3 years.

After 3 years, you can safely and without any fear put a pillow in a children's bed. Of course, the crumb can refuse it, because he is so used to a flat surface.You should not insist and force him to sleep on a new piece of household goods, give him time to get used to and get acquainted with the pad.

Criteria for choosing the first pillow for the baby

Many parents want the child to take an active part in the arrangement of their bed, and trust him with the initiative of choosing the main components for the crib. But do not overdo it, because the choice of a young adventurer often falls on the decorative pillows, which are not very suitable for sleeping. Yes, and for decoration are used not only colorful drawings, but also buttons, outer seams, zippers and laces. They can cause discomfort or even pose a threat to health.

Further, when choosing a pillow pay attention to the following aspects.

Size and shape

Choosing a cushion for crumbs, it is better to abandon the oval or other geometric options. The classic rectangular pillow shape with orthopedic effect is the best option.

With regards to size, it is better to focus on the width of the bed. It should be chosen so that the head of the child does not roll down between the side parts of the arena and does not create cause for concern.

Filler

It is important that the inner fibers of the bedding allow air to circulate. Poor quality synthetic materials absorb moisture poorly, so the child will constantly sweat and sleep on a wet surface.

To avoid such troubles, choose a natural filler (but only if the crumbs do not have allergic reactions).

At all times buckwheat hulls have been and are an excellent filler. It is an excellent hypoallergenic remedy. In addition, buckwheat as a filler repeats the anatomical shape of the child’s head, helps to normalize blood circulation and helps to cope with poor health.

Additional elements (clamps, straps, etc.) allow you to lock the pillow in one position and avoid slipping.

Fabrics

Thanks to a huge range of products in textile stores, you can choose not only beautiful, but also high-quality bed linen. The main thing is that it was made of environmentally friendly materials and brought a little crumbs only benefit.

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