How old should a child be when you give him his own pillow?

Question

My son is 17 months old and I haven't given him a pillow in his crib yet. Lately when I've been checking on him in the middle of the night he has had his blanket bundled up under his head. I guess this means he wants one. I'm just nervous about sids or suffication. FYI, he is a 26lbs and 33 inches and walks and runs all over the place, he is not a "baby" baby. Thanks for your help!!

Answer 1

I would suggest if you are worried about suffication, to get a smaller pillow, such as a travel pillow. It isn't as big and won't fold around them as much as a full size would do. It sounds like he is ready if he is stuffing his blanket under his head. Just watch him during a nap on his first few times using the new pillow. If all goes well, you can let him sleep with it at night. Good Luck and Best Wishes!

Answer 2

Because your child is constantly growing most physicians do not suggest a pillow until they are at least 2 years old. Some believe that partially elevating the body while sleeping/growing can cause some internal organ damage, bowel shifting or spine shifting.

Now with that said, I have a 11 month old and when she has a cold I allow a pillow to help keep her elevated to drain her nasal passages. Otherwise she prefers to sleep flat. Since your child seems to want a pillow you should check with your Ped to make sure it's ok. At his age he's pretty close to the 2 year old mark. Just make sure it is a small pillow that is not too firm and flattens pretty easily. If you know he can toss and turn throughout the night he might be able to remove this light pillow if it gets in the way of his breathing (which I doubt, you mentioned he already has a blanket balled up and has no problem with that!)

Answer 3

The American Pediatric Association suggests not giving them pillows until their second birthday, but these are the same people that suggest not letting them watch ANY tv unil they're 2 also. I was leery giving my daughter a pillow, so I didn't give her one until she was about 18 months old. If he is able to pull that blanket off of his head then you shouldn't worry about suffication with a pillow and also the chances of SIDS at that age are almost slim to none.

Answer 4

I gave my daughter a pillow around the same time as you...I made sure she was on her side whenever she slept on the pillow. It was a very soft pillow. Around this age I would feel children are less likely to suffocate. The body has a natural response to search for air when an air passage is blocked....this will allow your child to move his head around if he is lacking air. Younger children tend to lack the muscle control which causes them to suffocate.

Answer 5

Hun, your baby will be fine. I gave all three of mine pillows in their cribs, and they loved it. Now they are 6, 2 1/2, and 11 months. All of them have their own pillow...your baby should have a pillow, you never know what kind of neck damage or aches he/she could have without a pillow.

Answer 6

My son is basically same size/age & he has a 'spa' pillow - just smaller. Just get him a smaller pillow - travel pillow, spa pillow, even look in the throw pillow section - be sure it is fairly flat also and can be washed :)

Answer 7

my two and 1/2 has had a pillow now for about a year.... I never really thought about it but i check on her alot as i do with my 10 yr old and 17 yr old...

Answer 8

When they bcome mobil, like crawling pull ing themselves up. I like to use the european style pillow cases (like an envelope) so they cannot pull pillow out of the pillow case.

Answer 9

I got my children a pillow at that age . I got them one that was really flat just enough that it gave them something but nothing that would hurt them.

Answer 10

i did from birth, the pillow was a type that would not suffocate them, allowing breathing through if they got stuck