When Do Babies Start Using Pillows?

[becka]

OK here is a question that I have never seen answered anywhere. At what age should you start giving babies pillows to sleep with?

DS sits up well and can move around all over his crib and I was wondering if maybe he might like to have a pillow in there with him but I am still concerned about safety.

Any opinions?

 

[kejoda]

I don't think we ever gave them a pillow until they were out of the crib. But our kids were/are climbers and they were all out by 18 months. Danny was the worst at a year. I also don't know how neccessary it would be none of them stay on the pillow. Unless they are stealing mine.

 

[Kermit]

I read somewhere the other day that you can start at a year. I don't remember where I read it, but whoever wrote the article or book actually recommended starting babies on pillows as soon as it was safe to teach them to center themselves in their cribs so that they are less likely to roll off the bed when you move them into one. I had never thought of that before, but it sounds like a good idea.

 

[janette]

No pillow, maybe for the floor when he's playing but not in his bed. Don't really remember when mine had a pillow but it was long after they were out of their crib.

Pillows can also be used for climbing out of the crib just something to keep in mind. They don't need any help in that either.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

DD still does not use a pillow to sleep (she is 17 months.) She doesn't like them or blankets.

She does like to use them to climb on though.

 

[Pembo]

My boys were at least 2 and in their big boy beds before they had pillows. They were older than that before they actually used them to sleep. Both of my ds's were wild sleepers and didn't need a pillow! So no hurry on that one.

 

[paras4ri]

I agree with the others....they don't need pillows until they're in "real" beds....and even then they may not want or use them. I was lucky in that neither of my kids even tried to climb out of their cribs.

 

[Serena]

I didn't use pillows in the crib either. When Kelsea graduated to the todler bed I got her a pillow.

 

[BrerMom]

When Do Babies Start Using Pillows?

When they ask for one!

 

[Wishing on a star]

DS did not use a pillow until he was a little older... I always heard for little babies it can smother, and for older babies, they should have only a nice firm mattress for their backs, to keep them nice and straight and strong while they are growing and learning to sit up and walk.

Here is something I noticed. I think in many cases the little kid will let us know if they feel they need a pillow.... I got DS a small pillow when I noticed that we wanted to sleep with his blankie or a small stuffed animal propped under his head. Now he sleeps with a regular pillow, but not a big firm one. A thin 'medium' pillow, Thinnest one I saw, a Jubilee brand pillow, from Walmart. At pre-school, he naps on a roll-up matt. so he quickly learned to leave a small roll at the top, and this serves as his pillow there!

 

[aahmom1]

Not until they are out of the crib.

 

[debster812]

I don't think DS had a pillow til he was out of his crib. Around 2yrs 9mos. Even then, half the time, it would be on the floor by morning. He has only started using one regularly in about the past year (he's 5). At school they have rest time on small cots, and he has a dragon shaped floor pillow, but the thing is practically flat, so I don't think that counts.

 

[Michelle]

Pillows definitely do not belong in cribs. Babies can use them to climb up on and OUT of the crib. It's the same reason experts recommend you remove the bumper pads when a baby is old enough to pull up. They use them to climb up and out.

We waited until my DD was in a big girl bed to get a pillow.

 

[Keli]

I would wait until he is out of a crib also. I think the danger of suffication is too great at his age.

 

[becka]

Thanks for your advice. I was concerned there might be a safety reason but I was not sure.

I guess I just love my pillows so much that I thought my little guy might want one as well.

 

[Pin Wizard]

DS didn't have one until he was out of the crib and in his toddler bed.