When do toddlers start using pillows?

[chewbacca]

At what age did your child start using pillows? My DS (16 months) always has his head on one of his crumpled up blankets in his crib. Should I put one in for him yet? I am still afraid of the risks for SIDS. Do they make special pillows for kids this age?

TIA!

 

[becka]

DS started using a pillow when he moved to his bed around 22 months. I found a very flat not very fluffy pillow for him to use at first. He really didn't even use it very much at first but after a few months he decided he liked it.

I think I have seen crib pillows but I am not sure where you would buy them. Babies 'R Us maybe?

 

[Beth76]

SIDS is no longer an issue at this age. My son is almost 18 months and doesn't use one yet. Maybe soon. I find him snuggling up to pillows that he finds on the floor. He did have to take a nap in his brother's bed the other day and he actually did use the pillow. I don't think it's necessary at this age (really is a pillow ever necessary). Just do what you're comfortable with.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My son is 6yo and he doesn't use one--he sleeps on some of his wadded up baby blankets. I suppose that eventually he'll ask for one.

 

[justhat]

My daughter is almost 22 months and has taken naps in our bed, which has pillows, but she never uses them. She prefers no pillow as she likes to sleep on her stomach mostly, with her knees tucked under/butt in the air, and I think that would be uncomfortable with her head in the air. So I don't think there's any certain age to start, but I'm sure your child would be fine at 16 months.

 

[Mom2Angels]

SIDS is no longer an issue at this age. My son is almost 18 months and doesn't use one yet. Maybe soon. I find him snuggling up to pillows that he finds on the floor. He did have to take a nap in his brother's bed the other day and he actually did use the pillow. I don't think it's necessary at this age (really is a pillow ever necessary). Just do what you're comfortable with.

This is not true, it is rare to happen at this age, but it does and can happen.

Debbie

 

[Marseeya]

Both of my kids were close to five when they started using pillows. I put a pillow on their beds probably around age 3, but they never started using them until they were older.

 

[megan4777]

I think DD was about 18m or so when we put a pillow in her room. She only lays on it when we're reading to her before bed, though. We do have 2 large body pillows on her floor for when she rolls off her bed and I frequently catch her sleeping on them.
I would ask her pediatrician if you want to be sure.

 

[kbkids]

This is not true, it is rare to happen at this age, but it does and can happen.

Debbie

Yes, it can. When my DS was 18 months, we had a friend who lost their child to SIDS, same age. Also, during the same month, had another friend who lost their DS to leukemia at 20 months. It was a rough time for me. I just held my DS and cried alot.

As far as the original question, both of my kids started using a pillow at about the age of 2 - when they moved to their toddler beds. I found the thinnest, smallest pillow I could find. They were both about 3 1/2 when they started using standard pillows.

 

[aprilgail2]

I can't recall if I gave her one before she moved into her toddler bed at 18months but I know when she went to her toddler bed there was one in there.

 

[justhat]

Wow, I always thought the risk for SIDS was over at a year. Scary.

 

[kbkids]

Wow, I always thought the risk for SIDS was over at a year. Scary.

So did I! I worried myself sick for a year, got up 1000 times a night to check on them, and just as I was starting to relax, that happened! The doctors told them that they were seeing a rise in SIDS after a year - still a very rare thing though. It's just such a sad thing!

 

[Nicolepa]

I used one of those travel pillows for my kids. It worked great, not too big/fluffy and small enough to fit in the crib/toddler bed nicely.

 

[Keli]

I would think the risk of sleeping on a wadded up blanket would be higher than an thin pillow. I'd definitely give him a pillow now to keep him from doing that with his blanket.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We moved DS from a crib to a toddler bed when he was about 3. He was perfectly happy in the crib, so we weren't in a hurry!

I bought his bedding for the toddler bed from Lands End, along with a toddler pillow. Before we found the toddler pillow he slept with a throw pillow from Target. The nice thing about the todder pillow was Lands End had pillow cases for it. I don't know if they have them anymore - it was awhile ago!

The 2 little ones that I nanny have pillows that came with custom pillow cases. You might try a search for "toddler pillows" and see what you can find. I think the company is Bunnies and Bows or something similar. My youngest charge turned 2 in August, but he has had the pillow in his crib for quite awhile. His pillow, his blanket, and "stinky monkey" are his favorite bedtime items! (We made Monkey at Build A Bear a little over a year ago. He is falling apart and he has a particular odor that clings to him even when he has been washed. Pretty gross, but my small associate LOVES that monkey!)

 

[susan514]

Don't know about the proper age but they sell toddler pillows at Pottery Barn Kids for $9, with a choice of down or synthetic. They also have small pillow cases as well.