When to introduce a pillow

[lobsters]

I've read it is OK to introduce a pillow from age 1, but when practically is the best stage to do it. DD is about to turn one, and can get around most of the cot while asleep during the night, so a pillow seems a little pointless, but I'm not sure when she needs one to support her head. Any experience very welcome.

[bebemoohatessnot]

No luck with anyone responding?
I'm rather interested in this too; but dd is only 9m. But she sleeps on her side. I was thinking it couldn't be good for her neck without a pillow

[thehen]

I don't know what is 'correct' but we started DS with a thin Ikea pillow and duvet then he was about 22 months. He doesn't usually stay on the pillow or under the duvet though!

[JustAnotherManicMummy]

I was wondering the same. DS at 9 mo will only sleep with his head slightly elevated the last few nights. Either on my arm or on my pillow in bed.

I've tried to shift him but he won't move! I'm wondering if I give him a little pillow for his cot if he'll sleep in there a bit longer?

[HopingForChristmasSexOnFire]

My DS had a pillow from 12 weeks due to his head shape. We were recommended a special Swedish baby pillow by his Cranial Osteopath. I have to say the pillow helped enormously with his head.
The one we had was a Goi Goi pillow but has since been renamed to this
Personally I'm very glad I bought the pillow when I did.

[Bettymum]

I just came on the sleep topic to post a thread on this very subject. I have just bought DD (23 months) her first pillow, as she has started sleeping with her head on a little velvet heart cushion she has in her cot so she seems to be ready for a pillow. However she often sleeps face down and I'm worried she could suffocate on a proper pillow. Is this likely or am I being silly?

[SparkyToo]

The first pillow I gave our boys was a cot bed pillow - aged about 18 months. This one comes as part of a duvet and pillow bed set - duvet is good too as really soft and lightweight (washes easily too). Anyway, cot bed pillows are just a bit smaller than a standard sized pillow - so don't seem such a big deal to be giving your child.

Our eldest moves around so much in his sleep that he never seemed to keep his head on the pillow, but our younger son absolutely adored his first pillow. He doesn't particularly move around in his sleep and he would sleep with his head on the pillow. In fact he became quite attached to it and certainly didn't want me to get rid of it (he's now aged almost 5 and has a standard sized pillow in his cot-bed) - but the cover was really rather tired looking to say the least so I didn't like looking at it. I know you'll all think I'm heartless! It had been really loved in it's time, but I find my boys forget about anything they can't see very quickly!

[nct73]

My 7 month is waking a lot in night from coughing due to phlegm/catarh and ends up in our bed propped up on me from about half way through the night. DD had a problem with this her first 2 winters. Being propped on pillow helped her but as born dec was already year old. Tried propping bed up but slides down.

Anyone introduced pillow even just temporarily fo this problem at under ne? How you getting on JAMM?

[fishtankbrain]

We introduced one when DS had a bad cold at about 16 months to help him stop accumulating gunk on his chest - it seemed to work and help him sleep better generally so we just left it in there.

It's just a normal very soft pillow - it doesn't raise his head by very much but he seems to prefer it and sleeps much better on it than when he wriggles down the cot and off it.

It didn't even occur to me that a normal pillow could pose a risk of suffocation. Could it really?

[smartmars]

Could it,anyone? I am thinking about it for my 20 mth old but am neurotic enough at the best of times!

[nct73]

I thought it was due to neck problems not suffocation that was the worry once able to control head and why child/cot pillows are so thin. Having spoken to some others, they said if using to prop up to ease congestion, make sure head, neck and shoulders all on pillow so neck still aligned normally just all on angle rather than just head in the way an adult would.

We have used standard pillow and done this for past 2 nights and he has slept much better with far less coughing.

[Bettymum]

I went out to Mothercare and bought a child's cot pillow, it's smaller and thinner than the adult one I got originally and seems to suit DD well. It looks a lot more comfortable (and safe) than the big adult one I got originally. She can get her head and shoulders on it and looks OK.
She still seems to end up in our bad nearly every night though.