When should my toddler get a pillow?

[koekje]

DD is moving to a proper single bed for her third birthday in a few weeks and is very excited about it, especially the exceptionally pink duvet cover which will grace her "big girl's bed".

But do I include a pillow in the whole new set-up? She's been sleeping happily in a big cot without a pillow so I'd be inclined to remain pillow-less. On the other hand, she does have the tendency to inch her way up the bed at night and jam her head against the headboard (we have used multiple stuffed toys as cot bumpers) otherwise she wakes herself up at night due to banging her head. Maybe I could replace these toys with the new pillow?

I remember having pillows when I was about 4-5 but can't recall any earlier than that. Are there any issh-oos about introducing pillows too early that I should know about?

Any info gratefully received!

DD1 got her first pillow when she moved into her big bed. She now spends ages every evening getting it just right before going to sleep. Pillows are no supposed to be used before 12months.

All of mine sleep on their stomachs quite a lot, so I didn't give them pillows until they asked for them. Dc1&3 have the thinnest pillows possible, but dc2 asked for a thicker pillow after sleeping with thick pillows at the ILs.

You can still use soft toys as a bumper. 10yo dc1 and 8yo dc2 currently sleep with 4 each, and 4yo dc3 sleeps with 12 at the last count.

DD1 got a pillow when she moved into her toddler bed when she was 2. I got her a really cheap supermarket "value" one as it was the thinnest one I could find!

both mine had pillows from 1 year which is when it is ok for them to have one. Ds has a pillow plus a million soft toys on his bed

Dd1 had one from about 16 months but dd2 had really bad silent reflux and used to sleep in my bed propped up on a pillow from about 6 months. When I moved her back to the cot she wouldn't sleep without it :( I hated her having it and was so paranoid I used to have to check on her all the time. She's nearly 1 now and still has the pillow. If you're moving her into a proper bed she will be fine with a pillow :)

Thanks all, I'll dig out a thinnish pillow and see how we get on. She'll be thrilled the bed looks just like a "proper" grown-up one, pillow and all.

Appreciate the quick feedback