Pillows for newborns

[Mip]

Had always heard that newborns (up to one year or is it more?) shouldn't have duvets or pillows. I live in Sweden and at my last midwife appointment she mentioned pillows (can't remember why, something to do with stopping the baby get a flat back of the head), I said I thought you weren't meant to use them and she looked baffled. Then yesterday my sister in law (who has a one year old) went with me to do some shopping for my baby (not born yet, just preparing) and she told me to get a pillow for the pram plus for the bed. She's been using pillows from day one.

Is it safe to use pillows? And if not, can I use one in the pram at least (when we're walking and I can stare at him all the time to check he's breathing!) as midwife scared me with the whole flat back of the head thing!

Hi - another vote here for the Angelcare monitor. People also said to me that it would make me more paranoid but I don't think I'd sleep at night without it! The only annoying thing is that you have to put a board under the matress but we did that and have had just 2 flase alarms in 5 months (think ds just got too far away from the pad once in his bigger cotbed).

By the way my ds has a flat head too - although apparently it will get better with time I wish I'd moved him around more when very young - but I knew nothing about this and it wasn't mentioned to me by anyone until too late really. I still wouldn't use a pillow though.

Definitely do not get second-hand - there are somethings it is worth paying the extra for new.

Yes, I've read that in Sweden they advise pillows - a company here called Goi Goi import specialist pillows which they say are safe for newborns to avoid plagiocephaly. I used one cautiously in the day after I noticed the beginning of a flat spot developing around four months, and later on I used it at night too from about six months. The flat spot totally went. I would think you could use one in the pram while watching carefully if it worries you - alternatively alternate pram with baby sling and make sure baby is not flat on back for hours on end all day. Also keep an eye on the head when the baby is very young and reposition when sleeping if you think a flat spot is developing.

We've got a heart baby pillow from Jojomamanbebe.com made for babies 0-3 months and it is only as big as the baby's head so very difficult to get in the way. Anyone tried it?

Ds had a severely flat head from constantly sleeping on his back which resulted in him having to wear a correction helmet for 2 mths. We bought a goi goi pillow which stopped it getting worse but by then he was 6 mths and it was too late which is why he needed the helmet. I am pg again and will be using the goi goi pillow to prevent this happening again. I shall probably put it under the sheet to be safer. hth.

Good tip Alishanty - hope all is well with your DS now.

Thanks so much everyone for all the excellent advice, I was wondering about putting a pillow under the sheet too, seems to make sense I think.
Am going to check out that heart shaped pillow too, sounds v good.
Have bought a sling so will try and use that lots in the beginning so he's not in the pram all the time.
Thanks again everyone!