Pillows and Blankets

Kristy - posted on 03/26/2009

My son has had a pillow since he was about  2 months old. He needed a pillow for reflux.  He has had a blanket for some time now also. He does just fine with both.

Shannon - posted on 03/22/2009

I felt the same way. My son will be 1 next week. I started giving him a blanket about 2 months ago. He does fine with it. Never a problem. I still check on him from time to time to make sure hes ok.

Shelli - posted on 03/18/2009

Hailey turned 1 on the 14th and she's had a blanket and 2 stuffed animals since she was about 9 months. I have her using a homemade crocheted blanket though b/c it has big holes in it so even it does go over her have she can still breath.

Christina - posted on 03/17/2009

Madysen turned 1 on the 17th, she's always had a blanket in her crib. Actually she's got 5 of them! haha. She loves her blankies. Starting at about 7-8 months she rolled her one of her blankies and used it as a pillow, and shes done it ever since. She loves using a pillow. I dont think I will ever give her an actual pillow in her crib though. Once she is in a big girl bed she'll havev a pillow. But for now her balled up blanket seems to be working fine.

Linda - posted on 03/16/2009

My son turned 1 on the 3rd and he has been sleeping with a small pillow since he was 6 months and a blanket only when its cold enough for one. I have found he sleeps better through the night with the pillow because he can roll over and cuddle it. He also has a teddy bear that he holds onto. I wouldn't be too worried about suffocation because they are big enough to move the pillow if the need too.

Kayla - posted on 03/15/2009

I've been letting Aden sleep with a blanket for a long time--probably since he was about 6 months.  At the time, we were living in a really cold basement.  He would have a sleep sack as well as a blanket, but I would just pull the blanket up to his tummy.  After a little while sleeping that way, I realized he was actually very good at keeping the blanket in that area, so I figured he'd probably do well without the sleep sack.  When we moved into a warmer place, I started putting just a blanket on him at night.  He usually just pulls it off (he is a restless sleeper), but I'm not worried because he's a warm kid.

I suggest maybe monitoring what she does when you do put a blanket on her... see if she pulls it around a lot.  Some kids don't.  You could always use a lighter blanket if you're worried about suffocation.  Since she's one now I wouldn't be too worried.

Bree - posted on 03/13/2009

I got a blanket that is for a twin bed, folded it in half and tucked it tightly into the sides of the crib. We have done this since she was 9 months since she was too long for most thick sleep sacks and hated them because she had a hard time standing up with them. We tried an infant pillow, but she doesn't use it. I have heard that 1 year is fine for pillows and also 2 years. Who knows?? Ask your pediatrician if you are really concerned. We also have the Angel Monitor that tells us if she is breathing.

Teresa - posted on 03/12/2009

My son will be one on the 27th.  He has always slept w/ a blanket, but probably won't be getting a pillow til he's around 2.

Cathy - posted on 03/11/2009

ethan will be 1 at the end of the month and he's been sleeping with a blanket since..... probably a month old!!!! (i know, u're not suppost to, but i had little mitts on him till he was 2 months so i figured he wouldn't be able to pull the blanket over him head since he couldn't grab it and after the first month, he started kicking the swaddle off). i've never had a problem with him pulling it over him head... it's more like a problem with him keeping it on since he rolls around so much. i don't bother with a pillow cuz he sleeps on his stomach. he also has 2 teddies in his crib and there hasn't been a problem with those either. i did have one of those sleep sacks for him but he hated it and it always woke him up cuz he couldn't roll around with it on!!

Lorraine - posted on 03/09/2009

My daughter will be 1 on the 13th also! She's been sleeping with a blanket for a few months now. Most of the time she has a receiving blanket b/c she likes to hold onto it, too. I've heard that they don't necessarily need a pillow, but I know I don't like sleeping flat...congestion. I will probably get a travel size pillow for her to start with. I don't see any problem with doing that now.

Jen - posted on 03/09/2009

My baby is 11 months. She's been sleeping with a stuffed animal/blanket for a few months now. Once she could roll around by herself, I felt more comfortable. In fact, I like having something in the crib. She likes to sleep on her tummy. When she has a stuffed animal in the crib, she puts it underneath her tummy. So, she's up off the matress. I actually feel better about this than if she was laying flat down. She doesn't use a blanket for warmth, so we make sure her room is warm enough for whatever pjs she's wearing. I don't know about pillows.

It's totally your call.  Do what you are comfortable with.