To pillow or not to pillow?

Diana - posted on 04/17/2010

My daughter has a body pillow in her crib and has had one since she was put in the crib.. the crib was just to big for her. never had any problems.

Joanna - posted on 04/16/2010

My daughter's been using a pillow since she was about 1 1/2, when I noticed she was sleeping on her back more and not moving about in her crib so much. It was also the same time we introduced her toddler bed, so it was good timing.

Diana - posted on 04/16/2010

My daughter had one at 15 months when she moved to a toddler bed. But she was a stomach sleeper and until recently didn't really use it unless playing. My son is 4 months and I am considering giving him a pillow because he sleeps on his side. That and he seems to like something under his head.

Kelly - posted on 04/16/2010

I put my son's 1st pillow in his crib when he was almost one, I think. I laid it at the top of the mattress and put the sheet on top of it so that he couldn't get trapped under it, or get it over his face.

Nikole - posted on 04/16/2010

Thanks everyone! I think I'll go out and try to find a small flat pillow. See how he does.
Thanks again!

Maggie - posted on 04/16/2010

I gave my daughter one about a month to two months ago (she is 17 months now). She loves it. She sleeps on it all night. Occasionally I will come in and she is laying with her whole body curled up on it. I was nervous about it as well because she sleeps like her dad (on her belly) and I didn't know if she would know to turn her head. We got a really flat one from Ikea and it gives her something to lay her head down on (which makes her happy) but it is flat enough to not pose a problem (which makes me happy).

Jacqueline - posted on 04/16/2010

my daughter has had a pillow since she could roll over (4 months). she had really bad reflux and this helped keep her head elevated. we put the fitted sheet over top of the pillow when we make the bed so she cant move it or get underneath it

Kim - posted on 04/16/2010

I would say that two is an ok age, I'm a little nervous about the whole pillow thing, my son is three and if he gets his face down into the the pillow I will remove it from his bed. I know he is old enough to move if he can't breath but I'm jumpy about it.

Medic - posted on 04/16/2010

I gave my son a pillow when he moved to a toddler bed at about 15 months....it just so happened that he gave it back and stole two of mine. Now at 3.5 he usually ends up under it but oh well.

Jennifer - posted on 04/16/2010

When I moved my son to his bed he had just turned 2 years old. That's when I bought him a very flat pillow to use.

Jenna - posted on 04/16/2010

My son has had a pillow now for about 2 months (he is 16 months old). He loves having a pillow. We are actually picking out a body pillow that fits in his crib because he tends to turn his pillow sideays so he can cuddle to it.

Catherine - posted on 04/16/2010

I was in the same "boat" as brittany! My son has had a pillow since about 6 or 8 months. But it was a really flat pillow. It's just he was used to being in my bed and he cuddled with my pillow! And he still sleeps on his pillow and he's 2 now!

Chelle - posted on 04/16/2010

My little man had this long toy alligator- got from ikea to help as a breastfeeding aid- we used to always put him to sleep on that on the couch from very young and he would sleep for ages on it. We never put anything in his bassinette or cot though, not when he was that young. Nor did we have any toys in the cot with him when he was really little. Now that he is in his big toddler bed, he had a toy cow that opens up as a pillow, he sometimes uses it to lay on, most times, he just lays on the mattress itself and snuggles up with it as a toy. We also have the big long alligator toy along the top of his bed to protect from the wall and sometimes he will sleep on that. He is yet to be given a conventional pillow at this stage.

Brittney - posted on 04/16/2010

To be honest my daughter has a pillow since about 6 months. Its my pillow. She lays her whole body on it and she loves it. I noticed she was only sleeping thoguht the night when I let her lay in my bed because she would wiggle up onto the pillow. Once I put one in her bed she was fine! I'm sure people will say I'm nuts she is too young, but thats part of being a mom, you get to decide :)

Andrea - posted on 04/15/2010

My daughter is 2. She too is comfortable with using her blanket. I did try giving her a flat pillow, but by the morning she scooted off her pillow and back on to the mattress. Lol. If hes into it, I'd say go for it! Gina offered some nice advice. Good to know, I knew the time was right. She just isnt into it.

Gina - posted on 04/15/2010

most of the "experts" say that it's ok to give a child the pillow once he/she can roll over fully in sleep and keep their air ways free. i gave my first daughter a pillow @ around 2 i think.and if your son is already using his blanket as his pillow then i say he's more then ready. If your still a little nervous about it,start him out with a very thin,flat pillow and see how he does.