My daughter is 16 months old.
She is 29 pounds and 32 inches tall.
She seems like such a "big girl" to me, that I feel kind of bad laying her in her crib with no pillow.
I fully understood why, at a young age, it was dangerous to have anything in the crib but the baby...But I wonder, if now she can have a little pillow to rest her head on. At this point, I am so comfortable with her strength, that I do not worry about her ability to handle the pillow.
Does anyone have a child the same size as my baby girl that has a pillow?
Hi J.,
I would feel comfortable giving my 16 month old a pillow. He is big and strong.
However, like the other postings, my older children don't really care about having a pillow and are never on it when I check on them at night.
I didn't give my son a pillow until he turned 3 and we moved him to a toddler bed. He insists on having it in his bed and he starts out with his head on it but rarely do I wake him in the morning with his head on it. In fact I often find him lying with his head at the foot of the bed. You don't have to feel bad that she doesn't have one at this point, but I don't know if there is a recommended age to begin using a pillow.
If she is asking for one then I would give her one. They make smaller flatter ones instead of the huge 'bulky' ones. Maybe start with that. I personally love my pillow and the one I hug and have never had a spine or neck issue. I am more comfy and even used it in the hospital when I delivered! Kinda like Linus in Peants...lol except he used a blankey and was a child...lol! Hey do what you want to do and she will be fine. My son had a pillow very early (he is now 11 1/2 mo's). Acid reflux... tried elevating his mattress, the wedge, zantac, etc..... just about everything and you know what? A pillow was just the answer. His neck muscles were strong enough and he never rolled off or got stuck under it. Now that he is older he wakes up at the opposite end so the pillow is kinda useless, plus he has outgrown his reflux, thank God.
Good luck!
Christina
When we moved my son to a big boy bed for naptime, then we started giving him a pillow, he was about 16 months when we started, now he is 23 months and does fine. Some days he sleeps on the pillow other days he'd rather lay flat, so some kids prefer it one way or another. I'd suggest you would start her with a flat pillow vs a puffy one. But if you think she is ready for one than I'd say it's ok to offer her one. You may want to try it first during naptime to make sure you still feel she does ok with it before you give her one at night.
I have heard that pillows are actually bad for neck and spinal alignment and we would all be more comfortable without them if we could get used to it again. My kids are almost 4, 2.5 and 3.5 months old. Emily did not use a pillow until she was about 20 months old and out of the crib. My son used one a little earlier, but both of them often move off the pillow at night and sleep flat still. I would not feel bad about since she has no idea what she is missing.
M.
I was wondering the same thing - at what age should children start sleeping w/ pillows? Is there a point where it's better for their spinal alignment?
My boys are 5 and 3 and don't sleep w/ pillows. My 5yo prefers to lie flat and my 3yo hasn't asked for anything. Does your daughter show an interest in wanting a pillow? Or do YOU want her to have one? I've seen flat little pillows that might be a good transition if she really wants one.
