Choosing the Right Pillow for Children

A pillow is an essential attribute of a good night's sleep. It should be comfortable and pleasant to the touch. This does not mean that it must necessarily be soft. For some, such a criterion is completely contraindicated. So let's figure out how to choose the right pillow for your child.

Why is it so important to choose the right baby pillow

During childhood, the body actively grows. The body grows and develops especially actively during sleep. Therefore, sleep should be comfortable and calm. Nothing should interrupt it. The baby needs a sound and healthy sleep, which is definitely influenced by all the bedding, as well as the crib itself.

Another important reason why you should pay special attention to the choice of pillow is the spine.

In infancy and adolescence, the child's bones and posture are just forming. The sleeping position plays an important role here. Oddly enough, scoliosis can develop precisely because of the incorrect selection of a pillow. If it is too high, then not only a slight bend occurs, which affects blood circulation, but also the formation of an incorrect position of the spinal bones.

If you want your child to be strong and healthy, and for his spine, which is the root of life, to function correctly, approach the choice of such an attribute as a sleeping pillow responsibly.

What a baby pillow should be like

We have found out why this attribute is so important. Now let's move on directly to the analysis of the topic of what a good baby pillow should be like. It is impossible to answer this question unequivocally. Firstly, a lot depends on age. A teenager's bedding will not suit a baby. And does a baby need a pillow at all? But more on that later. Secondly, individual characteristics, congenital disorders, weight and height are important. But first, let's look at the general criteria by which you should choose this attribute.

What material and filling to choose for a pillow

The pillow consists of three parts:

• warp;
• filler;
• pillowcase.

Let's start with the base. It is most often made of linen or dense synthetic fabric. Strength is important here, the fibers in the base are tightly intertwined. The main thing is that the filler does not protrude through the base. This part can be made of both natural and synthetic fabric.

Next, the filler. There are many options here. And this element is already of primary importance.

Here the best option would be ecofiber. However, it is worth listing the possible options.

• Feather and down. Once the most common fillers. But now, with the advent of modern safe options, they are becoming a thing of the past. They are dangerous primarily because they can cause allergies. Feather also accumulates dust, which contains pathogenic bacteria. Do not forget about moisture. This material can accumulate it, as a result of which it quickly becomes matted and dirty.

  

• Wool. Good filler, compensates for all the shortcomings of the previous one. Sheep, camel, angora wool are good. The only drawback is that it does not hold its shape well, which is also not suitable for a child's body.

  

• Natural silk. Wins among all the above: hypoallergenic, moisture-resistant material, breathable, does not electrify. But it has a high price, which is unacceptable for a child's pillow, which has to be changed often.

  

• Ecofiber. As already mentioned, this is the best option. Despite the fact that it is synthetic, it has all the positive qualities of natural silk. The price category, in turn, is lower than the previous option. But in this case, you should take care of the antistatic impregnation or pillowcase, since ecofiber can accumulate static electricity and can shock the baby.

  

• Bamboo. Not suitable for younger children, as it does not hold its shape well. In other respects, it is not inferior to the previous one.

  

Latex is a no-no. Such fillers are quite hard and are only suitable if recommended by a doctor, as well as for older people.

Pillowcase. The third component. It is also very important. This part should be hypoallergenic, antistatic, breathable and not retain moisture. It is best to choose a natural soft material. Do not forget that it is recommended to have several pillowcases, especially pillows for young children.

Children's pillows for different ages

We have sorted out the general criteria, now we move on to the main indicator – age. It primarily influences the choice of the right accessory. At different ages, a child needs pillows of different composition and size. Let's look at options for all ages.

Does a newborn need a pillow?

Here opinions are divided. Most mothers claim that the baby does not need this accessory, referring to the recommendations of orthopedists and pediatricians. However, this statement is incorrect. Doctors, in fact, recommend that the newborn sleep on an elevation of 1-1.5 cm. This does not mean that the pillow should be completely absent. It means that it should be of a suitable low height.

In general, you can refuse this accessory, however, in this case, as in the case of choosing the wrong pillow, there is a risk of suffocation. Babies like to sleep on their stomachs, face down. The mattress, in turn, does not let air through, so the child in this position can suffocate. A pillow for a newborn should have the following criteria:

• hypoallergenic;
• air permeability;
• naturalness;
• not high;
• quite wide.

These criteria are valid for regular pillows. For example, there is a nepoteika. It is 1.5 cm high, the width is around the entire perimeter of the crib, and the filler is buckwheat husk. A natural diaper folded in several layers is also a good option. But there are also special pillows for newborns.

Special pillows include inclined, positional, butterfly and donut pillows. What is it? An inclined pillow is a dense inclined plane made of durable material so that the child does not fall through. It is usually as wide as the entire crib, and long enough to fit only the upper part of the baby's body. The pillow tilts no more than 30 degrees.

The baby is positioned with his whole body on the positioning pillow. It has special limiters that help hold the body in a certain position. This type is indicated for muscle atony, and it can also be used if the child tosses and turns a lot in his sleep, waking himself up.

The butterfly and donut pillows have telling names, and therefore, the corresponding shape. The butterfly helps to support the newborn's head in a certain position, and does not allow him to move too much in his sleep.

It has a recess for the head, and it turns out that the child sleeps on an elevation of no more than 1 cm; there is no bolster under the neck. The donut is indicated only for diseases of the spine. It is placed under the neck, forming a bolster in this place.

Pillow for children from 3 years old

At 3 years old, doctors advise changing the pillow, just like the bed. The baby "moves" out of the cradle, and leaves all the devices for newborns in it.

At this age, the optimal pillow size will be 50x40 cm. Buckwheat husk or ecofiber can also be used as a filler. Bamboo should be avoided for now, since the spine is not yet fully formed. At this age, you can pay attention to orthopedic pillows that will support the child's head and body in a certain position and will not allow curvature to develop.

Pillow for teenager

A teenager is a transitional phase between growing up and childhood. In terms of bedding, a teenager can be considered an adult. At 11 years old, a child can already move to a larger bed, and, therefore, change sleeping accessories. A pillow at this age can be 50x70, which is considered the European standard. Or 70x70 cm, which is considered the Russian standard. Here, everything depends on the preferences of the child and parents. However, the best option is 50x70.

Should You Trust Unusually Shaped Pillows?

Unusual shapes include pillows in the form of a flower, a rainbow moon, and others. The market is now overflowing with all sorts of pillows in the form of popular animals, plants, cartoon characters, and other shapes. Such pillows are not recommended for sleeping. That's what they are decorative for. They can do a good job of being decorative, being in a bed or cradle next to a child, but without interfering with his sleep.

How to care for a baby pillow

Caring for a child's pillow is especially important. At this age, a person sweats a lot, and in younger children, frequent burping may occur. In view of this, the material should be selected of such quality that it is easy to clean and remains in good condition after numerous washes.

You can only wash a baby pillow in the washing machine if it is not made of buckwheat husk or other similar fillers, latex or orthopedic bases. In other cases, it is better to take it to the dry cleaner, where you should warn that it is a baby pillow, so that it can be cleaned with special products. A pillow made of buckwheat husk, herbs, cherry pits or similar fillers should be cleaned separately: wash the pillowcase, dry the filler. Also, do not forget that when washing children's products, you should use special products.

Video: How to choose a pillow for a child? – Dr. Komarovsky

50 options of children's pillows for different ages: