Since when is a pillow for a child? Is a wedge good for an infant?

Parents often ask: since when a pillow for a child? Whether baby and/ or baby can sleep on a pillow - yes, like adults? And if you already know since whenwhat it is pillow for a child will be the best? Is the wedge-pillow safe for the newborn i baby? In what situations is it purchased and does its use really make sense? When to remove the wedge from the crib? If you want your child to sleep healthy and safe, be sure to read!

Freshly baked parents do their best to ensure that the little one misses nothing. No wonder then that in addition to a duvet and a blanket, a pillow for a child can be on the layette list. What's more, the pillow is often included in ready-made bedding sets for newborns and toddlers, so buying it seems natural. The pillow-wedge for an infant is especially popular, although some people have doubts as to whether it is safe for a newborn.

Another thing is that you do not actually have to buy it, because a similar effect can be obtained with home methods. Regardless of the market offer and the popularity of various products or solutions, first it is necessary to clarify the question of when a child can sleep on a pillow. We will start with this, and in the following part of the text we will explain what it is like with a wedge pillow for an infant and why the questions when taking the wedge out of our child's crib should not be asked until we are sure that we can put it there.

Can the newborn and infant sleep on the pillow?

On the question of whether an infant can sleep on a pillow, scientists agree - until the age of 1, its use may be dangerous for a toddler, as well as have a negative impact on his development. The Institute of Mother and Child recommends that infants sleep on a hard and flat surface - the position on the back is the safest for the youngest.

Earlier use of the pillow by a child may be dangerous:

• choking on food with problems with downpouring or breathing;
• forcing a position not recommended for infants;
• increasing the probability SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

Since when a pillow for a child?

The principle is simple: you can start using the pillow when the baby is no longer so, i.e. after the age of 12 months - as long as it is mobile and it is easy for him to change position on his own. Although on the market you can find pillows that fit a baby cot - both ordinary and those with special shapes - the best solution for a toddler is the lack of any pillow for sleeping or lying down. Since we have dispelled the doubts as to when a child can sleep on a pillow, it is worth suggesting which pillow to choose when it will be able to use it.

Pillows for children have a different structure than those for adults - they are adapted to the needs and development of the toddler. Babies between 12 and 18 months can sleep on the pillow, but it should be quite flat with a little bit of filling. The Institute of Mother and Child recommends pillows:

• soft - if the baby sleeps mainly on the belly,
• harder and more flexible - if the baby sleeps most often on the back,
• anatomical, adapting to the shape of the body - if the child likes to sleep aside.

Wedge pillow for a baby: Yes or no?

A pillow-wedge for a baby is a product that, in fact, cannot be called a pillow. This a flat support made of foam with a triangular cross-section - it raises not only the head, but the whole body of the toddlerwhich is intended to prevent the chin from being pulled to the chest. It is placed under the mattress, but you do not need to buy a special pillow for this. A cot wedge can be placed under the legs - from the side of the child's head - books or blocks.

When to put i when to remove the wedge from the crib?

While in the case of a runny nose or other, temporary respiratory tract infection, lifting the upper part of the body - for a short time - can actually facilitate the child's breathing, the wedge-pillow used permanently to prevent reflux and reflux is a more moot point. Placing a wedge near the baby's head will make the food spill less frequently from its mouth, but it may still retract into the esophagus.

Remember that churning occurs in most newborns and infants - there are many ways to deal with this problem without using a wedge. In turn, reflux disease requires in-depth diagnostics and specialized treatment - to learn more about it, see here.

Is the wedge-pillow safe for the newborn?

Laying a newborn baby above the torso is a common practice in neonatal units to reduce the risk of aspiration shortly after birth. However, this does not mean that you should do the same thing when taking your toddler home. As always, if you are unsure about caring for a newborn baby, consult a specialist.

In the absence of recommendations from the attending physician, it is better to give up the pillow completely. It will be healthier and safer that way!