Introducing a Baby Pillow In a Big Bed
As a first time parent, I research and over analyze everything. When my husband and I first found out we were pregnant, I immediately worried if I had a glass of wine before I knew or if the fumes of the bus that drove by while I was walking would harm my baby. To save my sanity, I decided to put away all the pregnancy books a couple months in, so I would stop reading about everything that could happen. After I put the books away, I found that I enjoyed my pregnancy a lot more. I still get quoted from one zinger I told my husband during those first couple months. It was something along the lines of not worrying ever again once the baby is born. He found it quite humorous and told me I would most definitely find some causes for worry in parenthood. He was right. And here my latest worry is the topic of the baby pillow.
When you purchase a crib set (blanket, crib bumper, sheets, crib skirt), a baby pillow is frequently included. This is quite confusing. Unless a child is older than the age of 2, he or she should not use a pillow. When a child is under two, the presence of a pillow can increase the risk of suffocation. Duvets and big blankets are not recommended for the same reason. A baby should be placed on his back to sleep, should not have soft things in his crib, and should not have anything covering his face. We used a sleep sack with our daughter, which kept her warm without us having to worry about bedding in her crib. Some experts say that even giving a child over the age of 2 a pillow may not make them any more comfortable than they would be without one. All experts agree, however, that you should wait to give your child a pillow until he is out of the crib.
It is suggested that a small baby pillow be introduced first, rather than an adult sized pillow. Something the size of an airplane pillow is perfect. Choose a pillow that is not feather or down, as such a pillow can often allow the head of a child to sink down too much. We recently introduced our a daughter (she is 2 and a half) to a bed and moved her out of her crib. We started with a baby pillow in the bed, per the recommendations. We would always find her hugging the baby pillow, instead of actually having her head on it. The tiny pillow would often get lost too. We moved on from the baby pillow after about two weeks. Unlike when she was sleeping with the baby pillow, she actually uses the new pillow like an adult would. She even props it up to lean on when she reads, which she thoroughly enjoys.