Baby Pillows for a Long Restful Night
The health and growth of an infant to a large extent depends on adequate sleep. Having the right baby accessories is therefore of great importance. One of the accessories most vital to the sleep routine of your baby is baby pillows. Not only does a baby pillow provide support to the head of your baby, it also helps prevent reflux. Babies normally drink a warm bottle of milk prior going off to sleep and having the head inclined slightly above the rest of the body helps prevent vomiting. Keeping the head of the infant slightly elevated also helps in respiration with added importance when the baby has constricted air passage due to a cold. The skull of a baby is very pliant and if left lying in one position for too long can result in cranial deformity. Baby pillows help give the requisite support and prevent such cranial deformity.
Negative publicity of using baby pillows focuses on the possibility of babies being smothered by the pillow. These fears are unfounded provided you choose the correct variety of baby pillows. Never choose a soft pillow or a feather pillow. The former can lead to smothering and the latter can cause allergic reactions in some babies. Also, always make sure that the pillow cover is made of soft cotton or linen and not synthetic material which can also cause skin irritation. Hospitals and maternity wards use narrow thin pillows for baby cribs which are firm yet soft. The latest memory foam pillows specially designed for babies are a good buy. Most supermarkets, malls and specialized baby care shops stock baby pillows. It is best to buy recognized products from these places as a recognized brand though more expensive will assure quality and safety. And now the crucial issue: when do you start using baby pillows for your infant? There are no thumb rules. Most pediatricians suggest that any age after one year is okay for using a baby pillow. Other ways to know when to use a baby pillow is by looking out for indications from the baby. These indications come when your baby begins utilizing a favorite stuffed toy as a pillow or a bed sheet as support, a sure sign of need to buy a pillow.