Infant pillow

One of the primary concerns of any parent is to provide the finest for their toddlers. Like any parent you go beyond your means to care for your child. With babies this implies taking care of their every need, and supporting them at every step. The truth is that, getting enough sleep is critical and is a primary need for your child. Have you thought about whether he is getting adequate rest? If all your efforts to provide a comfortable sleep for your baby is proving futile, fear not! This is where the oft criticized baby pillows may come in handy. It is generally accepted that baby pillows are best used after the age of two. Research even shows that using baby pillows before the age of two can be quite harmful. However, as with adults, the need to use a pillow is a personal choice, and even for a baby this must be ascertained based on his or her individual needs. Therefore, once you feel your child could do with one, feel free to explore the market for an appropriately designed baby pillow.

One point to consider is that adult pillows are a strict no no with kids, and it is imperative that one chooses pillows specifically designed for babies. From the size and thickness of the pillow to the texture of the material, baby pillows need to be selected with due care. Look for a sturdy fabric, and ensure that the foam is not soft but firm. Chuck the soft feather pillows and opt for hype allergenic materials instead. Make sure they are easily machine washable for all those unexpected little accidents! Extra frills on baby pillows may make them pretty, but this is as good as asking for trouble. Additional ribbons and laces on baby pillows are unnecessary and may increase the chances of suffocation.

Finally, while the chief benefit of using good quality baby pillows is certainly a night of unruffled shut eye, the advantages do not end there. Using the right baby pillow has other key advantages, not the least of which is maintaining the right head shape and preventing the occurrence of flattened head? The solid support offered by the unyielding foam in a good quality baby pillow distributes equal pressure to the head of baby from all sides, thus preventing a flat head. Studies even reveal the possibility of reduction in the incidence of SIDS with the use of baby pillows; SIDS incidentally happens to be a primary cause of infant mortality in the US. In conclusion, baby pillows are undeniably a godsend for your baby care needs.

The Internet is full of horrific stories of how babies have suffocated to death because of using baby pillows. I think most of such stories are overstated. My personal experience in using baby pillows for my daughter from the age of one and half is a good example that it is not such a devilish product as it is made out to be. Indeed, some common sense precautions are a must. Do not buy cheap merchandise, the so called ‘best bargains’, they are likely to be of poor quality and hence unsafe. A little bit of market survey through the WalMart, Woolworth and Baby care shops is necessary to get a sense of what best is available. A little bit of research on the Internet also helps. You can use a narrow but firm pillow or a memory foam pillow for the purpose. In my opinion, a memory foam pillow though a bit costly is a better buy. As the name suggests, the memory foam pillow molds to the contours of the baby’s head and thus provides a very good support. I say this out of experience of seeing my baby sleep soundly without once bringing out the late night feed ever since she started sleeping on a memory foam pillow.

The benefits of a baby pillow don’t end there. Doctors say that a slightly elevated head position is helpful in breathing especially if the baby has a cold. They also say that a firm support prevents cranial deformity which may occur if the baby sleeps with head to one side for too long. Make sure you check the pillow cover. Just make sure you buy the softest, linen cotton material for a pillow cover. That will prevent rashes or allergic reaction which is possible if you use synthetic material. Don’t buy soft or feather pillows, they are the ones responsible for the negative publicity. So go ahead and use baby pillows and see your angel sleep soundly.

Between the ages of one to three, children are at their inquisitive best wanting to learn about their surroundings. During this period popularly known as ‘Toddler hood’, the hyperactivity exhausts kids by the end of the day. While some toddlers recoup their energy by taking an afternoon siesta, others continue with their play and learn activities. Nevertheless, all toddlers require a good night’s rest and a sound sleep is vital to maintaining good health. To ensure complete relaxation of the toddler, the parents must ensure that the baby is clothed comfortably, has a pleasant ‘kiddy’ bedroom, has soothing bedclothes and of course a good baby head pillow. It is important that the pillow is of a good quality and not too soft. A pillow too soft can even lead to smothering. Also remember most toddlers twist and turn while sleeping. Others prefer sleeping on their tummies. A poorly designed pillow is an absolute no no because of the risk of serious neck injuries. It is evident that a baby head pillow is not any other normal pillow. The defining difference between a baby head pillow and other normal pillow is that it is specifically designed to be risk free. Always buy good branded pillows which may be a bit costly but are safe and of a good quality. Never ever use feather pillows as these can cause allergies.

Keeping the baby’s head slightly elevated helps them breathe more easily and hence a pillow is a must. The head elevation also prevents vomiting of the bedtime feed. The support given to the soft skull bones of a baby by a pillow helps prevent deformities. A wide variety of baby head pillows are available. Memory foam pillows are exceptionally good as they have the ability to mold according to the toddler’s skull shape. Visco Elastic cushioning materials are used in memory foam pillows to prevent Flat Head Syndrome by providing equitable distribution of pressure around the baby’s head. Just like standard sizes for clothes, baby head pillows are also made in different sizes according to the age of the child, so check the label before buying one. These pillows are up for sale in supermarkets, online shops, and specialized baby product shops. Baby head pillows also come with side support pillows which help to keep the toddler snug and in a proper ‘on the back’ posture which further helps the toddler to sleep well. The use of side supports is however, optional especially if your baby prefers to turn posture while asleep. However, the basic facts remains that your toddler requires a sound sleep to grow healthily and baby head pillows are imperative to that process. So, go on, sing a sweet lullaby!