Using Boppy Pillow in Crib

You don't say how old your son is... His age has some bearing on whether or not it's safe to have something in his crib as well as whether or not to let him CIO (cry it out).

For the record, I'm no fan of CIO and while I know that it works for many and is a last resort for many, I also feel that there are other options. I never let my son CIO and he is a perfectly well adjusted 2 yr old who has known how to self soothe and put himself to sleep since infancy. And, even the CIO experts advise not using this method until the baby is 6 months.

I personally don't think that a boppy is a good idea in the crib. It's a safey hazard and if the baby were to slide down then his airway could be obstructed. Even if he's not moving or rolling over now, he may be soon. You never really know when it's going to start happening and it would be awful if the 1st time it did it was when he was in the crib with the boppy. My son also napped in his swing and did so until he was too big to sleep in it at around 9 months. He was doing all night sleeping in his crib though from 4 months on and before that was in a bassinet. I was worried about transitioning him to his crib for naps and it turned out I worried for nothing. He did just fine.

We did have many nights though where he needed to be elevated (and he didn't have reflux) and on those nights I put him in his bouncy chair where he slept peacefully. Before 6 months I say do whatever works (as long as it's safe) - so if he sleeps well in the swing, let him. Try to transition him to the crib every other nap or so and see how he does. There are wedges you can buy to place under the crib mattress, which are safe. That wouldn't have worked for my son though since he was so squirmy.

No matter what, this phase will end soon and before you know it you will have a baby who is sleeping peacefully through the night in his crib. The 1st year can be rough, but it does pass quickly.

Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

i would get him used to sleeping without one - they are so little and do not have the strength to move if they get caught under the pillow - i know it is hard but let him cry if he needs to he will get used to sleeping alone, the pillow makes me nervous and if anything ever happened you would be devastated -

PLEASE follow the current medical advice and do not use any pillow or any other article in your baby's crib . If he is used to sleeping in the swing, it will take him a while to get used to sleep in his crib. You don't mention how old your baby is, but at any age, consistency and patience are key words on getting children to adjust to changes. Good luck to you!

Very very bad idea. Go do some reading about SIDS and you will know why. I have had a couple of friends lose children to SIDS and it is a horror I would not wish on my worst enemy.

Congratualtions on a healthy baby!

I too have used the boppy in bed for sleeping. But now that my son is 7 mo and moving around and wanting to sleep on his stomach, I think we are going to change his sleeping space.

When we were in the hospital the nurses would prop the mattress up with a cushion underneath. And a positioner on top so he could sleep on his side. They also added a blanket roll for under his feet so he wouldn't slide down. But it was highly recommended that they never sleep on thier stomach.

I feel that if they can turn themselves into the position of sleeping on thier stomach, then they can also pull themselves out of this position.

I suggest, keep an eye on your baby's movements when sleeping and determine if you think it is safe to use the pillow or not. Moving from one place to a crib can be overwhelming, create a space that can feel secure and warm and he will be more able to acclamate more easily.

Hope this helps.

You did not indicate how old your son was but my son had a difficult time as an infant sleeping in a crib due to being startled when he would move his arms and notice that I wasn't there. Swaddling in his blanket helped him to adjust. I used a Boppy pillow to make him comfortable while on the floor but never in his crib. Sometimes he would fall asleep in the Boppy on the floor but I always stayed close enough to watch him.

T., I think it's ok to use the Boppy for transition purposes as long as your son is not moving around alot in his sleep. How old is he? I don't think I would use it if the child was over 3 months old. After 3 months they move around alot and would probably suffocate if he wiggles his way out of it. You can always try sleeping on an air mattress next to his crib until he transitions. Don't use the Boppy too long or he'll get used to that to! Good luck!

Hi T......
I don't know about the bobby pillow but I did have a son who had to sleep in a swing till he was 4 months old. He now sleeps in his crib through the night...but what I did is move him from the swing to the bassinet, bassinet to his crib. He would not go directly to the crib from the swing...I think it was all too big for him, he still wanted to be cozy.
I also did the " sleep changes" when we got home from trips...since he was already kinda out of his schedule. Don't know if you have any little trips planned in the future, but my pediatrician told me that helps when presenting any change in their routine.
Hope this helps!

H.

I used a boppy pillow for my son to sleep in for months and he was fine. It helped him feel like he was being cradled in my arms without me actually holding him. I didn't have any problems at all with his breathing or anything...so I would say go for it. :)

Perhaps if your afraid of the safety aspect, you can put him to bed with the pillow then when he falls asleep, sneek it out. Don't be afraid to let your baby cry either! :) My son did the only falling asleep in the swing thing. The best thing to do is let them cry... harsh but true. You'll never have peace unless you teach him he must go to bed in his crib.

Hi T.,
I don't suggest putting your child to sleep with a pillow either. I should have an older brother, but he died at 3 weeks old of SIDS. Your baby will adjust to sleeping in his crib. It will take about 2 - 3 days before he adjust then it should be cake for awhile. They go through several different sleep phases.

If he enjoys being propped up, put a small pillow underneath his mattres. That will always help while he is sick and or congested as well.

I read some suggestions about leaving the boppy on him until he falls asleep or during naps, I don't suggest this either. Being a mommy is tiring and you could fall asleep before you remove the boppy.

C.

Our son would not sleep flat due to acid reflux. He actually slept in a bouncy chair on the floor (which holds them semi-upright and strapped in) for three months- it was the only place he would sleep. When he got better, we used an "approved" wedge in the crib which slightly elevated his head. I think both of these are safer options than a boppy pillow. Best of luck on getting some ZZZZ's!
S.

I used the Boppy too. The baby is supported and sleeps better...this means more sleep for mom too. Go for it!

my daughter had the same issue in that when she was first born she wanted to sleep semi-upright... whenever she laid down flat she would not go to sleep, or if put in that position after being asleep, she would wake up within a few minutes, crying. i read that thismight be the result of acid reflux type symptoms from a still-developing digestive system.

this is so ghetto, but i used to put her to sleep in her carseat, swinging it by the handle or (ha!) taking the cover off of the bouncy seat and setting the carseat into the frame and putting the bouncy seat on vibrate (the carseat fit perfectly)! once she was asleep, i would just set her carseat right on the floor next to my bed (i wanted to co-sleep eventually). there did come a point (7 mos or so) when she was able to sleep flat, and then it wasn't a problem.

anyway, i just mention this since i think it might be a way to get your son to sleep in his crib in that preferred semi-upright position, but he would be strapped in so that he couldn't slide down and potentially get his head under the pillow and not be able to push it off.

good luck!

Don't feel bad I used the boppy for 6 months in the crib because my daughter thought i was still holding her. Like you my babies took naps in the swings and when I thought it might be better that they go into there cribs they would startle because they didn't feel anything around them so I laid them in the boppys. Worked wonders.

Do not EVER use the boppy for sleeping!!! A child can slide down between the two sides of the pillow and suffocate. The best way to get a baby to sleep in their crib is to start them off in there in the first place. If you get them used to where they'll be sleeping in the first place, they won't have to get used to something else later on. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but babies' safety is very important to me, as I have three of my own. :)

I used it with my daughter and she is now 7&1/2 months old... She's alive and healthy! I was also concerned with all the warnings of sleeping with pillows and tummy sleeping, but I also needed to find a comfortable way in which she would sleep through the night. I know it is NOT recommended by pediatricians, but for me, my heart said differently and for 2 months, that was the only way she would sleep or nap is if she was sleeping elevated or (I know how bad this sounds) on her tummy. Now she sleeps comfortably without any pillows and she still turns herself to her tummy even if we lay her on her back.

My son didn't like to sleep flat on his back for the first 6mo of life. He slept in a bouncer for a few months. When he outgrew that we put a few pillows under our mattress since he sleeps with us. The wedge didn't work for my oldest. Try putting a pillow under his mattress so that he is reclined.

Leaving anything in the crib while your son is asleep is not a good idea, I myself didn't even like leaving a blanket on my son in fear that it would smother him. Believe it or not, even when they are small, they will eventually move around in there and maybe get their airways blocked if you have pillows or stuffed animals in the crib. What I found helpful was buying a wedge that would keep my son slightly elevated while asleep. It is a small wedge that you put in the crib under the sheets, it is the width of the crib and is just enough to lay your baby's back on to so his head is higher that the rest of his body. I bought it on line from "One Step Ahead", I'm sure you could find it there.
Good luck, and don't leave your baby in the crib with all kinds of things in there!

hi T.!
my daughter used her boppy pillow in the crib but she was around 8-9 months when she started sleeping with it. she is now 28 months old & uses it for napping, sleeping at night, & even when she's relaxing with a sippy cup. we never used the boppy w/ my older child & it was a saving grace with my daughter. i'm guessing your baby is only a few months old? i agree with you that nap time is a good way to start so that you can watch him. i've found with both of my kids that if you know their sleeping habits & are comfortable with them on their belly, using a pillow, etc. it's your call.
good luck!
J.

Hi T.,

If it seems like he sleeps better being propped up, maybe he has some stomach issues like reflux. You might want to ask the doctor if that's a possibility. Either way, I know they sell wedges that you can put under the mattress which are a lot safer.

A friend of mine had to put her son in the infant carrier every night to sleep. At bedtime she would strap him in, put the carrier in the crib and he slept the night thru. He had bad reflux and felt better when he was at that angle. I think the carrier is probably better "SIDS-wise" than the Boppy. Just a suggestion

There are wedges that you can buy for this purpose. I do not recommend using a Boppy. I would think it was too dangerous. What if he moves around and gets down inside of it and is smothered? You would never forgive yourself. The wedges can go under his bedclothes and should fit the entire width of the crib. It will put him on an incline so that his head is higher than his feet. I had to use one with my son who had acid reflux. If it doesn't work immediately, hang in there. It's not a bad thing for them to cry for a bit. He'll eventually get used to not sitting up while sleeping and then you'll be thankful that you held out.

I wouldn't use it in the crib, because the boppy wraps around and it could be a suffocation concern. My kiddo didn't really need a pillow until just recently, and she's 2.5 years old. I wonder if you could find a really flat pillow that would elevate the head a little, something that wouldn't sink or wrap around the head.

I agree with the other response. I have three girls and the last one loved to sleep in the swing. I had to let her cry it didn't take but a couple of times though. I don't think the boppy is safe in the crib. I used it for breast feeding and it was great. However I would be careful using it any other way. Congrats on your little blessing. M.

My son was the noisiest sleeper. He slept in a co-sleeper next to our bed. I couldn't take it because I NEED MY SLEEP! We ended up swaddling him tightly and putting him in the boppy on the couch which was right outside our bedroom. I still heard every sound he made, but it wasn't quite as distrubing as him being right next to me.
When he started wriggling a little too much, we stopped using the boppy for fear of him smothering and then he transitioned to the crib without incident.
Good luck

Hi,

I used the boppy in the crib with our first baby and she was fine. Mostly during naps also so I could watch her better. Then we bought this wedge looking thing that's made to put in a crib and it keeps the baby's head elevated a little. Unfortunately I don't know the correct name of it but I am currenlty using it again with our second baby. Sorry I don't know the brand either, I cut the tags off. Hope this helps.

Joy

Hi Mama T.,
We have had our baby in our bed from day one, and we used the Boppy, and a lot of other props, to keep him safe until he was able to turn his head. Since he is in a crib, you could move it into your room so you could keep checking him and making sure he is okay. Congrats on your little blessing!

I was going to suggest the sleep positioner! Glad it seems to be working! :)

In my infant center room babies often fall asleep on the floor on boppies. We have a carpet and wear booties to keep the floor sanitary. When babies are soundly sleeping we sometimes pick them up off the bounty and carry them to their cribs.

I used the boppy pillow w/ both my kids, for the obvious use - nursing/or feeding, but I continued to use it after weaning because it was more comfortable to hold them with. (in fact my son is 3 and I still use it to hold him when he is going to sleep) but to your question about useing it in the crib.... Neither one of my kids would sleep flat/alone/quietly in their cribs. I had to find unique ways of getting them to sleep/nap. Since they were used to the feel/smell of the boppy while I was feeding/holding them, I used it to transition into their cribs. They were more comfortable and they "accepted" not being held so they could sleep. When they were newborn, I would wrap them tightly in the "burrito fold" and lay them at an angle on the boppy in their crib. This helped with their breathing, as well as served as "barrier" for them not to roll out/off. When they were older being "contained" in the U-shape of the boppy helped them feel like they were being held. It worked for me.

I also am an "older mom", had trouble conceiving, quit treatments and was blessed with 2 complete miracles. I am 38 w/a 6yr & 3yr old and have read all the books, etc. I have found that alot of the "new" advice is good, but not to discount some of the tried and true older methods either. I always put my kids on their stomaches/sides.... they hated being on their backs! I never let them cry themselves to sleep (I DID try it... my daughter would make herself vomit she would get so angry). You just have to try different things, no matter who wrote it in a book or who gave the advice. Everyone's household is different and each kid is different. Whatever is positive, beneficial and works for you... DO IT.

H. G

Yeah, We used it at first in our bed when she was tiny tiny then we would put our daughter in her boppy in her crib. We tried for naps at the beginning just to make sure she was snuggled up and didnt roll out. I know your not suppose to but it worked good for us.

first off,.my son got really sick at 3 monthes of age with respritory problems and the nurse actually reccamended that he sleep on the boppy in his crib to keep him propped and i never had any problems with it just keep your eye on him to see how he moves in his sleep. if hes not one to roll over on his belly it should be fine, infact my son slept on the boppy pillow until he was close to 6 monthes but then i had to take it out because he liked to roll over on his stomach and odviously that wasnt a verry safe thing

Both of my children could never sleep flat in the crib. My oldest son had acid reflux so laying him flat would only cause him pain (he later out grew this). Perhaps your little one is having trouble with gas or acid reflux...it could explain why laying him in the crib causes him to cry but using the boppy helped. Just a thought.

T.,
I do this all the time with my currently 3 month old daughter. It really helps her sleep I think, but yeah I do just check on her, but have never had anything close to a problem with it. Also, she sleeps well on her side instead of her back, I just put the boppy behind her back for support.
A., work at home mom of two.
www.thebest4yourfam.com

Hi there. I wouldn't recommend the Boppy pillow or any other pillow in the crib, for safety reasons. I know it's hard to hear your baby crying, but trust me as soon as you can find a healty sleep solution the easier it will be on you later. I really recommend the book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Marc Weissbluth. This book is awesome! I have a 3 1/2 year old boy and a 14 month-old boy and they're are great sleepers...Good luck and press on! Blessings.