When to Give 12 Month Old a Pillow?

My daughter will be two in Feb. and I recently put a pillow in her bed because she was using mine when she was laying in our bed. It seems like she likes it but once she is asleep she scoots down and ends up laying flat just like before. At one there isn't a fear of sids anymore because the baby can move freely now, so if you want to try a pillow it can't hurt. She may totally love it.
T.

Of my 4 I've been blessed by my husbands job with not having to reenter the workforce till I'm ready, So I know nothing about how they are in a daycare environment.. However after these four I'm currently raising, ( ages 3 - 12 ) I've learned to stick with what works and I'd do the folded blanket thing lke she's used to in daycare.
God bless,
A.

Hi K.!
We have a mini-pillow for our 17mo. old, who's been using it since about a year old. It's about half the size of a regular pillow and a little flatter. I'm sure you can find them at Target or something. She uses it when I put her in her crib, but she moves around so much when she sleeps, it always ends up in the corner when I go check on her later in the night. A similar question came up on Mamasource a few months ago and one mom suggested introducing the pillow when transitioning from crib to bed, as a reward for being such a big girl...I thought that was a really cool idea.

I think it would be okay to let her have a pillow. I've heard that it's okay after 1 year because the risk of SIDS isn't as great. I'm with you though on the uneasiness of it... we just gave our oldest a pillow this fall (just before her 3rd birthday) when we made her convertible crib into a toddler bed. For us, that was a good transition that just made sense... I just gave her one of our old, flat pillows too.

I would check with the child's doctor but if she seems to want it and does not sleep without it give it a try. You could always remove it when she falls asleep if your concerned.

I have heard no blankets or pillows ever in a crib. I have also read that recomendation stems from one that says not until 1 year.

my little girl has slept with a pillow since she was 9 months old. she got a really bad cold and needed to be propped uo some so i stuck one of our old flat pillows under her head. she loved it. when i tried to take it out she cry for her "piddow". once they are able to turn over on their the risk of SIDS drops to practically zero according to her ped.

I started giving my kids a travel pillow when they were 12 months. They make travel pillow and travel pillow cases. The one thing that I found was buy a dark color pillow case because you can't see the stains that may accumulate after you have washed them so much (trust me you will wash it aLOT)
Good Luck

Personally I don't see a problem by this age if she wants a pillow. I have to say tho, when my daughter that age she would lay on the couch and things w/a pillow, I thought she'd want one in her bed but when she'd go to bed she'd lay flat on the mattress and not even use her pillow. But if you want to give it to her to see I say go ahead.

S.

i had the same issue. my son is 20 months and i have just put stuffed animals in his crib about 2 or 3 months ago. i was so worried about puting things in his bed.but i think as long as they can sit and lift there head it is fine. but i was so scared about it.

Yes if she is wanting to lay her head on things like her stuffed toys, your legs, and your pillow, etc. Its time. If you get her a pillow and you put a pillow case on it make sure that it is the kind that has a zipper on it or just get a pretty pillow that doesn't need a pillow case on it. My children had a pillow in their crib as soon as they could roll over on their own. But the always had to have a wedge or something under them do to acid reflex.

Good luck. I hoped this helped.

Hi K.,

Yes, get a small pillow. It would be safer than folded blankets. Maybe a travel pillow.

V