When to Give Toddler a Pillow?

Because children's heads are larger, they really don't need pillows until they're much older...around 8 or 10. A small child using a pillow (lying on his back, head on the pillow)could block thier airway simply because of how their head is shaped in relation to their spine. That being said, there is a pillow on my 4 year old's bed, and he mostly uses it to snuggle with.

I've found that kids move around a lot when they sleep, and some are just light sleepers. I know that my son wiggles so much that we have to put the sheets & blankets back on his bed every night.

That being said, there is a pillow on my 4 year old's bed, and he mostly uses it to snuggle with.

we didn't give our son a pillow till he was in his big bo bed (he was 2yrs 4months) and then it wasa smaller very thin pillow)

I moved my baby from her crib to a queen size bed when she was 16 months. There are 2 pillows on that bed. I have seen her lay on the pillow but most of the time she is all over the bed without the pillow. I just let her chose when she wants it and when she doesn't. As far as advantages or disadvantages, I have none. What we do, works well for us.

the longer you wait the better. if you want to try a pillow start with a very small one. my daughter couldnt sleep with out one but my youngest still isnt using one and shes almost 2. just depends on the kiddo

There is a great product that I have used for my daughter (21 months) for about a year. She has absolutely loved it (although when I received it at a shower I did not think I would ever use it). It is called "Dilly the Duck Booster Pillow". It is great because of the cashmere fabric, semi-circle shape and flatness. The tag says "Angel Dear". They have different animals (frog, poodle, giraffe, etc.) and are not too easy to find. The only place I have found in Charlotte is L&M Monogramming on East Blvd. I would google it. :) HTH!

Hello R., My son who is now 16 years, was much like your little guy when sleeping at that age. I ended up putting him out into a big boy bed at about 20 months. It felt too young to me but he was very content. He started sleeping better, or more peaceful. As it turned out for us, he is and has always been extremely paticular about his sleeping surface and space. Looking back at how he behaved in his crib at 15 months is not much different from how he behaves at 16 years. The difference for us is that now HE can fix whatever is not working for him. (hahaha, the joy of figuring them out just goes on and on)

I didn't give my kids a pillow until they moved out of the crib. I agree with much of the advice that a pillow in the crib increases the chance of an accident because there is no where for the baby to go if he ends up stuck against the rails.

Good luck,
L. D.

My son is two and still doesn't use a pillow. He moves a lot and he seems to sleep just fine with out one. I'll probably give him a really flat one when he moves to a real bed.

My sons school recommends that you start with a travel pillow - its about 12" x 10" - we got it at Walmart for under $10 - you have to buy a separate cover but it zips closed so they cant get caught/trapped in it. I am planning on starting it when I transition him to a big boy bed at around 2 yrs.

Hope this helps.

Hi R.,

I waited until my son was over 2 years old to give him a pillow, just to make sure we were out of SIDS range. I don't actually know what age that is - maybe one of our wonderful nurses could tell us on this thread if they see it.

I do know that they always say not to use a pillow in a crib, so for sure, I would not do that if I were you. His restlessness doesn't have anything to do with not having a pillow. My son was in a regular bed with rails when he got one, and I made sure it was pretty flat so that it didn't hurt his neck or cause a chance of suffocation, even at a later age than your baby.

Hope this is a little helpful.
D.