Hello,
My 33 month old daughter is still sleeping in her crib. The other night she rolled up her blanket and was using it as a pillow and then started to cry that she wanted another blanket to cover up with. Last night I put her in her crib with a pillow. The pillow didn't stay there for long as I was so afraid that she would suffocate herself with it. Just would like some advice on this subject. We are soon going to be taking apart the crib and making it a toddler bed. I will have the same concern when we do that also. When can a toddler sleep with a pillow. Thanks!
We changed her crib into the toddler bed. I went and bought her a travel pillow. It's the perfect size and she loves it! Thanks to all that responded to my request.
I am having the same problem with my son. He's 25 months. I noticed that the website "OneStepAhead" sells toddler pillows.
Also "LillianVernon" sells mats with blankets and pillows attached. The pillows are attached to the blanket by velcro so they stay in place.
My son who is now 3 years old has been sleeping with pillows most of his life..we started him out with a boppy..if she wants a pillow i would suggest something firm so you are more comfortable with the idea.
I have a 22 month old who also likes pillows. I take a small baby blanket and fold it for him to use as a pillow. However, I think it's OK to get a small, flat baby pillow at this age.
Hi,
My daughter has been sleeping with a pillow since she was a year old and I've never had any problems.My daughter wraps her whole body up in her blankets,including her head ansd face. I was so worried that she'd suffocate but her dr said if she;s doing it she can undo it.I wouldn't be worried about a pillow at your daughters age.
Hi. I am a mother of two (4yr old & 2 yr old). Both moved into big girl/boy beds at 2yrs old. I too didn't know when to give them a pillow, but not for the reason of suffocation. I read some where that during the infant stage when they cannot lift their heads is when suffocation could occur. Two years olds have the common sense and instinct to want to breath and will naturally lift their heads if they have trouble breathing. Back to pillows, for me pillows seemed so big and ackward for their little heads, so my solution was giving them my old pillows. They were worn out (flatter) than new pillows and I chose non feathered pillows (so they didn't form around their faces). In the end I found my oldest could careless if a pillow were in her bed and my younger one nestles his face in and tucks his arms under the pillow each night. Good luck and congratulations on moving your daughter into her "big girl" bed. It is such an exciting time!
My daughter has been sleeping with a pillow since she was two, when we switched her to a big bed. I'm sure your daughter could handle a pillow, too, unless there are mobility concerns with her neck and head. At her age, I'm sure most little ones are using pillows, too.
I would allow her to have a pillow, but make sure it is flat and firm. She's old enough now. We started using an old flattened pillow for my son when he was about 2.5, because he was always congested. If you use an older pillow, make sure you put a dust mite cover on it, before you put the pillow case on. The pillow, which sported a sponge bob pillow cover had to be taken absolutely everywhere with us, he loved it so much.
My son is 28 months old and has been sleeping with a pillow since we moved him into a toddler bed at 21 months. He has been fine and prefers the pillow and blanket. I have given my children blankets (the crocheted kind with holes at first) since about six months (when they could roll over and sit up to get away from the blanket if needed) for security. We have never had any problems - and I am one of the most paranoid Moms I know!! I still go in and check on both of my kids...sometimes several times a night!!
i've had my daughter with a pillow (or pillows depending on size) since she's 1 yr old. i prefer to give her an adult size pillow because it fits snug from side to side in the crib. SOMETIMES (just recently) she's decided that if she doesn't really feel like sleeping, she'll crawl under the pillow, but she's fine, we have a video monitor and see she's ok. also once she does get tired, she sits up, fluffs up her pillow, and puts it like i do, then lays on it. she sometimes will sleep completely on the pillow, and not on the mattress, but sometimes she'll roll off the pillow and not use it at all. all depends on how much movement there is at night. she's now almost 19 months old, so she's had a pillow for just about 6 months or more now and is perfectly fine. if you don't like the thought of a pillow, you could always give her 2 blankets, one to roll up as a pillow, and one to cover her with, but i personally would be worried about getting caught up in the extra blankets. try one of your pillows while she's napping, since it's a shorter period of time, and you'll be awake to keep checking on her. or just go with your gut feeling. some things aren't right for everyone. just because i feel completely comfortable with it doesn't mean you should. and just to let you know, i started with the smaller pillow and they made me really nervous...she would always slide her head off them, and wind up smooshin her face into/under it. that's y i went to the adult pillows.
I agree. My son is almost 2 years old and he sleeps with a pillow. He's old enough to know how to move it around so I don't worry about him suffocating. It's hard to believe but they're not babies anymore.
Stephanie,
I would take your cue from your daughter. My daughter is 31 months now and has had a pillow since the end of July when she got her toddler bed. She liked having a pillow on the floor and couch and used animals under her head as well as blankets bunched up before that. She does just fine and on occasion doesn't want a pillow so she pushes it out of her way.
Your little girl will probably be fine when she's in her "big girl" bed, so try not to fret too much.
Cris
My little boy is 33 months too and he sleeps with a pillow now. At first I gave him a real small, almost flat pillow with the same fears as you have about suffocating. Now he sleeps with one of my pillows and is fine.
I definitely think they are out of that stage of suffocating themselves.
My daughter will be 3 in February and has been sleeping with a pillow since she was about 15 months old. A lot of the time she doesn't really use it for her head, she makes a nest using her pillow and blankets, but she does like to have it. I don't think that they can suffocate themselves with the pillows at this age, they are old enough to understand about things covering their faces, etc.
Hope that helps!
D.
Hey S.-
I just went through the same thing, my son is the same age and was balling up his blanket to use a pillow so i went out and bought him one and he's been sleeping with it for the last three weeks. Its been fine. He's actually sleeping a little straighter in his crib not all over the place which i think will help once we put him in a toddler bed.
-J.
My son is 20 months and he is in a toddler bed with a pillow. The pillow is really a problem when they can't move around, lift thier head etc... I would think your 2 1/2 yr old could do that! Honestly he doesn't use the pillow and I end up putting it on the floor in front of his bed in case he rolls out. I gave him small blankets one for his head and one to cover with.
At 33 months, a child has the ability to move her head to breathe. She won't suffocate herself. Just think of how she is with her blanket. Her blanket is up under her face, wrapped around her, and she is fine with it.
My kids all had pillows not long after turning 1 and were in twin beds by 18 months.
My daughter is 3 1/2 now and has been sleeping with a pillow for ever it seems! She had been in a bed for about 1 year now and you should ss all the stuff she has in there with her. I didn't worrk about it once she could roll over and sit up etc.
The danger of suffocation is when a baby is too weak or immobile to free him/herself in case they get their heads wrapped up in something soft.
For a child who is almost three years old, I think a pillow is appropriate. Their proportions are changing. Thy are no longer just a big head and a chubby stomach. A Three year old is developing a longer neck and broader shoulders. A pillow will probably be much more comfortable for her than trying to sleep without one.
Unless she has mobility or developmental delays that would make her unable to move freely, I think it's perfectly safe. .
PS: My daughters, ( now 17 and 13 ) loved pillows with cartoon character cases. I still have the Disney Princess pillowcases and my 17 y/o will still use them. ( the 13 y/o is still too 'cool'to use them .. but that too will change )
I have 3 daughters. All of my girls have been using pillows since they were about 8 months old. They have never smothered themselves. I think you're safe with her being over 2, that she'll be fine.
My neice started doing the same thing at 13 months old and I asked my sister if it was alright to give her a pillow fr naps and she was fine with it. She now is 15 months old and sleeps so much better. I dont think you have to worry about it. Usually that is only for when they dont have the muscles developed to pull things off them....
