Baby Pillows: The Right Products

04/25/09

One hears of numerous expert opinions on why babies do not require pillows and how dangerous pillows can be for the health of your baby. Most of such advice is needlessly exaggerated and do not give the right picture of whether to use baby pillows or not. It is true that very young babies, less than one year of age do not require a pillow under normal circumstances, and that some baby pillow products may actually be unsafe. But after about a year, using the right baby pillow actually helps your baby sleep soundly.

The skull is very plaint during the formative years, keeping the head in one side position during sleeping may result in the skull being deformed or lopsided. Sleeping on the back can lead to formation of a depression on the back of the head. A baby pillow helps stave off such a happening by giving the right support to the head. It is important to select the appropriate baby pillow. Never choose a feather or soft pillow as the baby may develop allergies due to the feather or be smothered due to the extra softness enveloping the nose and mouth. A pillow such as the latest memory foam baby pillows are good products which provide the requisite support and firmness and are accident free.

Baby pillows come in all shapes and sizes. The key is to identify which sort of pillow is best for your baby. Baby pillows used in cribs are just as safe as any other provided they are thin and narrow. The proof of this statement lies in the fact that all hospitals use crib pillows in their childcare units. Doctors also recommend baby pillows when your baby develops a cold. A baby pillow helps keep the head up and aids breathing which is disturbed by a congested nose. It is also believed that using a baby pillow helps prevent baby ear infections and acid reflux. Some opine that a good time for transition to pillows is when the baby moves from the crib to a bed. This advice is on the basis that smothering is unlikely as the pillow will probably fall off the bed. In fact your baby may even start indicating a need for a pillow is you observe carefully. The signal comes in the form of the baby using a stuffed toy or a towel as a headrest on its own. Then it's definitely time for you to buy a good baby pillow.