Cute and Comfortable Baby Sleep Pillows

11/16/08

A baby sleep pillow is not only essential to your child's comfort, it is also a prominent part of the decoration of your child's bed. If you want your child's bed to be a comfortable and soothing place to sleep, your child needs the right pillow. You can choose from hundreds of available designs, including some truly adorable ones. What does your child love most? Fire trucks? Cats? A favorite cartoon character? You can find a pillow decorated to suit him or her.

You can also create your own customized baby pillow by buying a blank baby sized pillowcase and embroidering, appliqueing, or adding decals. Just remember to leave one side of the pillowcase undecorated. Most decorations are a little rough, and can be uncomfortable for your child to sleep on.

You can also make a pillowcase for your child's baby sleep pillow from scratch. Measure the pillow along the outer seams. Each side of the pillowcase will be those dimensions, plus a half inch on all sides for the seams and two to four inches along the longest side to create a finished edge for the open end of the pillowcase. For example, if the pillow is 12" by 16", you will need two pieces of fabric that are each about 13" by 19". Before you cut the fabric, wash it to preshrink it and to remove the sizing (a kind of starch that bolt fabric is treated with). Line up the pieces with their "good" sides facing inward, and, leaving a half inch seam, sew three of the four edges together. Roll the open edge up like a pants cuff , then sew around the innermost seam, making sure the raw edge of the fabric is rolled under. once you turn the pillowcase right ride out, you are finished! You can let the fabric's pattern be the only decoration, or you can add more decorations. The best fabrics are flannel, jersey knits, and soft cotton, but you can also use velvet, plush, or silk if you plan to use the pillow only for decoration.

Remember not to give pillows to children under the age of two. Infants can suffocate if they sleep with pillows, so doctors advise parents not to give small babies pillows. You may also find that older children do not need pillows, either, since their proportions are different from adults'. When in doubt, let your child try sleeping with a pillow, and if they do not like it, take it away and save it for later.

Making or finding the perfect baby sleep pillow for your child should be quick and easy with this advice. Let your child help you design or pick out the pillow, or make it a wonderful surprise. Good luck!