What pillow should a 1 year old child sleep on? Komarovsky

Why can't children sleep on a pillow?

The fact is that initially a child is not born with the same proportions as an adult. Its head is much larger, making up approximately 1/4 of the entire body. As the child grows, his shoulders grow and his head also grows, but much more slowly. Thus, the difference between the width of the shoulders and the head increases.

Why children should not sleep on a pillow:

• Before reaching the age of one, in no case should you purchase a hefty down pillow for your baby, which moves the head almost to a vertical position. For babies aged two to five years, the ideal option would be a low pillow or sheet rolled up like a bolster under the mattress in a crib.
• This creates a certain elevation above the level of the body. This makes breathing much easier. In addition, pediatricians recommend slightly increasing the height of the pillow if the child is sick. This will make nasal breathing much easier.
• However, if the child is healthy, then the height of the pillow should be equal to the distance from the ear to the shoulder. This pillow height is optimal if the child sleeps on his side. The position of the head is aligned with the spinal column and becomes on one horizontal line.

Baby

Does a newborn need a pillow?

Of course, store shelves are full of these products, and their manufacturers promise the baby excellent sleep, the correct formation of the spine, the ideal shape of the skull bones and much more.

But let's not be naive. First of all, the production of children's goods is a multi-million dollar business. The manufacturer is interested in promising mountains of gold and selling you their product.

Therefore, we will not rely on the assurances of manufacturers and sellers of baby pillows, because these are interested parties, and we are talking, by the way, about the health of our beloved child!

Instead, we will study the opinions of pediatricians and use common sense and logic.

So, what do you personally use the pillow for? To make it comfortable to sleep on your side. Why is it uncomfortable for you to sleep on your side without a pillow? Because the distance from the ear to the shoulder is significant, and if you lie on your side without anything, the vertebrae become curved, which creates discomfort - you want to put at least your palm under your ear.

Now let's take a closer look at the newborn. What immediately catches your eye? And the fact that the proportions of the baby’s head and shoulders are completely different! Namely, the head is much larger and the shoulders are much smaller than those of mom and dad.

Therefore, it is more convenient for the baby to lie without anything, and he does not experience any discomfort. I'll say more. A pillow for a newborn can even be dangerous, which we will talk about later.

Thus, due to anatomical features, it is convenient for a newborn to sleep on a straight, flat surface. He does not need to put any devices under his head.

At what age can a child sleep on a pillow?

It is better to stop using a pillow until 12 months. If the pillow is high, the head will be at an angle relative to the spinal column. This, in turn, will cause a lot of troubles and diseases associated with the cervical spine. In turn, this provokes the occurrence of scoliosis, kyphosis, and lordosis in children. If a child suffers from pathology of the musculoskeletal system from birth, consultation with a specialist is necessary. At what age can a child sleep on a pillow? A healthy baby can sleep on a pillow from the age of 2. Provided that it is chosen correctly.

• For torticollis, horseshoe-shaped pillows are often prescribed to fix the head and prevent it from turning to the right and left. Thus, the head is in the same position all the time. This helps restore muscle tone and evens out or reduces muscle tightness on a certain side.
• During colds and sinusitis, when a large amount of mucus is released from the nose, you can change your child’s pillow to a higher one. This will stimulate easy drainage of mucus from your sinuses, thereby making breathing easier at night. However, if the child has bronchitis, with accumulation of mucus, obstruction, in this case it is necessary to completely remove the pillow and place books or other objects under the crib so that the head is lower than the level of the legs. This promotes the outflow of mucus.

Daytime nap

Let's talk about pillows

Authors : HealthWorks

Perhaps every person has at least once felt sleep-deprived and exhausted in the morning after a night spent, albeit in his own bed, fighting insomnia. Perhaps the pillow was to blame.

Typically, new clothes are purchased more often than new pillows, although experts advise changing the latter every 12-18 months!

Fun fact:

A bad pillow can not only ruin your mood for the whole day, but also gradually lead to obesity and even depression!

It's not even a matter of regularly changing pillows, but choosing the right ones for sleeping and waking.

Orthopedic pillow of medium hardness

Helps relieve muscle tension in the neck and shoulders and relieve headaches.

Want a spare pillow?

Lumbar pillow

• Can be placed under the knees or lower back to relieve pressure on the spine.

• It can also be used to support the neck during daytime rest.

Orthopedic pillow that takes an anatomical shape

• Helps relax the muscles of the neck and spine, while maintaining both the head and cervical spine in a horizontal position.

Want a spare pillow?

Knee pillow

• Placed between the legs when sleeping in a side position, this way the pillow elevates the lower body and helps maintain the body in an upright position.

Flat pillow

• Helps keep the neck in line with the body. Sometimes it is not needed at all.

Want a spare pillow?

Wedge pillow

• Place under stomach or thighs to reduce stress on lower back and neck.

• If you have spare regular pillows, place them under your ankles to help your spine rest better.

Orthopedic pillow for pregnant women

• The unique design and shape of this pillow supports the back and stomach of a pregnant woman.

• It can also be used additionally under the head to prevent reflux.

Want a spare pillow?

Body pillow

• Use this pillow along with a regular pillow for a comfortable body position and comfortable rest.

• Place a pillow between your knees to reduce stress on your lower back.

Ring-shaped universal pillow

• Can be used to support any part of the body by changing its shape.

• You can sit on a pillow, place it under your neck or lower back, etc.

Travel pillow (for neck)

• Convenient when traveling to prevent neck stiffness and shoulder pain.

Choosing a pillow

* fabric density 300 TC - Thread Counts - the number of threads in the fabric per square inch.

(This material is for general information only and should not replace medical advice.)
Source

When should a child sleep on a pillow: Komarovsky

The doctor recommends the use of pillows for children without disabilities from 2 years of age.

When should a child sleep on a pillow, Komarovsky:

• For babies who were born with head injuries, hematomas, and dents in the skull, special pillows with a depression inside are recommended.
• This allows you to align the bones and make the head visually straighter.
• Don’t worry, up to a year old, the baby’s bones in the head area are very soft, so they can easily align with the right therapy and the right pillow.

Quiet hour

At what age do children sleep on a pillow?

When your child reaches the age of 2-3 years, you can buy his first pillow. Its optimal height is 2-4 cm. Such a small height is quite enough to normalize the position of the head during sleep.

At what age do children sleep on a pillow?

• Don't rush to buy pillows filled with feathers and down. These are excellent natural, environmentally friendly materials, but pathogenic microorganisms and mites can live in them.
• Dust mites are very small, they can only be seen under a microscope, and are not visible to the average person. However, the excrement of this insect causes a large number of allergic reactions.
• Therefore, even if your child does not suffer from allergies, give preference to artificial fillings for the pillow. Products filled with holofiber and silicone are suitable. They are quite dense, fluffy, hold their shape well, and can be easily washed in a machine.
• They dry quickly and do not accumulate dust mites. You can also take a closer look at pillows made from smart foam. They take the position of the body, bending around the bulges. Thus, the position of the head is aligned with the body and is in an anatomical position.

Baby

A child sleeps on an adult pillow - what will happen?

Despite the opinion of pediatricians, many grandmothers still try to convince parents to use a pillow for their children. Try to resist pressure from grandparents and relatives, as using a pillow at an early age can be harmful.

A child sleeps on an adult pillow, what will happen:

• Risk of improper formation of spinal bones
• Possibility of impairing the development of the neck muscles and causing torticollis or incorrect head position
• Possibility to roll over onto your stomach. If the pillow is too bulky and fluffy, the child will simply suffocate.
• Filling with natural ingredients causes an allergic reaction.

After sleep

In what cases is it indicated?

A baby pillow has a number of positive qualities. However, it is not suitable for everyone. Pediatricians believe that the sleeping attribute in question is not needed for the first 2 years of a child’s life. During this period, the formation of the anatomical curves of the vertebra occurs. In view of this, it is better not to interfere with natural processes.

However, there are certain medical indications when a child needs a pillow to sleep:

• with damage to the muscle mass of the cervical area or improper formation of the skeletal region;
• decreased or increased tone of the cervical muscle mass;
• neck injuries or skull deformation resulting from severe labor;
• difficulty breathing in a newborn;
• frequent regurgitation;
• signs of rickets due to a lack of vitamin D.

Important: Evgeny Komarovsky advises not to use any pillows until two years of age. During this period, a dense and even mattress that does not sag is important for the child.

If older children have health problems, an orthopedic accessory is also recommended for them. It is prescribed for the following indications:

• scoliosis;
• cerebral paralysis;
• strabismus;
• spinal column injuries.

When children turn 3 years old, an orthopedic pillow is prescribed as a prevention of pathologies and for proper sleep. And by the age of 5, it is allowed to sleep on adult sleeping products.

When can a child sleep on a pillow if there are problems?

Accordingly, the use of a standard pillow, which is used by adults, for children under 2 years of age is unacceptable and harmful, often causing pathologies.

When can a child sleep on a pillow if there are violations:

• Torticollis
• Frequent and profuse regurgitation
• Decreased or increased muscle tone
• With rickets
• For various neurological diseases

Quiet hour

What pillow should children sleep on?

What pillow should children over 2 years old sleep on?

• Low height. The head should rise only slightly above the level of the body
• Artificial filler. The best thing is buckwheat husk. With its help, the head acquires an anatomical position.
• The presence of a pillowcase made of natural and anti-allergic fabrics.
• Possibility of fixing the pillow in a crib.
• Simple appearance without buttons, zippers, hooks.

Selection rules

If you do decide to buy a pillow, don’t grab the first one you see in the store. This item must first of all meet all safety requirements and be comfortable. When choosing, pay attention to the following points:

• The product should be low. The head should only slightly rise above the level of the body.
• Holofiber and padding polyester are excellent options for filler. The best natural filler is buckwheat husk. It takes the shape of the baby's head and provides maximum comfort. Sleeping on it is very useful!
• The outer shell should be made of natural fabric. It should have internal seams so as not to cause discomfort.
• Look for pillows that have straps to secure them to the crib. With its help, you will ensure a good night for both yourself and your child. The pillow will not move or fall off the bed.
• Appearance should be assessed according to the principle “the simpler the better.” It should not have any zippers, buttons or other details.

Harm from pillows for infants

The risks of using a pillow among infants and children under 1 year of age are presented below.

Harm from a pillow for infants:

• High risk of mortality. Before one year of age, there is a so-called sudden death syndrome, which is common among children. Happens most often during sleep. The baby may roll over onto his stomach and simply suffocate.
• Difficulty breathing and choking on vomit. This usually happens among children who suffer from diseases of the digestive system or neurological ailments. In this case, children usually vomit or spit up large amounts of milk.
• If an incorrectly selected pillow or a regular feather pillow is used for a baby, the risk of choking on vomit increases. In this case, the ideal option would be to use special pillows that fix the head and neck turned or vice versa, raised at a certain angle, which makes it easier to spit out vomit.

Rest

A child sleeps without a pillow - what to do?

Children under 2 years of age do not need a pillow unless prescribed by an orthopedist or pediatrician. If your baby is over 2-3 years old and doesn’t want to sleep on a pillow, don’t force him. You can place a small cushion from a sheet under the mattress.

The child sleeps without a pillow, what to do :

• At the age of 2 to 3 years, the optimal pillow height is up to 4 cm. But it can only be used if the baby prefers to sleep on his side. If the child sleeps on his stomach or back, it is not necessary to buy a pillow.
• If the child is 3-6 years old, the height of the pillow can be 6-8 cm. Once the child reaches the age of seven, you can purchase adult pillows that are used among parents and adults.
• The optimal parameter is comfort. If a child sleeps comfortably with or without a pillow, and his head does not sink, he is comfortable, he does not suffocate, then the pillow is quite acceptable.

Please note that it is best if this product is fixed to the bed using special ties. This will prevent movement when the baby rolls around during sleep. The ideal filler is synthetic materials. You can use buckwheat husks. However, such pillows are very heavy and take the shape of the body. But the filler is natural; insects and dust mites can live inside it. Therefore, it is still preferable to purchase products filled with artificial materials.

Quiet hour

Optimal pillow size for different age groups

Pediatricians do not give any recommendations regarding the width and length of the pillow, so you should proceed from ease of use. Practice shows that the most convenient models are those whose width corresponds to the width of the crib. The 60 cm wide pillow will not fidget around the crib and ensures that the baby will not roll between it and the side. You can choose a small length, 30-40 cm is enough, since a 60-centimeter product will take up half of the entire sleeping space.

How to secure a pillow

To ensure that its position remains unchanged even during restless sleep, purchase a model with fixing straps that are secured around the mattress. With the same success, you can sew strips of wide elastic yourself and make a hole for them in the pillowcase.

A very important parameter is height, since it is this that determines the physiological curvature of the baby’s spine. The standard calculation method states that the height should be equal to the distance from the neck to the shoulder, therefore, when determining at what age a child can get a pillow, it is worth focusing on the following parameters:

• A newborn does not need a pillow, since the side surface of the head is in the same plane as the shoulder.
• For infants who often spit up, it is recommended to place a folded towel under the head end of the mattress, and place a folded diaper under the head to make changing linen easier.
• In the period from 1 to 2 years, a rise of 1-2 cm is acceptable, which is fully ensured by a diaper folded in four.
• At the age of 2 to 3 years, the optimal height of the pillow is 4-5 cm, provided that the child sleeps on his side. Babies who prefer to sleep on their back can still rest on a flat surface.
• Children 3-6 years old feel comfortable on pillows 6-8 cm high, and after reaching the age of 7 they can switch to adult models.

photo from the site https://www.youtube.com

It is up to parents to decide when to place their baby on a pillow and whether to do it at all. Focus on your baby - if you notice that during sleep he stubbornly slides away from the chosen pillow, it means it is uncomfortable for him. By postponing its use until later in life, you will ensure that he gets a good night's rest.

At what age can a child sleep on an adult pillow?

If this is a schoolchild who is over 7 years old, then it is allowed to sleep on an adult pillow. For small children and infants, you need to buy special products.

At what age can a child sleep on an adult pillow?

• The difference between a child's shoulder and head is very small, so in sleep the head will be raised up.
• This is fraught with deterioration of blood circulation in the brain, which can subsequently cause poor memorization of information and speech delay.
• In addition, a high pillow causes headaches and discomfort in the neck area.
• This is fraught with curvature in the cervical spine, which in turn can lead to serious problems in the future.

In the kingdom of Morpheus
All pediatricians, as well as orthopedists, believe that if a child has no problems with the musculoskeletal system, he is absolutely healthy, then you can forget about the pillow until about 2 years of age.