How to choose the right toddler pillow for your child

Having a toddler that sleeps comfortably through the night is great, not having to constantly hold or pacify your toddler into going back to sleep is empowering. Even though a lot of toddlers sleep great with or without a pillow, sometimes as they grow, a pillow helps give great support and balance to their body. Laying flat on your head for a long time can sometimes put a lot of pressure on the surface of your head, and toddler’s are not exceptional, giving the fact that they spend a lot of time sleeping at that young age.

Even though every baby is different and reaches milestone at their individual pace, as soon as a baby is 18-24 month, he or she is physically ready to start sleeping with a pillow. A lot of parents disagree on when is the actual best time to introduce a pillow to their toddler. Some felt that toddlers are ready when the shoulder is wider than the neck region, while others insist that it is as soon as your child is ready to convert to the big boy and girl bed (out of the crib). The bottom line is there isn’t a universal rule that tells you when is the actual time for your toddler to start using a pillow. Let’s take a look at the different signs that indicates a child is ready to transition into the toddler pillow;

You might not believe it, but when a child is ready to try something new, he or she shows one or two signs of readiness, either by playing on your bed while placing their head on the pillow or leaning backward on their own towards the pillow whenever a pillow is close by or available. Just keep a close eye on those small clues. Sometimes kids have the amazing ability to copy and imitate what adults are doing, when a child sees you more on your pillow, he or she might start to understand it’s use and purpose. 

At the age of 18-24 months of age, kids tend to transition from a baby bed to a toddler or big baby bed. The minute that transition is happening, it is safe to introduce a toddler pillow into their bed. A pillow is naturally soft and cozy, giving your child an additional head support and body balance. Kids reach and achieve milestones at their time, so as a parent, unless you believe your child is ready to start using a pillow, do not jump into it yet. 

If you want to avoid all the obvious signs mentioned above, you can just go ahead and ask or discuss with your child's pediatrician. The doctor is in the best position to educate and give you more information on what's right and best for your little toddler. You can do research on the different kind of pillows and also the materials used in making it, and run through all these information with your pediatrician for their best advice.

Before you rush into buying a toddler pillow for your little one, first of all, need to watch out for those signs that your child might be given when he or she is ready to start exploring and sleeping on a pillow. If your toddler has no problem leaning backward and placing his or her head on an available pillow either in your bed or anyway around, then he or she pretty much understand the use and purpose of a pillow. Here are 4 important tips that can help guide you from your first toddler pillow purchase: 

It’s important to always put into consideration the size of the pillow you need for your toddler. A regular and standard size pillow designed for adults is not going to be healthy for your child to lay on, mostly because the regular size pillow has more fabric and puffiness that can be a potential risk of suffocation. A toddler pillow should have a dimension of around 12-inches by 16-inches and a thickness of about 2 to 3 inches. 

Some pillows are made from fabrics, cotton or fibers that are chemically treated and industrialized, these pillows can be hazardous to a child with allergy, asthma or any kind of health issue that can be triggered as a result of chemicals toxic or not. To avoid and eliminate any chances or risk, the hypoallergenic and organic pillows are there to protect your child as he sleeps comfortably in his or her bed. 

Apart from picking the right pillow, it's also important to have a pillow with a removable sheet that is easily washable when its needed and required. Even better for a pillow which can be thrown into the washer - a pillow that doesn't lose its shape, shrink or lose quality after every wash is every parent's dream.

I know we think a soft pillow is always ideal but with toddlers, it isn't the best option. It is important for your child to maintain and keep a good posture at all times. A soft pillow has fibers and fabrics that are slightly loose and not firm, causing a strain in your toddlers neck and back thus not providing the required head and neck support needed for a good and healthy sleep. 

Even though most people don't see a problem using a standard pillow on their toddler's bed, studies had shown that our normal/standard pillows are designed for older kids in their late teens and adults. You don’t want a toddler in an adult size pillow, because their head and neck is not fully ready nor developed for such pillows. A wrong pillow can end up affecting your toddler’s posture or even put pressure in places not needed, especially around the neck and head area. A lot of companies like a little pillow toddler company uses a pillow size of ”13X18” while others use a size of ”13X19”, and these two sizes are the major sizes used in designing a toddler/kid pillow. with that said, let's take a look at the different types of toddler pillow of that size available in the market; 

Little Sleepy Head Toddler Pillow is made from a hypoallergenic cotton. This pillow has a snugly soft nature and it is perfectly sized for your little toddler. Since it is hypoallergenic, it means your toddler may not have allergies. The pillow is not too fluffy, not too flat, it holds and retains its shape over time and of course it is washable. 

Little Dreamy Pillow is highly loved by parents all over the world. This pillow is ergonomically designed and was tested on toddlers for the best spinal support without compromising on your child's comfort. The pillow is extremely durable and machine washable as well, we don't want spills or dirtsmits important for a people to always stay fresh and neat. This pillow actually comes with a pillowcase, and you get to pick an animal theme case designs because most kids love animals, and there are also simple and neutral unisex pillowcases to match the room decor. This pillow is a perfect travel companion, with the petit size available.

This Dreamtown Toddler Pillow is going to help your toddler sleep peacefully through the night. It is delicately soft, which will definitely add comfort to your child and help in assisting him or her sleep faster and longer. This pillow can be transitioned from a toddler crib to a big boy and girl bed and is designed by a chiropractor and a cervical specialist specifically for a kid’s head. It is filled with organic cotton and micro cluster fiber. It is machine washable. The pillow is hypoallergenic, therefore safe for kids allergic to feathers. Overall, this pillow has a perfect combination of comfort and style.

An organic pillow and blanket is made from pure organic/ natural substance or products that are not mixed or intoxicated with industrial chemicals. Most kids, especially toddlers have sensitive and fragile skin, harsh chemicals can trigger and cause allergies, skin irritation or other illness. The hypoallergenic pillows are similar to an organic pillow, because even though the pillow is filled with fiber and cotton, the fiber is highly natural and post no threats to childrens' heath. The following are some few examples of an organic toddler pillow and a blanket;

The river luna toddler quilt and pillow is designed with fun animal character to captivate your toddler and spark their wildest imagination. The fabric is soft and comfortable, hypoallergenic and machine washable as well. The quilt and pillow grows with your child because it can be transitioned from a crib to big baby bed. 

The paper and cloth safari blanket and pillow set arei amazingly charming and great for every little toddler boy or girl. The company designs stylish yet friendly pillows and blankets that are made of different colors, animal pattern and illustration. The product is machine washable, your child is going to love and adore his sleeping accessories.

This boddington toddler quilt and pillow has a tufted ruffles design with the softest cotton. It is very cozy and comfortable, your toddler will have no challenges falling and staying asleep for a very long time. It is machine washable and it blanket is do beautiful that it gives your toddler’s room a touch of elegance. 

Just like I mentioned earlier, a lot of parents and pediatricians have their reservations as to when it's the best and right time to introduce a pillow to your toddler. Even though most agree that it should be presented from the age of 2 years and above, in order to help cope and give more comfort to their sleep. All this are dependant on your child, as every child is uniquely different, only they can let you know when its the right time. The following are some safety concerns that parents need to be on the lookout for, so as to always make sure that their toddler is safe and enjoying his or her sleep.  

Even though most times we see soft and fluffy as being something that is good, but sometimes it isn't, at least not in all situations. A soft pillow can be hazardous to your toddler because it isn't firm, and strong enough to support your child's head, therefore can pose a risk of suffocation. It is advised that parents stick to a thin flat pillows. 

A standard size adult pillow is not ideal for a toddler. Not only can it increase the risk of suffocation, it can also give your kid a bad posture or neck issues. Always take time and research about the type of pillow you want for your toddler.

Some pillows are made with fillers or feathers that are toxic or chemically treated. All this toxic substance can contribute or aggravates an allergy. It's always recommended to have a hypoallergenic pillow, it helps prevent all these issues. 

Overall it is very important to consult or seek advice from professionals or people that are experienced about toddler pillow. Make research and find pillows that are hypoallergenic even if your child has no allergies, even though manufacturers like to name out all the materials and products used on their products, you still can never be sure of what chemicals are inside your toddler’s pillow. For the first few nights that your baby starts to use a pillow, keep a watchful eye on them, not that you should be paranoid, but it's important to always be alert and to make sure that the pillow and your child are a good fit.