There are several points of view as to at what age a child should sleep on a pillow: from three years old, from one year old or from birth. The latter, of course, are the overwhelming minority. But until pediatricians and orthopedists come to a consensus, the solution to this issue remains with the parents. And only they decide which pillow will be the best for the child.
General recommendations
The main argument of opponents of sleeping on a pillow from an early age is the likelihood of incorrect formation of the skeleton, in particular, of the spine. They also appeal to the fact that a child can accidentally take a position on his stomach, burrow into it and begin to choke. Modern manufacturers take these arguments into account and offer quality pillows specially designed for children. To ensure maximum safety, you should not just buy a small product measuring 40 by 40 cm, but choose a good orthopedic pillow for a child of a certain age.
In some cases, such as a runny nose that makes breathing difficult at night, you can put a folded blanket or blanket under the sheet to create a slight slope, but this method should only be used for a couple of nights.
Shape and dimensions
Since posture is formed from early childhood, and the spine is still weak in infancy, the child should not be allowed to sleep on a high pillow. In addition, the small size does not guarantee the correct development of the skeleton of the crumb. But specially designed orthopedic pillows for children meet their needs and are ideal for a good healthy sleep. There are several varieties of such sleeping accessories for the smallest. First, the butterfly pillow. It got this name because of its shape, it is an isosceles trapezoid with rounded corners, in the middle it has a recess for the head. If the child sleeps well on his back, it is convenient to use it for up to two years. The retainer pillow is a simple design with a back and a roller, it is suitable for babies who are laid on a barrel to avoid flooding during regurgitation. From such a device, the baby grows up pretty quickly. And finally, there are cushion slopes. The angle of this bedding is small, about 15 degrees. For children from three years old, there are special orthopedic pillows with a smooth bend for the head and neck, this is the option that is recognized as the best for the healthy development of the spine.
Orthopedic pillows need to be changed as the child grows. It is worth remembering the rule: its height should be equal to half the length of the human humerus.
Filler
Everyone knows about the harm of ordinary down and feather pillows, so when choosing bedding for a child, they disappear immediately. Many people choose synthetic fillers as a low-allergenic alternative. But, unfortunately, it is short-lived, and the pillow quickly loses its shape. As for latex, it will last a long time and will most likely be inherited by another baby. This material is safe for a child, but its price is quite high. There are also very unusual fillers, for example, buckwheat husks, but not all children like to sleep on something rustling, in addition, if the pillow accidentally got wet and was not dried on time, mold can multiply inside, and such a neighborhood is not at all necessary for the child's body.
