"The truth is that most little kids sleep fine without pillows," says Dr. Karp. "I recommend only using a blanket in the crib after the first birthday and waiting to use a pillow until your child transitions from the crib to a bed. This may not be until they reach their third birthday or even later."
While toddler pillows are generally considered safe for kids 2 and up, they're certainly not necessary. In fact, if a child is sleeping fine without a pillow, you may want to hold off.
Until they're a year old, your baby should sleep on a flat surface, covered with only a fitted sheet. This means no pillows, blankets, or other bedding. However, experts agree that even after their first birthday, there's still no compelling reason to introduce a baby pillow to their crib.
We do often get asked if we sell baby pillows, the answer is a big no. Babies need to sleep on a flat, firm surface, and any soft bedding can be a choking hazard.
We generally recommend a pillow from about 2 years old, however there is no reason to introduce one if the child has not asked for one or is not wriggling round in bed. Pillows can be useful when a child goes into a bed, as it can help anchor them in one place! You can say "Lie down on your pillow!"
To play it safe, you're better off waiting until he transitions to a toddler bed, which can happen between 18 months and 3 1/2 years (and the closer to 3 years old you can wait, the better). Your best bet is to hold off until your child is 2 and in a bed before introducing a small, thin pillow.
Wait until they're a toddler and have moved to their toddler bed before you introduce a pillow – this usually happens between 18 months and two years of age.
Try not to over-bundle your baby in clothes if you think they might get cold at night — overheating is another risk factor for SIDS. Make sure the room is at a comfortably cool temperature, so the little one could sleep soundly. You can introduce a blanket to a baby when they are about two years old.
However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting to let your baby use a pillow until they are two years old.
If you're wondering how old a toddler is, experts usually consider toddler age to start when your baby/infant turns 1 year of age. The toddler age range is usually from 1 year to 3 years of age.
If you think about it, adults use pillows because our bodies have tall shoulders that make sleeping on our sides and back uncomfortable. That and the fact that we are older and our bodies get crabby when we lay on flat surfaces for a long time. Baby bodies, on the other hand, are tiny, new, and soft.
What Should a Toddler Wear To Bed? When choosing pajamas for your toddler, opt for soft, breathable, chemical-free fabrics such as cotton. Avoid fleece and other synthetic fabrics that don't breathe as well. If it's cold, you can add socks, a onesie, or use footed pajamas.
If your child is over 12 months but under 3 years old, go for a duvet that is no warmer than 4 togs. If your child is not ready for a duvet yet (i.e. moves around a lot during the night, still has cot bed sides up etc.) it's fine to continue using blankets or a sleep bag until they are ready.
Choose a size.
Children ages 3 and older can safely benefit from memory foam pillows, although a few specific memory foam pillows are made smaller for children as young as age 2. Select a pillow that coordinates with your child's current bed size for the best fit.
Although your toddler's night-waking may be frustrating for you, it's actually perfectly normal. Many two-year-olds still have the odd issue with sleep.
Toddler bedtime routine
Most toddlers are ready for bed between 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm. This is a good time, because they sleep deepest between 8 pm and midnight. It's important to keep the routine consistent on weekends as well as during the week.
Once your baby is about 18 months old, they should have more control over there mobility, and so it should be ok to introduce a pillow and thicker blanket or duvet. Whilst it's tempting to do so earlier, it's not at all necessary, and is much safer to wait until 18 months to reduce the risk of suffocation or SIDS.
They need to have excellent head control and mobility before you introduce items such as pillows and loose bedding into their cot to reduce the risk of SIDS and suffocation. You can reconsider when they are an older toddler and have excellent mobility. Most parents introduce a duvet and pillow between 2-4 years of age.
Your toddler, after 12-months-old, can sleep with a stuffed animal or doll if she does not have any respiratory allergies. In fact sometimes this is recommended.
Sleeping without a pillow may help some people who sleep on their front. It can help keep the spine and the neck in alignment during sleep, easing neck and back pain. It is not a good idea for everyone, though. People who sleep on their back or side might find that sleeping without a pillow causes neck or back pain.
The average age toilet training begins in the United States is between 2 and 3 years of age. Most children in the United States are bowel and bladder trained by 4 years of age. However, toilet training can begin as soon as parents and children want to start.
Approximately one-third of toddlers transition to a bed between the ages of 18 months and 2 years old, and another third transition between ages 2 and 2.5. In general, most toddlers make the move from a crib to a bed between the age of 18 months and 3 years old.
Ask your child if they have a preference. Some children like a cozy sleeping arrangement, in which case a twin bed may be an ideal choice. Other children are active sleepers, tossing and turning during the night, and a double bed may be better if it suits your child's sleep habits better than a twin bed.