Toddler w/a pillow in family bed...

[Phoebe]

My 22 month old ds just fell asleep on my pillow in our bed. We cosleep and he's never used a pillow before. Tonight I will probably move him off of it, if he isn't already scooted off it when I come to bed. Not to mention its one of MY 2 pillows!! Also, it's a feather pillow and I assume that really isn't the safest pillow for a young one.

Does your toddler of about 2 years old use a pillow? If so, what kind of pillow do you suggest? Are there toddler size pillows, small and flat?

Thanks for any info...
amy

[SillyMommy]

I wouldn't be concerned, he's old enough to move. Ry is almost three and goes to sleep on one but rarely stays on it.

[hunnybumm]

My 2 yo started using a pillow just before his second birth day. One night he wanted to lay his head on one, so I got an old smooshed one out of the closet. He now has his own pillow in both our bed and his bed (he has a special pillow case so he knows which one is his). I definitly wouldn't be worried at all about him being suffocated by a pillow, he is way old enough to move if he can't breath. Just try and follow his lead, if he wants to sleep on it, let him.

[april77]

DD started sleeping with a pillow when she moved into her own bed, shortly after she turned two. She moves around so much that she rarely stays on it and we have never worried about it.

I have seen smaller, more toddler size pillows, if you would feel better about him using that. We have a Pottery Barn Kids at our mall and they have them. The PBK website says they are 12x16 inches.

http://ww1.potterybarnkids.com//cat/pip.cfm?src=schp1%7Ct4%7Cv0%7Cwpillow%2Fshpab%7Ccb dg%7Cda%7Crshop%5Fb%2Fhme&pkey=xsrd0n1%7C16%7C1%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7Cpillow&gids=p006&cmsrc=kwd

[Spencersmom]

I just came here looking for threads on toddlers using pillows. My ds has not shown an interest in using a pillow yet but his neck when side sleeping looks awkwardly angled. I guess I have been wondering if it would be better for his neck/alignment if his head was on a pillow. Any thoughts on this?

Tammy

[ShadowMom]

I don't think you should be that worried for safety reasons, but I would be more concerned about neck/back problems with a toddler sleeping on a grown up pillow on a regular basis.

DS frequently falls asleep with his head propped up on my arm (he rolls off of me after nursing), and I worry about his neck some.

He never seems to have problems with it, at least so far, but I would be interested in learning more about it.

[dogberry]

My dd was showing interest in using a pillow. I found a small, toddler sized one at Magic Cabin that's working out great~ she loves it, but it is very small (maybe 12"x14") and appropriately sized for her neck/spine. Cute flannel pillowcase, too, and it's stuffed with a packet of "sleepy" herbs as well!

[Phoebe]

Thanks for the input, gals! Ds has fallen asleep on my pillow 2 nights now and repositioned himself during his nap so that his head could be on the pillow. I guess he likes it! I am no longer concerned about him suffocating. I am just wondering how we're all going to fit in our bed with all this fluff now!! I'm sure it'll be mighty comfy.

I'll check out the toddler size pillows. Maybe I'll get one but then again, we're broke so maybe not!!

amy

[merpk]

Once they can sit up on their own ... meaning get themselves into a sitting position on their own ... pillows aren't too much of a safety issue. And after a year old, really not an issue at all.

:)

[Vicitoria]

I've never thought too much about it. DS has always moved into his own positions that I've questioned but then I realized a lot of them were womb positions. He wanted his head squished up against something like in the womb and a few weeks ago we were all under enormous out of control stress and ds actually slept with an arm between his legs. I realized in the ultra sound that he had the chord between his legs the whole time he was in there. He was born in the same position. Babies are soo much smarter then we give them credit for sometimes especially in their will to survive. DS is 19 months and has a great time rolling around in all the pillows. I check him during his nap to make sure all is OK and it always is. He has a stuffy nose and propping him up really helps for his nose to drain. He props himself up automatically on one of us when we sleep at night.

[Llyra]

I gave my DD a pillow at 10 months old, mostly to get her OFF mine. :lol She was crowding me off it every night. I made sure it was a firm, flat pillow, not a big puffy one. I think that as soon as your child can get on hands and knees and get to sitting alone, easily and without assistance, that it's probably fine.

My DD actually sleeps with most of her whole body on the pillow. It's really cute, and I imagine it must be heavenly comfortable. She's in her own bed now, and the mattress is really firm, and I think the pillow helps her sleep better.

[mariank]

Our DS uses one of our sort-of flat adult pillows (mine) in our family bed. He started really loving it when he was about 2. He puts part of his torso up on there too, not just his head. It seems fine. He also sometimes sleeps hugging a large stuffed animal and I haven't been at all concerned about the pillow or stuffed animal for him. In fact, I'm expecting #2 in April and have been thinking about how I'll have to adjust to being vigilant about pillows and especially blankets when the newborn comes along. Good luck! Marian

[mommymoose]

I agreee... NOt to worry, Our DS has been choosing to use a pillow in our family bed for months now, and is just 18 mos. HE would always just scoot up tot he pillow despite my attempts to keep him flat. I have checked him frequently when he seems to be on a fluffier pillow, and since he moves a lot in his sleep, i never have had cause for worry... thats not to say, though, that i take safety or my precious little man for granted, and I totally understand everyone's concerns. I continue to be as vigilant as i can, but I have realized that he's OK with a pillow now, so i am not as anxious about it as i was when he first showed interest. He does the same thing as the PP, puts his torso on it too... so, the neck alignment issue is moot...
:)

[Still_Snarky]

Parker just started using a pillow (one of mine of course!) in the family bed a few weeks ago. It's not a fluffy down one or anything and I'm not at all concerned!

[rosie29]

We use a travel-size adult pillow that my mom gave DS as a gift. I think it may have been cheaper than those marketed for toddlers. I believe it is 15x21". DS likes to fall asleep on it, but doesn't stay there. Sometimes it's harder to nurse him in bed when he's on it and I scoot him off.

[blissful_maia]

Oh man, my daughter simply will not sleep without a pillow. She just says "Ayla's pillow!" and it's a big deal if we can't find it when she's ready to sleep (she just turned 2). I made her pillow, it's just a little bigger than her head... I didn't want it competing for space between mine and dh's pillows.

[PancakeGoddess]

our 23 mo just started going to sleep on one. He doesn't stay on long. Even my 9yo ends up off his pillow most nights.

[2Sweeties1Angel]

India's been using one of my pillows since she became really mobile at 8 mos (walking)--today's her first birthday. I had to teach her to not pull it over her head and that was frustrating, but other than that she's been fine. She's also one of those babies that REFUSES to sleep on her back most of the time and prefers sleeping on her stomach with her butt up in the air. There's no way I could put her in a crib even if I wanted to--I'd be too scared something would happen and I wouldn't feel her not breathing.

[boongirl]

My mom made my dd a pillow for her 2nd bday. She took some extra fabric she had and some extra fleece and folded it and folded it to a square about 12 inches on each side. Then, she covered it in some fleece. It is not very thick but very soft and just the right size, proportionally, for a 2 year old's head. And, it was a great way to use fabric scraps.