Pillow? or NO Pillow?

**kcjulesus** · 09-10-2002, 04:18 PM

Ok, this is a tough one for me, so I'm asking for some input! My dd is 19months old and she used to go to our neighbors for a few hours a day. Well this lady put my daughter down for a nap with a pillow, which I didn't really mind because she was awake and could keep an eye on her. Well, now my dd thinks she needs a pillow in her bed at night too, so I put it in there then take it out when she gets to sleep. Now she's starting to wake up in the middle of the night crying when she doesn't have her pillow, but if I give it to her when she wakes up she will go right back to sleep. I'm so afraid to let her keep it all night and don't know what to do! Any suggestions??

**Jenlee** · 09-10-2002, 05:35 PM

Ds#1 got attached to a pillow at dh's parents house when he was 22 months and it's a small one - maybe 8" X 3" X 2". He loves it and lays right down on it for naps and nighttime and never makes a fuss.

With a big one, if it's not a super-thick one, I would think it would be OK. Ds has been sleeping with his for almost 3 months now and has had no problems. The funny part: when I check on him or wake him early, his head is still on the pillow!!

**Jerseygirl** · 09-14-2002, 07:50 PM

I'm sure there is a rule here. I thought it was no pillows, big blankets and the such 'til 2 years, bet some of those new mommy sites would have more accurate info.

**milach** · 09-15-2002, 03:55 PM

I always thought as long as they're strong enough to roll over and push themselves up, they can have a pillow. I started giving my ds a travel pillow (they're small, and not fluffy at all) when he was under a year old ( I think about the time he was able to sit up easily by himself) and never had a problem. I see why you don't give a little baby a pillow- since they don't have the upper body strength to move themselves if they suddenly can't breathe. But I figure if they're strong enough to sit themselves upright....

But I'm sure every book/expert/doctor would disagree with me- but I think they all make people overly paranoid. JMHO!

Laura

**PennyPinchinPam** · 09-15-2002, 07:00 PM

IMO, 19 months is old enough to use a pillow. My Dd is 16 months and I have a thin standard size pillow that she takes her naps on. She doesn't use it at night because she sleeps in her bed at night and during the day she will nap on the couch for 2 hours. I've tried to break her of this but she wants to be with me and not upstairs to nap during the day so she naps on the couch through all the ruckus, talking, TV, and telephone calls. I think she's afraid she might miss something.

It's baby's who can't roll over or sit up that shouldn't use pillows because it may suffocate them. I don't buy what all these "specialists" say. Most of them are childless anyways. I let both of my children lead the way. My Ds slept on his back only where my Dd is and will always be a tummy sleeper. You know your child, the doctors and specialists don't. Give it a try! If it will help him to sleep then enjoy your sleep too.

**sixfreds** · 09-15-2002, 07:42 PM

I always thought it was as soon as your child had the ability to lift his/her head, roll over and sit up then it is safe to let the child have a pillow...

Eileen

**bamamomto4** · 09-18-2002, 08:57 PM

My son is 17 months old and has a pillow.It's one I made, it's small.
At first I was hestiate to give him one but he laid in the floor during the day on pillows and wanted to take them to bed with him. I made him a small one and most of the time,by morning, it ends up on the floor anyway lol