A newborn baby cannot walk or sit, and even turning over or raising his head is an impossible task. He can only lie on the bed every day and is not even qualified to use a pillow.
Many mothers always feel uncomfortable when they see their babies lying there quietly without even a pillow. They wonder every day when their babies will have their own pillows. When they are about one year old, some babies like to rub themselves against the adult's pillow or body when lying down. Does that mean that the baby wants to rest on the pillow?
Today, let’s talk about pillows for babies!
html Babies under 31 years old cannot sleep on pillows.After the baby is born, many mothers buy baby-shaped pillows early in order to have a good head shape. This is very wrong. It is not only detrimental to the development of the baby's cervical spine, but also endangers their health.
The reason why adults need pillows is because our cervical spine has physiological curvature. When we lie down, the pillow just fills the curve of our cervical spine, so that we feel relaxed and comfortable.
Babies' necks are just the opposite of ours. Their cervical vertebrae are still in the development stage and the physiological curvature has not yet formed, so they do not need to pillow their heads. The so-called shaping pillows are basically false propaganda. If the baby's little head lies in the hole of the shaping pillow for a long time, he will only get a big flat head and will not be able to sleep with a round little head. If you want your baby to have a good image, let your baby move more and change sleeping positions frequently.
There is another reason why it is not recommended for babies to sleep on pillows. Baby pillows have the risk of suffocation. Before a baby is one year old, his mobility is limited and his neck strength is small. Once his head sinks into a pillow or his mouth and nose are covered by a pillow, it is difficult for him to get out of the pillow, leading to suffocation.
The best time for babies to use pillows
The American Pediatric Association recommends that babies use pillows after they are one year old. The risk of suffocation will be much smaller. It is also recommended that babies' pillows should not be too thick and have good breathability.
Compared with this suggestion, I think a baby's behavior can better indicate that they want to sleep on a pillow. For example, babies habitually rub themselves against adults or use adult pillows before going to bed, and they always turn over and turn their heads when sleeping. This all means that they need to sleep on a pillow.
The reason why babies have these movements is because they start to feel uncomfortable without the support of pillows. In addition, the baby can turn over and turn his head while sleeping, and the probability of suffocation is much lower. At this time, there is no problem in giving the baby a pillow.
How to choose a suitable pillow for your baby
1. Don’t be too high
Although the physiological curve of the cervical spine has been formed for babies after one year old, the depth is not large. Mothers can meet the needs of babies under 3 years old by choosing a baby pillow with a height within 3 cm.
2, Moderately soft and hard
When buying a pillow for your baby, it is best for mothers to go to a physical store and feel the material of the pillow with your hands. Pillows with moderate hardness and good resilience are more suitable for babies, so latex pillows and memory foam pillows are better than buckwheat , grain, cassia seed pillows filled with.
In addition, down pillows are not recommended for babies. The down in this type of pillow can squeeze through the gaps, causing allergies and inhalation in your baby.
3. Easy to clean
Babies are still young and are prone to drooling and sweating, so easy cleaning is also something you need to pay attention to when buying. It is best for baby pillows to be removable for easy cleaning and to prevent the growth of pillow bacteria .
4, breathable
The breathability of pillows is not only related to comfort, but also related to safety. A baby pillow with good breathability can allow the heat from the baby's neck to dissipate, preventing it from becoming damp with sweat and affecting the quality of sleep. Secondly, good breathability can also greatly reduce the possibility of suffocation and improve sleep safety and quality.
