From this article you will learn:
- Pillow filling options
- Pillows for children from 1 year to 7 years
- Basic rules for choosing a pillow
A pillow is a bedding item that is designed to support the head while sleeping. It usually looks like a square or rectangular case with various fillings inside. This product affects the quality of sleep and human health. It is impossible to give a definite answer about which pillow is exactly right for your boy or girl. The product is selected according to age, as well as depending on the size of the bed and the position in which your baby prefers to rest. Before answering the question of how to choose the right pillow for a child, you need to get acquainted with the possible filling options.
Why is it so important to choose the right baby pillow?
Quality children's sleep depends on many factors, and bed preparation is not the least of them. And if all parents agree that a child’s mattress should be smooth and hard enough, not to sag under the weight of the body, then they often want to put something softer and more voluminous under their head. This is a wrong opinion, because... The pillow provides a comfortable position for the head and cervical spine during sleep, and errors in its selection can cause such troubles as:
- headaches, dizziness, feeling weak and tired;
- pain in the muscles of the neck, back, forearms;
- development of scoliosis;
- in the future - osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae.
In tender childhood, the spine can become curved in a short time, and the consequences of an unsuitable product will have to be corrected with the help of long-term therapy: exercise therapy, massage, taking medications and wearing an orthopedic neck brace.
Pillows for children should be selected based on the age of the child.
Therefore, pediatricians do not recommend using a pillow for sleeping newborns who have not yet formed the physiological cervical curvature of the spine. Dr. Komarovsky insists that until the child is two years old, nothing needs to be added. Let’s look at what pillow a child aged 1.5 to 6 years should sleep on in more detail.
When does a child need a pillow?
A pillow for a 2-year-old child becomes a necessary sleep accessory, because... The cervical curve is already pronounced, and the neck needs support. Otherwise, the blood supply to the brain will be disrupted, the child will wake up sleep-deprived, with pain in the neck and head, and will quickly get tired during the day.
For a 1-year-old child, the height of the product is allowed no more than 4 cm, and from 3 years old it can be increased to 5-6 cm. As the child grows, the height of the pillow “grows.” At 5 years old, as at 6 years old, the height of the product must be adjusted based on the individual characteristics of the child: it should be equal to half the length of the child’s shoulder, but not more than 10 cm.
Some parents are wondering if a pillow is needed for a 6 month old baby. You can use an option such as an orthopedic “butterfly”, inside of which there is a recess for the back of the child’s head. This product gently fixes the head, is convenient for use in a stroller and serves as a prevention of torticollis if the baby prefers to sleep on one side.
What should a baby pillow be like?
A children's pillow must meet three main criteria: have sufficient density, small height, and have a rectangular shape. When answering the question of what kind of pillow a child needs, you need to remember that this sleeping attribute should serve as support for the child’s neck and head in a physiologically correct position. A product that is too high or soft will disrupt normal blood circulation and cause curvature of the vertebrae in the cervical region.
Does a child need an orthopedic pillow?
An orthopedic pillow for newborns is necessary if the pediatrician has diagnosed the following pathologies in the child:
- torticollis;
- birth trauma, as a result of which the cervical vertebrae were injured;
- hypertonicity or hypotonicity of the neck muscles;
- initial stage of rickets;
- Features of the shape of the child’s head that require correction.
This product should not be administered ad libitum to a healthy infant. Orthopedic pillows for children over 2 years old are also selected after consultation with a doctor.
At what age should a child sleep on a pillow?
It is advisable to place the pillow on a child aged 1 year and older. This statement is based on the recommendations of orthopedic doctors, since a child is born with a straight back, and in order for his posture to develop correctly in the future, he must sleep on a flat, horizontal, fairly hard surface on which there are no differences in height.
Photo from source: spimalysh.ru
Criteria for choosing the right pillow for a child
A properly selected sleep accessory should have the following characteristics:
- breathability;
- hygroscopicity;
- hypoallergenic;
- elasticity;
- hygiene.
The internal component of the pillow, i.e. the filler, is responsible for these indicators; it is equally important that the cover must be made of natural high-quality material.
Children's pillows need to be checked for compliance with these criteria. Let’s take a closer look at how to choose the right product, paying attention to each of them.
Naturalness
Synthetic materials have a number of disadvantages, which makes them undesirable for arranging a children's bed:
- accumulated static electricity negatively affects the nervous system;
- Synthetics are impermeable to air, causing them to heat up and cause increased sweating, which causes even more discomfort in the summer.
Manufacturers use not only traditional fillers, down and feathers, but also new ones: buckwheat husk and bamboo fiber.
Hygienic and hypoallergenic
House dust is a source of allergies, as are down and feather fillers. Feather mites settle in them, feeding on dust particles and causing allergic reactions in some children. Soft products create a warm and moist environment favorable for ticks. Periodic washing does not destroy the parasite eggs, so over time they restore their numbers. Fillers with buckwheat husks and bamboo fiber are safer for allergy sufferers.
Orthopedic effect
Large and soft pillows are not suitable for supporting the neck in a normal position: to relax the muscles, the neck must rest on an elastic but dense surface. On a surface that is too high, the neck will remain bent and the blood vessels and respiratory organs will be compressed, leading to circulatory problems. Fillers with an orthopedic effect, such as buckwheat and bamboo, are able to take the shape of the body and maintain it during sleep.
Pillow size
When choosing the size of the product, you need to be guided by the age of the child. For small children under 2 years old, the pillow should be flat, no more than 1-1.5 cm in height, made to fit the width of the crib, then the baby will not roll off it while sleeping. A prerequisite is a material that allows air to pass through, in order to avoid a situation where a child who turns over on his stomach runs the risk of suffocation.
From 2 to 6-7 years, the optimal size for a pillow is 50*40 cm. The height must be adjusted, reducing the amount of filler as comfortable for the child. The child's head and neck should be on the pillow, and the child's shoulders should be on the mattress. If it tosses and turns while sleeping, it means the size is chosen incorrectly. Please note that the correct product forms a cushion in the neck and a hole under the head, providing an orthopedic effect and good sleep.
How to know if the pillow is chosen correctly
If a child rolls down or to the side from the pillow and puts his hand under his head, then the size of the product is incorrect.
Your child should choose a pillow with a removable cover. If the cover is fastened with Velcro or a zipper, this is convenient because you can reduce or increase the amount of filler, adjusting the height of the product to the child’s parameters.
Top Bedding Manufacturers for 2022
Among the countries, we should highlight those whose products are in high demand:
- Italy.
- Australia.
- France.
- Russia.
- Germany.
When the question arises: which company’s product is better to choose, you should look at popular brands: Vefer, Chicco, Babyton, TRELAX, Kariguz, Belashoff, Yves Delorme Australia, FeelMagic, Memory Elastic Ergonomic, BIO ALOE, ORMATEK. The style of these enterprises is advanced technologies, production of excellent quality products taking into account the anatomical characteristics of the person. The popularity of the models speaks for itself. Whether made in Australia, French or Russian, the models are modern, environmentally friendly, and safe.
The best manufacturers develop bedding lines according to age categories, allowing customers to make the right choice. Collections for mothers and newborns, the “Junior” category and others are quite popular. Where to buy quality things? In bedding stores, on the websites of branded manufacturers and intermediaries.
Filler selection
A pillow for children may contain natural or synthetic filling, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages that must be taken into account when choosing.
Bird fluff
This familiar filler is valued for its softness, naturalness and durability. But in children's pillows it can cause allergies, because... It accumulates a large amount of dust and is often home to dust mites. This sleep product cannot be washed; it requires special dry cleaning. In addition, down pillows are too soft and do not provide an orthopedic effect for the spine.
Wool pillow filling
Natural wool has many advantages as a filler: it is quite dense and elastic, permeable to air and moisture, and sleeping on it strengthens the nervous system. But just like feather pillows, dust mites can breed in it, and hairballs can become matted and lose their softness over time. Therefore, a pillow with wool must be subjected to periodic dry cleaning and ventilation.
Camel or sheep wool
Camel wool is one of the warmest fillers, absorbs moisture well, and is more suitable for cold autumn and winter. The animal wax lanolin found in camel and sheep wool is a natural antiseptic, helping to fight seasonal infections. At the same time, this substance causes allergic reactions in some people, so products with pure wool filling are not advisable for children.
Buckwheat husk
This filler has a pronounced orthopedic effect, adapting to the natural curves of the body and maintaining its position during sleep. Husks allow air to pass through, provide coolness in the summer heat, and are a hypoallergenic material that is not suitable for the reproduction of ticks. The disadvantages include the rustling of the pyramids when moving and the rigidity of the pillow with this filler.
Individual characteristics
Is your child comfortable on the chosen pillow?
If for adults with specific problems with the spine, when choosing a pillow, the emphasis is on benefit, in the case of a child, comfort should be assessed first. If the pillow seems hard to your baby
, he will not be able to get used to it, enduring the inconvenience like an adult.
These will be night whims and inadequate sleep. If you have already bought a pillow, but see that your child refuses to sleep on it, you will have to spend money again on purchasing a more comfortable option. It is also worth considering the sleep position
in which the baby sleeps most often. If on the stomach, the pillow should be as low as possible. On the side - a little higher, but within the age recommendations.
Another piece of advice has already been given above - if the child slides off the pillow, the height needs to be reduced; if you put your hand under it, it should be increased.
Artificial fillers
Fillings for children's pillows can be of synthetic origin, because... these materials have a number of advantages over natural ones
Latex
A latex product is expensive, but its advantages include firmness and elasticity, hypoallergenicity, and hygiene. It allows air to pass through well and is durable in use.
Foam rubber and synthetic winterizer
These materials do not cause allergies, are easy to care for, but over time they lose their volume; moreover, they quickly heat up and are poorly ventilated, causing excessive sweating in the child.
Polyurethane foam
This synthetic filler has the following advantages:
- hypoallergenic
- low cost
- elasticity and resilience.
The disadvantages of PP include:
- limited service life;
- destruction under the influence of direct sunlight;
- absorption and accumulation of moisture;
- the need for special cleaning.
Holofiber
Products with holofiber have good elasticity and rigidity with a sufficient amount of filler. It has a low cost, is easy to wash and dry, and does not harbor dust mites, so holofiber can be recommended for use in children's products.
Memoryform
This is a synthetic foam with a “memory effect” that adapts to the curves of the body, taking its shape under the influence of heat. This allows you to unload the muscles, relieve tension from them, providing comfort and an orthopedic position during night rest.
Brands
Which brand makes the best baby pillows?
There are many brands on the market that produce quality pillows. Some of them are distinguished by their universal production and offer models for children and adults. Others specialize only in children's products. Among the abundance of brands, one can highlight companies such as Askona, Ormatek, Billerbeck, Cloud Factory, Sleepy Gnome. This is only a small part of the brands whose products people prefer.
Ascona
. A well-known brand of orthopedic bedding products. Along with pillows for adults, it also produces anatomical products for children. On average, the cost of models varies from 1000 to 3000 rubles. The brand mainly uses memory foam fillers.
Ormatek
. A good Russian brand of orthopedic products. It produces anatomical pillows for all ages. Children's models cost from 1,000 to 6,000 rubles and are made primarily from memory foam materials. The choice of options is good, the quality is excellent.
Billerbeck
. Quite an expensive German brand. The assortment includes pillows for both very young infants and older children. The products are not orthopedic - soft, but high quality and comfortable. Cotton and bamboo fiber, down, cashmere, and less often synthetics are used as filling for children's models.
Cloud Factory
. The company offers anatomical pillows for children from birth. The assortment includes butterflies, standard rectangular models, and options with rollers. Memory effect materials are used as filler. It’s convenient that replacement covers are available for sale. The cost is reasonable - from 1000 to 2500 rubles.
Sleepy gnome
. A good brand that offers simple and inexpensive pillows for children from birth. There are no orthopedic products in stock. The exception is anatomical butterfly pillows for newborns. The filling used is padding polyester, down, bamboo fiber, and holofiber. Prices are very affordable - from 250 to 500 rubles.
Proper product care
In order for the purchased product to last a long time and at the same time retain its original qualities, it is necessary to properly care for it. Manufacturers promise a long service life of their products, subject to the following recommendations.
- Dry, ventilate and fluff regularly. This should be done outdoors in the shade. The accumulation of moisture leads to the formation of lumps, which makes the pillow uncomfortable and impairs the quality of children's sleep.
- To keep clean. The best option is a pillowcase selected according to size. This will allow the baby to sleep on a clean pillow, and the mother will not have to subject it to washing or other processing repeatedly.
- Study the information in detail. The manufacturer indicates it on the packaging or label. These tips will make proper care easier and extend the life of the accessory.
- If machine washing is indicated, you should select its duration and the indicated mode. Only one product can be placed in the drum.
Advice! Despite the long period of use guaranteed by the manufacturer, one pillow cannot be used for more than a year. This is due to growth and changes in the anatomical structure of the child’s body. Therefore, for each age you should select the required size.
Top 5. Light dreams Camille
Rating (2021): 4.55
The “Light Dreams” brand pillow is suitable for teenagers who like to sleep with special comfort. A light, soft, fluffy pillow will give you the feeling of relaxing on a “cloud”. Natural goose and duck down without feathers was used as filler. It undergoes thorough processing and ozonation, so it is safe and does not cake for a long time. Despite the softness, the neck does not get tired on the pillow, and there are no problems with the spine. So, despite the fairly high price, this is a great option.
Characteristics:
4225 rub. / Russia / Filling: 95% goose, 5% duck down
