How to choose a pillow for your child?

If a child is one and a half years old, but he does not want to sleep on a pillow, he lies down next to him, and he moves or throws off the pillow - do not force him, it is better to look for another copy for him: this behavior is a clear signal that this model does not suit him.

How to choose a pillow for your child: recommendations

Keep in mind that even a pillow carefully selected taking into account all the advice from specialists may not suit your child, because it is almost impossible to take into account all the features of the body and preferences for comfort. In addition, the choice is complicated by the fact that the baby is not yet able to explain what he likes and what does not, and why. So it's hardly worth spending too much money - you may have to change the pillow right away. However, when choosing, be sure to follow the recommendations of experts:

1. The shape of the pillow for the child is a rectangle. The pillow should not be large in size and height, the hardness should be medium.
2. Decorations in the form of convex applications, buttons, beads are unacceptable on the pillow - such decorative elements can be used to decorate a bedroom, but it is prohibited to use a child for sleeping.
3. During sleep, your baby's shoulders should be on the mattress and his head should be on the pillow. As a rule, it is most convenient to use pillows with a length of 30 to 40 cm, the width is selected according to the width of the bed (from 40 to 60 cm). The height of the pillow depends on the length of the child's shoulders, at one year it corresponds to about 4 cm, at three years - up to 6 cm. As the child grows, the pillow must be replaced with a higher one.
4. Stiffness is a very important indicator. Which pillow is best for a child - harder or softer? On the one hand, softness provides comfort, but on the other hand, it must be borne in mind that a soft product will not be able to provide the spine with the required support, and will lead to a weakening of the cervical spine. In a dream, the child will instinctively tense the muscles of the neck, and will wake up in the morning with pain in the neck and head. Even more serious health consequences are possible in the form of dizziness, disorders of the vestibular apparatus.
5. Pillow fillers for children must meet the following requirements:
   • Have sufficient elasticity;
   • Do not cause an allergic reaction;
   • Good air permeability;
   • Easy to absorb water and just as easy to evaporate;
   • Do not contain components harmful to health or substances that emit hazardous compounds into the air.

Baby pillow fillers

Depending on the material used in the production of pillows, their cost varies. Often, models from different materials can cost the same, so you should focus not on the price, but on the quality of the filler.It must be borne in mind that fillers from the natural group are distinguished by good permeability, the child will not sweat under them. However, complex care is required and they can cause allergic reactions.

Fillers, obtained artificially from natural or synthetic fibers, are hypoallergenic, serve for a long time, they are easy to take care of - there is a possibility of cleaning in a washing machine. However, there is also a significant disadvantage - low air permeability, which leads to sweating, and, possibly, diaper rash.

Natural filler materials for baby pillows

Fluff

Bird down is one of the most famous materials for stuffing mattresses, blankets and pillows. It is appreciated for its extraordinary, delicate softness and natural origin. But what is good for an adult is not always good for a child. Too soft pillows made of fluff cannot support the baby's fragile spine, as a result, the neck gets tired, and the vertebrae are likely to be deformed. In addition, a dust mite, which causes severe allergies, lives in the down-filled pillow. The bird fluff filler for a child is not the most worthy, it can be very hot on it, especially in summer. Please also note that the fluff does not tolerate frequent washings.

Wool

Natural wool fibers are very resilient, it is not hot to sleep on them, the filler can pass air and moisture. However, the wool filler has a significant drawback - the creation of a favorable environment for the life of the dust mite. This means that the baby is at risk of allergies. In addition, such pillows do not last long - the wool filler quickly falls into lumps.

A children's orthopedic wool pillow will keep its shape well, it is easy to evaporate moisture, which will prevent excessive sweating and the appearance of diaper rash. The wool of a sheep is softer, but the camel's wool will be pricked, which is unlikely to contribute to a restful sleep of a little person. If you do decide to buy a wool pillow, opt for a combined filler made from a mixture of wool and synthetic fibers. It will make the product more durable and easier to care for.

Buckwheat

Husk, or buckwheat husk - one of the best pillow fillers for a child. It conducts air well, easily absorbs and gives off moisture, is not an allergen, easily acquires the anatomical shape of the head and neck, "adapts" to individual characteristics. The natural origin of the husk is the guarantor of its environmental friendliness, there will be no harmful fumes and odors.

The height of such a pillow can be easily adjusted as needed, you can make it denser and stiffer or softer by simply adding or pouring a part of the filler (almost all manufacturers provide this possibility). Another plus of husk is that small scaly particles gently massage the scalp and neck, which improves blood circulation. There are also drawbacks to such fillers for a child's pillow: they weigh quite a lot, and are unusually tough to the touch. In addition, they rustle when moving, which can be annoying. If the pillow gets dirty, only the cover is washed, and the filler itself is ventilated.

Latex

The orthopedic properties of latex are very high, it is resilient, elastic, is not a breeding ground for ticks and, therefore, cannot cause allergies. Air exchange in latex is quite active, it easily absorbs moisture and gives it away freely. This is the optimal filler for a baby pillow, it has only one minus - a rather high price.

Artificial filler materials for baby pillows

Synthetic fibers

Synthetic fiber materials - thinsulate (swan's down), holofiber, strutofiber, synthetic winterizer and some others - are often used to fill a baby pillow. They have pros and cons in common. The advantages include hypoallergenicity, ease of maintenance (machine washable) and an affordable price.

The main disadvantage is poor hygroscopicity and the ability to accumulate static electricity. In terms of rigidity, these materials differ from each other. Thinsulate is the softest, in this respect it looks like bird fluff, so it is not very suitable for children. Holofiber has the highest rigidity, therefore it is considered the most suitable. You can also adjust the hardness by the degree of padding.

Synthetic foam

This group includes materials based on polyurethane foam. This is a fairly budgetary polyurethane foam, or polyurethane foam, and modern modified versions with a memory effect (memoriform). Of the advantages, one can note good elasticity, hypoallergenicity, long service life, medium hardness. The disadvantages of synthetic materials are common: they poorly absorb and release moisture, can accumulate heat, which causes overheating, and can release harmful substances into the air.

PPU is a budget option, its service life is short. Memoriform is an expensive material that will last a long time. Orthopedic pillows for children are made of it, as it has the ability to take the shape of the body and remember it, providing full support throughout the night. The main disadvantages of "memory foam" are the possibility of overheating due to poor thermoregulation and the "secret" composition: it is impossible to find out which components are part of the foam, and, therefore, to assess the degree of its environmental friendliness. It remains to rely on the quality certificates provided by the seller.

How to choose a pillow for a child: expert advice

To make the right choice, follow the recommendations of the experts:

1. Check how firm the pillow is: push it down with moderate pressure and release. In a couple of seconds, it should restore its original shape.
2. Pillow covers for children should only be made of natural materials: chintz, linen, silk, cotton. It is better if it is solid and white, or a calm, dull color - dyes can cause allergies. Make sure the seams come out on the inside, are strong and pull easily.
3. The zipper on the cover will allow you to adjust its rigidity by changing the amount of filler, and, in addition, it will facilitate maintenance - you do not have to wash the entire pillow, it will be enough to remove the cover and wash it.
4. The children's orthopedic pillow will help the correct formation of the spine, lay the foundation for the child's good health in the future.
5. Carefully select the size of the pillow - this is important for the formation of the skeleton and muscles of the baby.
6. Fillers such as latex, buckwheat husks and holofiber are considered the most suitable in different price categories.
7. Be sure to require a certificate of conformity from the trading organization, make sure that the product is safe for the child.

It is not enough to buy a suitable pillow - you still need to use it wisely. Remember that the child should not climb too high on the pillow - it should only have a head and neck on it. Attempts to slip a hand under the pillow or "slide off" it most likely means that the child is uncomfortable sleeping on it and should get another one.

Important: Each product has its own period for which its use is designed. Even if the pillow looks “like new”, it needs to be replaced in the interests of your child's health and safety.