Storage pillow for my baby – which one is right?

Hopefully I will answer all of your open questions on this important topic.

What are the benefits of a storage pillow for my baby?

Pediatricians recommend to us parents that the best sleeping position for newborns is the supine position.

In this position, the risks of sudden infant death syndrome are minimized.

As concerned parents, of course, we want to follow this advice so that nothing happens to our children.

• We often buy all sorts of nighttime sleeping aids such as special baby sleeping bags , swaddling towels, baby pillow for sleeping on the side , hats to warm the head, etc.
• We want to use it to bring our baby into a certain lying position from which it cannot turn so quickly and turn on its stomach.

Even if the risk of a minimal infant death is actually reduced, unfortunately there are side effects in another area.

The small bodies are still too sensitive for a constant sleeping position.

• The pressure on the still too soft fontanel at the back of the baby’s head arises when the baby only lays its head on a certain spot for a long time.
• If the baby does not move enough during sleep , the back of the head can be deformed.

I, too, was amazed by the terrifying number. But around 70,000 babies in Germany are affected by the deformation of the back of the head every year.

This side effect of the rigid lying position can then mean further health consequences such as sleep disorders for the development of our children. I don’t want to go into this in more detail in this article.

I recommend reading specialist literature or visiting a pediatrician to find out more about the consequences.

• I would rather write about the countermeasures and what we parents can personally do about it or to prevent it.
• To counteract any deformation of our children’s heads, positioning pillows for babies offer an intelligent and effective interim solution.

These are recommended by more and more paediatricians and are already available for an affordable price.

At what age should I buy such a support pillow?

Babies are at greater risk of sudden infant death syndrome, especially in the first 6 months of their life.

And in this phase, the positioning cushions are highly recommended. After that, the risk levels off more and more in percentage terms.

But even after the first 6 months of life, positioning cushions have a very helpful effect on our babies’ skulls – and are often also suitable as cuddly pillows .

There are two basic classifications in terms of sizes for storage pillows.

• The smaller of the two sizes is designed for babies aged 0 to 10 months
• The second and larger variant is recommended from 10 months and up to 24 months

Also pay attention to the manufacturer’s instructions on the products. It may well be that the period of use differs from the months mentioned above.

How do positioning pillows work anyway?

At the beginning I already described the positioning pillow as an effective interim solution.

The sleeping position on the back is hardly changed, if at all, with the positioning pillow . At the same time, a positioning pillow prevents the asymmetrical flattening of the back of the head.

The word ‘storage pillow’ may not seem overly charming.

At first it may sound as if your child’s still small body is being stored and stowed away like goods on the shelf overnight. But that’s not how it is. At least not quite.

• Rather, storage pillows are pillows that are specially shaped for the baby’s height. You should gently support your baby in a specific sleeping position.
• But not fix or ‘store’ the body for hours like tight swaddling towels or sleeping bags do when swaddling.

Your baby still has a certain amount of freedom of movement during the night, but cannot turn on its side or stomach.

The risk of sudden infant death is reduced and the pressure on the body and head is relieved by the free sleeping movements.

Types of storage pillows: which one can I use for my baby?

There are different sizes and types of storage pillows that I would like to introduce to you.

Storage pillow with a hole in the middle

The most common positioning pillows for babies have a hole in the middle so that the baby’s head virtually floats in the air.

This is not a hole through which the head can be inserted. Rather, it is about a hollow or a hollow in the middle of the often rounded pillow.

With this method, no pressure can be exerted on the fontanel from the lying position. The back of the head does not deform.

• At the same time, a healthy back position is promoted and the neck is not strained.
• This positioning pillow with a hole in the middle of the head area is intended and made for back sleepers.

There are models in which the baby’s entire body is embedded.

Please note that some products marketed as bed nests would like to be counted in the same category as storage pillows. Amazon also has these products in the same category.

However, the baby nests are a cute and comfortable looking place to sleep for babies.

If you buy ONLY a nest for the baby bed, your child can still roll on its stomach when lying down.

• You also need to provide a suitable pillow and blanket so that your baby sleeps in a comfortable and safe sleeping position.
• If you already have a canopy for a cot or a mobile , you may not even notice this dangerous situation.

The nature of the surface or the materials used in a bed nest are therefore not more suitable per se than any other baby bed. Rather, it is the appearance and transportability that characterize a bed nest.

You can find a detailed article on the best baby nests by one of my colleagues at www.sleepwithjoy.com

Only if a product is communicated as a ‘bed nest WITH storage pillow’ can you expect such a pillow to protect our babies. The following copy offers you both parts.

An integrated headrest prevents deformation of the back of the head. Soft and breathable fabrics offer optimal comfort during sleep.

The manufacturer describes another interesting additional benefit of this storage pillow. Your baby would have fewer digestive problems in this sleeping position due to the bent legs on the positioning roller.

The size of this pillow is 59 x 58 x 27 cm. The manufacturer recommends using it from birth to around 4-6 months.

Still other models do not cover the whole body and look like a normal pillow. The baby can stretch its legs and body freely.

The pillow is made of hypoallergenic and bacteria-resistant memory foam, which is covered with very soft and breathable cotton. The material is 100% pollutant-free.

The manufacturer supplies a transport bag for on the go and two covers for the pillow. You can wash them in the washing machine at 30 degrees.

This storage pillow has the size 24 x 22 x 3.5 cm and is suitable for babies aged 0-10 months. At the same time, the manufacturer offers No Products Found. with the dimensions 39.5 x 25 x 3.5 cm for the age group 10 – 24 months.

Positioning pillow for side sleepers

A baby cannot yet adopt the sleeping position of the side sleeper like we adults.

The muscles between the shoulder, neck and head are still too weak for this to be able to shift all of your body weight to your side.

• With a positioning pillow for side sleepers you can simulate this sleeping position for your baby.
• In terms of price, these positioning cushions are the cheapest option for side sleepers.

It’s not the real 90-degree angle either, but rather a 45-degree angle. In this side position, your baby can breathe easily.

The little head is also protected and there is no permanent pressure on the bone structure.

During my research, I came across a family business based in Germany that designs great products for toddler side sleepers.

This storage pillow is a J-shaped pillow that is completely machine washable at 40 degrees and can be tumble dried.

In the side position and with his back on the longer pillow tube, your baby assumes a natural sleeping position at a 45-degree angle.

The smaller pillow tube between the legs ends on the stomach side and prevents your baby from turning.

• At the same time, your baby always has enough freedom of movement for arms and legs. You can use this side sleeper pillow on both sides.
• So you can shift your baby’s weight from night to night and take the pressure off the skull.

The filling material consists of polyester hollow fiber balls, certified according to Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and suitable for allergy sufferers.

The manufacturer still offers an upgrade. You can also order this side sleeper pillow for babies as a set with a No products found. at. The manufacturer recommends an application period of 3 – 8 months.

Storage pillows for premature babies

Storage pillows can also be used for premature babies and are a welcome alternative to many other pillows and mattresses.

They are shaped like a horseshoe and are intended to bring the premature baby into a half-sideways flexion movement.

• The pillow, shaped like a semicircle, is supposed to simulate the lying position and the movement in the mother’s stomach.
• The baby should be given the same security and security that it feels in the womb.

Deformations on the baby’s skull can also be counteracted, as the pressure on the back of the head is evenly distributed.

As a rule, these pillows are used for premature babies until you have actually reached the due date. In principle, however, there is nothing against it if this positioning pillow is used for some time afterwards.

The baby pillow is air-permeable and ensures a good temperature balance and moisture transport. The low-noise filling of the storage pillow is light and free of harmful substances.

The cover is made of 100% cotton (Öko-Tex Standard 100) and washable up to 60 ° C. The cushion is filled with EPS microbeads, which are odorless and suitable for allergy sufferers. The contents are also washable up to 60 degrees.

The pillow and cover are 103 x 15cm. You also have the option to choose between 14 different designs without any price increase.

Alternative: a swaddle

There is another option that is a little out of line and is actually not a storage pillow, but still offers the same protective function.

A manufacturer from the Netherlands has developed a special swaddle that can be wrapped around the mattress.

This method is recommended by the manufacturer for ages 0-24 months and is not expensive.

Considered purely in terms of the entire duration of use, this solution would then be the most cost-effective or the best in terms of price-performance ratio.

But it is not a real pillow. And yet it allows your baby to sleep safely on their back AND side.

So to practice both sleeping positions at the same time without your baby being able to lean on his stomach.

Your baby will be wrapped overnight. A mattress wrap (180 cm long and 350 grams) is attached underneath the mattress and secured with Velcro.

Your baby will be mothballed in a sleep wrap, which will be attached to the mattress wrap.

These functions are also possible together with a sleeping bag or swaddle. You position your baby as you see fit (supine or left / right sleeping side) and so it stays overnight.

The materials used have been tested for harmful substances and Oeko-Tex.

There is this product in a larger level * (240 cm and 560 grams) as a travel version that the manufacturer already has 400,000 copies sold.

I don’t want to portray myself as overly critical and particularly skeptical. The product looks like an exciting alternative.

However, the question arises to me whether it makes sense and is helpful for development to let my baby sleep without a pillow for a full two years during an extended period of use.

• The manufacturer neither advises nor advises against using a pillow. So the child sleeps with his head on the bare mattress for the first 24 months.
• Is that better or worse for the head and neck muscles and does it affect the development of my baby?

Even if the product is very innovative and inexpensive and should have the same protective function as a storage pillow, I could not answer these questions despite the good and detailed product description.

Conclusion

The science of sleep and the healthy development of our babies has always evolved to our advantage.

Our worries are always minimized and the health of our dear little ones benefits from one or the other trend or an intelligent and innovative solution.

Storage pillows are also very useful and do not cost the earth.

Depending on which product you ultimately choose, we can not only save money compared to other product solutions over the application period.

• Rather, we parents actively promote the development of our children with the right pillow and a comfortable and safe sleeping position.
• And if our children can fall asleep calmly and sleep through the night, then we parents will also be able to benefit from a restful and peaceful night.

For all these reasons, storage pillows are much more than a trend and now almost a must-have for forward-looking parents who absolutely want to get everything right.