Everything you should know about the right pillow for your baby. The best recommendations and tips for selection at a glance.
Do special side sleeper pillows make sense for babies? When are these recommended and which models are there?
The topic of “pillows for babies” is always an exciting topic for parents.
From what age are pillows recommended and which models are best suited. All parents were faced with the same question at some point.
In particular, parents who sleep on their side themselves will sooner or later ask themselves whether a side sleeper pillow is also the best choice for their baby. The following doubts are usually in the foreground:
- Are side sleeper pillows safe for babies?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of side sleeper pillows for babies?
- What are the differences between current models?
I have researched extensively for you, taking into account both expert opinions and user reviews for side sleeper pillows for babies. Concrete product recommendations round off this article.
In detail, it concerns these points:
In today’s post, I’m going to specifically discuss side sleeper pillows for babies.
If you are looking for information about which pillow could be the best for your baby in general, I can recommend the article Buying Guide: How to find the right pillow for your baby and toddler .
If you are looking for a quick product tip, you should take a look at this side sleeper pillow for babies:
Index
What is the use of a side sleeper pillow?
Babies spend most of the day lying down and sleeping in the first few months.
It is all the more important that you, as parents, ensure that your child is lying comfortably and is sleeping in the safest possible position.
There are several reasons why the use of a special pillow is advisable. The most common are:
- safety
- Head deformations
- Variation
safety
A side sleeper pillow for babies offers security as it automatically brings your baby into a stable side position.
This is important, for example, if your child has a tendency to burp after eating.
If you lie on your side, the food particles can flow freely out of your mouth. If, on the other hand, your child sleeps on its back, even a simple burrow can hinder breathing.
Experts generally advise against the prone position for small children.
Note: Even in adults, lying on the stomach can disturb the breath. Special pillows for stomach sleepers alleviate the negative effects on health.
As long as your baby is not able to take a side position on his own, a side pillow can help to hold this position.
Head deformations
Because a baby’s skull bones are still soft for the first few months, sleeping on your back can cause the back of the head to deform and flatten over time.
To counteract this process, some pediatricians recommend using a side sleeper pillow for babies in these cases.
Note : Since many parents tend to overreact, you should always rely on the recommendation of your pediatrician. I would advise against self-diagnosis.
Variation
Some parents use special side sleeper pillows for babies to vary their sleeping patterns .
Sometimes the baby sleeps on its back, sometimes with the help of a pillow on one side or the other.
The variation of the sleeping position prevents the head from being deformed due to the same sleeping position.
In addition, your child will get used to sleeping in different positions from an early age.
Baby pillow – from when?
Pay attention to the right time to use a pillow.
In general, babies should sleep without a pillow in the first few weeks and months. This allows for a natural posture and avoids suffocation.
Only when your child begins to move more and start turning on their own is the right time to think about a pillow.
However, there are also storage pillows and side sleeper pillows that align the lying position of your baby. You can also use such pillows with small babies.
A nest for the cot could also be worth considering. Here, however, the opinions differ: Some experts warn against not overfilling the baby cradle.
Warning : adult pillows are not suitable for babies. Baby pillows should always be the size of your child.
Material
The side sleeper pillows can contain different materials. The most common are polyester, cotton, eiderdown , foam or microbeads.
- When buying, make sure that the materials are free of harmful substances. It is just as important to be able to clean the pillows or baby mattresses easily.
- A mattress encasing could also be recommended for small children if your son or daughter suffers from allergies.
Rule of thumb : the more stable and firm the pillow, the safer it is in the cot.
maintenance
When buying your cuddly pillow, make sure that either the whole pillow is washable, or that you can at least remove the cover and wash it.
Small mishaps happen again and again, especially with small children, in which leftovers of food or bottles can end up on the pillow.
Washable pillows or covers help to make a side sleeper pillow last longer.
price
In terms of price, you will find a wide range of side sleeper pillows. From simple models that cost around 20 euros to pillows that cost almost 100 euros, there is a large selection.
In addition to the materials used, the workmanship and the size of the pillow are also decisive for the price.
In my test, I found that there are also simple and inexpensive side sleeper pillows for babies that are highly recommended.
Product recommendations
As with so many other products, there are also clear differences in side sleeper pillows for babies.
- I have checked for you which models are currently available and for which requirements they are suitable.
- Read my purchase recommendations to find a side sleeper pillow for babies that suits your needs.
There are also significant differences in price. When buying a side pillow, always look for quality.
Price-performance tip: Träumeland side positioning pillow
A very popular side sleeper pillow for babies, which you can also use beyond the baby’s age.
The Träumeland pillow helps to position your baby in the lateral position and to keep it in this position during sleep.
This pillow is 98x30x30 cm and is made of 100% cotton. You can wash the entire pillow at 40 degrees. There are different motifs and colors to choose from.
Many positive reviews from customers emphasize the popularity of this model.
Versatile: Theraline nursing & positioning pillows
This storage pillow is 180cm long and you can use it very versatile. You can use it during pregnancy to sleep more comfortably.
As soon as your baby is born, you can shape the Theraline pillow so that it supports your baby in a side position. The soft microbeads ensure a stable hold.
The pillow is 180x30cm, tested for harmful substances and completely washable.
Patented: Selaki side positioning pillow
This side sleeper pillow is shaped like a J and has been developed to avoid skull asymmetries. The special shape was developed together with paediatricians and is patented.
The materials of this pillow have the ÖkoTex certificate and the pillow is made by hand. This is also reflected in the price. The pillow made of polyester hollow fiber balls can be washed completely in the washing machine and dry in the dryer.
This pillow is 50x25x7 cm and has a bear pattern.
Supportive: Delibest Baby side sleeper pillow
This side sleeper pillow ensures that your baby spends the night in a safe side position. It works like a support pillow and is not a pillow.
The Delibest pillow consists of two support wedges that ensure that your baby is in a stable side position. The pillow is made of breathable memory foam, the soft velvet covers are washable.
This pillow is 43x10x10 cm and can be ordered in the colors white, blue and pink.
Alternatives
There are different alternatives to the side sleeper pillow for babies.
For example, pillows for back sleepers are widely used.
Babies can breathe easily in the supine position and this is recommended to avoid the dangerous prone position. Talk to your pediatrician about whether a back sleeper pillow is advisable for your child.
Other alternatives are baby wedge pillows. This includes, for example, side sleeper pillows such as the Delibest model mentioned above.
Baby nests are used to reduce the large space in the baby bed. They also protect your baby from drafts or from injuring their arms or legs on the bed bars. Here you will find an article with the title: Nest in the baby bed: What you should consider .
Some parents use rolled towels or other pillows to support their baby. I would advise against these cheap but not very safe alternatives.
Conclusion: side sleeper pillows for babies are definitely recommended
As you can read in the report, different pillow cases serve different purposes.
If you are looking for prophylaxis for skull asymmetries, for example, other pillows come into consideration than if you are simply looking to vary the sleeping position of your baby.
I would always recommend checking with your pediatrician before using a special baby positioning pillow on a regular basis. For sporadic use you will also find specific product recommendations in the article.
If you are interested in more articles on the subject of ” Babies and Sleep “, you will find many articles on the subject by following the link.
For more information on side sleeper pillows, I can recommend the article Side sleeper pillow test: Insider tips for healthy sleep .
I created Sleep Knowledge to share my interests and experiences on healthy sleeping with others. On this page I am therefore dealing with interesting questions about the optimal night’s sleep & everything else that goes with it.