Baby Pillows

Baby pillows: safe sleep first, then the right first pillow

Choosing a pillow for a little one is different from choosing one for yourself. The most important fact comes first: most safe-sleep guidance, including advice from paediatric bodies, recommends that babies under 12 months sleep on a firm, flat surface with no pillows, quilts or soft toys in the cot. This page explains when a pillow becomes appropriate, and what kind to choose.

Under 12 months: keep the cot clear

A firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet are all a baby needs. Soft items in the sleep space are a known risk, so pillows are best kept out of the cot in the first year. If you have questions about your baby's sleep, your paediatrician is the right person to ask.

When does a child need a pillow?

Many parents introduce a pillow when their child moves from a cot to a toddler or single bed, often somewhere between the second and third year. There is no single right age. Signs a child may be ready include sleeping comfortably in a bed of their own and moving around the bed less.

What to look for in a first pillow

• Small and low. A child's pillow should be much smaller and flatter than an adult's, so the neck stays in a natural line.
• Breathable fill. A natural fill such as kapok lets air move through the pillow.
• A washable cover. Children's pillows need washing often, so a removable cotton cover helps.

Our kids pillows

Soft Souls kids pillows are 12 × 18 in, filled with natural kapok (Illavam Panju) and covered in printed 100% cotton. They are made for children who sleep in their own bed, not for babies under 12 months.

Caring for a child's pillow

Wash the cover regularly, air the pillow in the shade and fluff it daily. Keep a second cover in rotation so one is always clean.

Why the cot stays clear for the first year

Paediatric safe-sleep guidance, including advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics, is that babies under 12 months should sleep on their back on a firm, flat surface with no pillows, quilts, bumpers or soft toys in the cot. Soft items can cover a baby's face or make it harder for them to breathe freely. Head-shaping or "flat head" pillows sold for babies are not recommended as sleep products for the same reason. If you have questions about your baby's sleep, your paediatrician is the right person to ask.

Signs your toddler may be ready for a pillow

Every child is different, and there is no single right age. Many families introduce a small pillow once a child has moved from a cot to a bed, often somewhere between the second and third year. Your child may be ready if they:

• Sleep in a toddler bed or a regular bed rather than a cot
• Often rest their head on a folded blanket, soft toy or your arm
• Sleep comfortably on their side with their shoulder under them

Check with your paediatrician if you are unsure, especially for a child with any medical condition.

Choosing the right first pillow

• Small and low. A first pillow should be much smaller and thinner than an adult pillow, so the neck stays in line with the spine. Our kids pillows are 12 × 18 inches.
• Medium-soft, not squashy. It should support the head without the face sinking into it.
• A washable cover. Children spill, drool and bring snacks to bed. A removable cotton cover can go straight into the wash.
• A named fill. Know what is inside. Ours use natural kapok (Illavam Panju) and say so on every product.

Keeping it fresh between washes

Wash the cover often, and air the pillow itself in the shade every week or two to keep it fresh. Spot clean the pillow with a damp cloth rather than soaking a natural fill. Fluff it each morning so it stays even. Keep a spare cover so there is always a clean one on the bed after a spill or a sick day.

Travelling with a baby or toddler

Safe-sleep habits are easiest to keep at home and easiest to forget on a trip to a grandparent's house or a hotel. Wherever a baby under twelve months sleeps, the rule is the same: a firm, flat surface, on the back, with no pillow, bolster, cushion or loose blanket nearby. Traditional side bolsters and small pillows are often offered with love; it is fine to set them aside politely. For a toddler who already uses a pillow, pack their own small pillow and cover so the bed feels familiar.

When to move to an adult pillow

As children grow, their shoulders widen and a kids pillow starts to feel too low. Many children move to a standard adult pillow somewhere between the ages of eight and twelve, often when they move into a bigger bed. A lighter, medium-soft kapok pillow is an easy next step. Until then, our kids pillows are sized for younger sleepers.

A note for new parents

If you are unsure whether your child is ready for a pillow, ask your paediatrician at the next check-up. Waiting a little longer is always the safer choice, and a well-made bed with no pillow is perfectly comfortable for a young child.

Gifts for a new baby

Pillows are a common gift for new babies, but they are not needed in the first year. Practical alternatives are fitted cot sheets, a firm cot mattress, swaddles or sleeping bags. Keep any pillow received as a gift aside until your child is ready.

Part of our Pillow range. Also see Kapok Pillows, Illavam Panju Pillows, Cotton Pillows, Kids Pillows, Fibre Pillows, Organic Pillows.