Many emphasize the transition from a cot to a bed as crucial for SIDS safety. However, this perspective overlooks the spinal health of the child.
This article discusses the effects of pillow use on a toddler and recommendations that will protect the health of your child’s spine.
What Is SIDS?
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old. Although the exact cause is unknown, it’s believed to be associated with factors including brain abnormalities, respiratory infection, and sleep environment conditions that affect the baby’s breathing or sleep position.
Efforts to reduce the risk include putting babies to sleep on their backs, using a firm sleep surface, keeping soft objects and loose bedding out of the sleeping area, maintaining a smoke-free environment, and using a pillow.
Chiropractic View on Toddler Pillow Use
No Pillow for Toddlers
As a chiropractor focused on spinal health, Fairway Chiropractic Centre advises against using a pillow for toddlers. The decision to introduce a pillow should be considered when the child is around the average size of a 5-year-old, based on their sleeping position.
Rationale Behind the Recommendation
Toddlers’ heads are proportionally larger than the breadth of their shoulders. For adults, the shoulder width matches the head width, facilitating side sleeping without neck strain, as the neck remains aligned with the spine. Toddlers, on the other hand, have shoulders that can sink into the mattress, allowing their heads to rest on the surface without misaligning the neck.
Toddlers are also known for their restless sleep patterns, including moving around the bed significantly. This behaviour renders a pillow ineffective, as it is unlikely to stay in the intended position.
Exceptions
There are exceptions to the general advice against pillows for toddlers:
- If a child is developmentally larger for their age, a pillow might be introduced earlier, keeping the spine-neck alignment and the checklist in mind.
- If a child insists on having a pillow because they see adults using one, consider the following options:
- Create a thin pillow by folding a soft towel to a thickness not exceeding 2.5 cm.
- Purchase a specially designed toddler pillow from recommended sources.
Checklist for Introducing a Toddler’s First Pillow
- The child has transitioned from a cot to a bed.
- The child remains relatively stationary during sleep.
- For side sleepers: The child’s shoulder width has grown to the point where sleeping on their side causes their head to lower, misaligning the neck with the spine.
- For back sleepers: Check if the mattress supports the neck’s curve by sliding your fingertips under the child’s neck. If you must press down to fit your fingers under, the mattress provides sufficient support. If not, consider a pillow. This assessment could apply to children as old as 8, depending on the mattress.
- For tummy sleepers: Regardless of age, a pillow is not necessary, as it would extend the neck backward and disrupt alignment.
Recommendation for Your Child’s First Pillow
For parents seeking a safe and comfortable pillow option for their toddler, we highly recommend the Organic Rubber Toddler Pillow available at Obasan. Crafted with your child’s delicate needs in mind, this pillow ensures proper neck support and spinal alignment, promoting a restful sleep. Made from natural materials, it’s the perfect choice for keeping your little one cozy and safe through the night.
Note – that you can take out much of the filling within this pillow, to make it thin in their early years of using the pillow. Keep the organic latex rubber filling in a safe place, because as they grow, and require more support, you can add it back in.
Call Fairway Chiropractic Centre for Your Child’s Spinal Health
Looking for personalized chiropractic care that focuses on your well-being?
We have extensive experience with infants, toddlers, and young children.
Contact Fairway Chiropractic Centre today at 519-748-5535.
Discover how our expert team can support your journey towards optimal health and wellness. Don’t wait to feel better – let us help you achieve your health goals now!
