Pillow or No Pillow in the Crib??

Updated on January 16, 2009
J.H. asks from Clermont, FL
17 answers

My daughter is 19 months old. She goes to bed around 7 every night and we go in and get her around 7-7:30 in the morning. She never cries unless she needs something, or possibly has a dream, which is about once a month. We check on her constantly via the baby moniter (video). Every time we look at the moniter she's in a different position, or she's flip-flopping around. I'm just worried she's not sleeping well. I woke up last night at 12:30a and she was moving all over the place. She doesn't get anything in her crib except a blanket. No toys or bottles or cups. I'm wondering if maybe a pillow would make her more comfortable. Any thoughts? And if so, what kind of pillow should we get? Thanks in advance for your help.

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So What Happened?

Thank you so much to all who responded. You are awesome!! I think I'm just going to leave it alone for now. Just knowing that this is normal behavior puts me at ease, and I agree that a pillow may just distract her at this point. I certainly don't want to risk anything happening to her. As long as she's safe and doesn't wake up crying..."if it ain't broke, don't fix it," right? I don't think she's ready for a toddler bed yet. I would be worried about her falling or getting caught in the side rails....so much for us mommies to worry about. You all have put me at ease. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

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A.N.

answers from Jacksonville on

I think she is fine. My daughter moves with or without a pillow. If you feel she might just want something of comfort around, you might try a teddy bear. My daughter has one and loves it.

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S.M.

answers from Miami on

Hi, J.. It's perfectly normal for babies that age to move around in their sleep. It doesn't necessarily mean she's uncomfortable. A pillow probably won't make any difference, but you can try it. Maybe start out by taking a small blanket or towel and doubling it up under her head to see if a little bit of cushioning makes a difference.

Peace,
Syl

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K.S.

answers from Daytona Beach on

Hi, J..

I have a 3 year old daughter, and a son who turns 1 next month. I was blessed with both being great night sleepers, and can tell you that both of my kids change their positions frequently through the night. My daughter still does to this day. If position changing was related to not sleeping well, then I would have two very crabby kids, which luckily has not been the case.

Also, I honestly can not remember when we gave our daughter a pillow...but to this day, she still does not prefer one. We did start her out with a travel size pillow, which now goes to school with her for nap time. Also, my son sleeps with a stuffed gator that is about as long as he is...and petting it seems to soothe him. Hope this helps...

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S.S.

answers from Daytona Beach on

why don't you try a travel size kids pillow or just a flat regular size pillow. if she's moving that much it isn't dangerous to have one in there.

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T.B.

answers from Jacksonville on

Babies move around alot. They never stay in one play. Unless she is waking at night for no reason(sick,disruptive schedule,etc) I don't think there is a problem. I think putting in a pillow will disturb her more. Maybe she is ready for a big bed. Both mine were movers, they didn't have anything in their crib until about 12 months. I also never used a blanket because they just got tangled and woke up. I dressed them very warm in the winter. My 4 yr. old still kicks the covers off, so I dress her warm at night. I did not use a pillow til they were in a twin bed.

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

If she is just moving around (but not waking up), then why "rock the boat"? Some people (kids are little people) move more in their sleep than others. My son is all over the bed, and always has been. If he crawled in the bed with us I would get no sleep b/c his feet were everywhere. My daughter, moves around some, but not nearly as much. As a child, and still now, I can slip out of bed in the morning without the covers even looking like someone had slept there. People are just different. She might be a mover.

As long as she isn't waking up, then I wouldn't worry about it. If, however, she is waking during all her moving around, then perhaps she might be ready for a very small, not thick, pillow. Or maybe she is bumping her feet on the sides of the crib and it's disturbing her, in which case, I would think about moving her out of the crib.
But, if she is sleeping through it all, I say you should turn off the video at night and get some sleep yourself. :))

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M.F.

answers from Jacksonville on

My daughter got a pillow at after her 1 year check up. I talked to our pediatrician about it. At this age, they are able to move things and remove themselves from blankets etc. This is why you don't want younger babies to have blankets & pillows. My daughter is now 2 and loves her pillow! On the occasion she wakes up in the night & comes to our room she never leaves her pillow behind. We use a travel pillow and got a really cute pillow case for it.

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B.K.

answers from Tallahassee on

Maybe she is too hot? That makes my daughter move around a lot to try to get the covers off.

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T.B.

answers from Miami on

J., babies under two shouldn't have a pillow. NO pillows in the crib. Once she's in a regular bed, a pillow is OK. Some babies move around a lot in their sleep but it doesn't necessarily mean they are uncomfortable or not sleeping well. As long as she isn't waking up and actually crying, leave her alone...she'll cry for you if she is uncomfortable. Stop watching the monitor and enjoy your sleep.

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D.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

My son is 2 1/2 and he has been out of the crib for about a year now. We just now let him sleep with a pillow. Even though he asks for one, he is NEVER on it in the middle of the night. I've never, and never will put a pillow in the crib because I have a personal friend who's child died of SIDS at a young age with a pillow and a child in my home town died of SUDS with a pillow at 24 months.

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F.R.

answers from Pensacola on

the easy answer is to just try it out during a naptime and see how she likes it. I just got my youngest his first pillow. It's a travel sized pillow so it's small and squishes down really well. He'll be two this month. Just about all of my 4 have had their own pillow by their 2nd birthday. This is the first time I've bought the travel sized one. I usually just bought the flattest regular pillow I could find. but we're loving this small one. I would definitely say don't go with the feather kind. So many people are allergic.
Try one out, see if she likes it. If it works, leave it in, if not take it out.

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A.G.

answers from Mayaguez on

She's not complaining. Adding a pillow would only add to your worries. Some children move around a lot. Others don't. Sleeping with my grandaughter is like going to bed with Jackie Chan and waking up with Bruce Willis, no kidding. SHE sleeps, nobody around her does. :)

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T.I.

answers from Tallahassee on

I believe that 19 months is definfitely old enough to safely have a pillow to sleep on, and she may be more comfortable sleeping on one. However, my little girl is 3 1/2 years old and still does not sleep all night in one position. She sleeps on a toddler bed, but she's at the head of the bed, then the foot of the bed, then sometimes she is laying straight across the middle with her arms and legs hanging over. Her brother is almost 5 years old, and his bed is right up against the wall. Sometimes I go in to find him sitting upright but leaning against the wall.....sound asleep!

So, if you want to try the pillow, go ahead, but know that while she may be more comfortable, it will not necessarily stop the constant "flopping" around at night.

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M.H.

answers from Orlando on

she is old enough for a pillow. they turn around a lot at night though. as long as she is not waking up and waking up you she is fine.

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Y.F.

answers from Orlando on

I would never put a pillow. I have 2 kids. 1 7 and the other 18 months. I did not give my son a pillow till we put him in a toddler bed. I dont recommend pillows. They can smother and sufficate. Your baby moving around does not mean she is not getting enough rest. Babies move around alot. My little one does to. I can see her through our video cam. Believe me. Get your rest and thank God she is finally sleeping through the night.

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M.H.

answers from Gainesville on

I say put away the video monitor and relax a little. Sure, give her a pillow if you think it would offer her some comfort, but it is very common for toddlers move around and reposition a lot when they sleep.

BTW: My son will be two at the end of the month and still does not sleep with a pillow. I guess I just haven't seen the need for it yet. He is still in the crib, and does move around a lot in his sleep, but I don't know if a pillow would change that or not.

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I.K.

answers from Boca Raton on

No pillow no pillow no pillow please

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