As adult, we spend a third of our lives sleeping. We know that children sleep more. Imagine all that time spent in a bad position on an unsuitable pillow! Here is some information to remedy the situation and facilitate the introduction of the pillow with children.
The recommendations are varied and mixed for this purpose. For example, the use of pillows is more common in newborns up to 3 months old in Asia. This practice is much less common here because Western studies have associated their use with a risk of sudden infant death syndrome. In newborns, big soft pillows indeed present a choking hazard. This same study hypothesizes that a small donut-shaped pillow could prevent the child from rolling on the sides and thus reduce the risk of suffocation. This form of head support could also have an impact on prevention of positional plagiocephaly (flattening of the child’s skull) but no valid scientific evidence confirms these allegations for now. All of these considerations lead to the conclusion that 2 years old seems to be the appropriate age for a child to start using a pillow. Many clinicians and parents report that at this age, many children begin to use blankets or stuffed animals as « pillows » of their own; this could be interpreted as a sign that they are ready for their introduction.
The purpose of the pillow is to keep an optimal position of the head relative to the rest of the body. The first pillow tends to be thin to respect the constitution of the child. Normally, it should match the cervical curve when lying on the back and the space between the head and shoulders in the lateral position. The prone position is not recommended as it places the head and neck in a position of rotation, causing muscle tension as well as asymmetry and postural stress on the spine. As children tend to move a lot at night, a thin pillow allows the best compromise: a good support in the right postures and limited impacts in a more restless sleep. There may be a period of adjustment necessary before the child enjoys a full night’s sleep on their pillow.
What material to choose?
In adults, polyester, latex or « orthopedic » pillows are associated with less stiffness, neck pain, back pain, and headaches. They also seem to have a longer life than regular foam or feather pillows. These tips also apply for children. In addition, feather is not recommended for infants because it is allergenic and difficult to maintain. It loses its volume overnight which reduces the support for the neck and head. The buckwheat pillow has the great advantage of being able to be thinned or thickened and offers good support. It does not retain heat or moisture. However, it is hardly washable. Foam pillows are a good buy and easy to maintain, but they age faster because the fibers become compressed with time.
So there! You only have to find the model that best suits your child and properly maintain it, and replace it at the appropriate time following their growth.
Dr. Anne-Michèle Bérubé, chiropractor
Member of AQCPP in Cacouna
References:
[1] International Child Care Practices Study: infant sleeping environment
[1] Shape design of an optimal comfortable pillow based on the analytic hierarchy process method
[1] Your Pillow May Not Guarantee a Good Night’s Sleep or Symptom-Free Waking
