You may have heard about not putting anything in the crib, like blankets and plush toys, since it increases the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death). But as the baby starts to grow and become active, when can you start using blankets and pillows on the baby?
According to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), parents can safely start using pillows for children who are 1½ years old, about the same age at which parents can safely move children out of the crib and into a bed. Text
Consistent with above guideline, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends not putting any soft objects (blankets, pillows, or plush toys) until the baby is at least 12 months old. At around 12 months, the risk of suffocation goes down because most 12-month-olds are able to roll over and have the dexterity to move blankets away from their face. Previous guidelines suggested soft objects could be used after 4 months, but the new guidelines issued in Oct 2016 extend the restriction to a year, because about 10% of SIDS cases occur after the fourth month.
So based on above, we can safely say that after about 18 months (1½ years old), we can start giving blankets and pillows to our babies. As we know, the main reason for not allowing blankets and pillows are due to the risk of SID (Sudden Infant Death).
When introducing a pillow, you want to give one that’s small (the size of an airline pillow) and firm. Feather pillows are not recommended since they are too soft, and can set allergies in small children and can also smother a child if the head sinks into it while sleeping.
And what if you’ve got an active baby that won’t keep the blanket on to keep them warm? Then you would still need to use a wearable blanket to keep them warm throughout the night. Tealbee Dreamsuit and Dreamsies are designed for early walkers and toddlers who would need wearable blankets until they learn to put blankets on them or keep the blankets on.
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