The birth of a new baby is a very exciting time in the life of any parent. The first born can bring with it special anticipation. However, if this is your first time having a child, there may be things you do not know about yet. The responsibilities that come with having a baby are numerous. The comfort of the child is one of your biggest priorities. This is because when the child is comfortable, he or she is able to sleep and relax, and when the baby can sleep and relax, you can, too! One often overlooked item that can increase the comfort of your child is a baby pillow.
You may be thinking that your child is too young for a baby pillow, and you are right. This could be the case, because most physicians ONLY recommend them for kids over the age of two. However, there are times when a baby pillow could come in handy before this time, and certainly after. Coughing can be lessened with the head propped up on a pillow if a child has a respiratory infection or cold. Also, in the case of an ear ache, relief can be found if a baby lies on his or her side, head propped up on a pillow. Of course, you will want to consult a physician in both of these cases to be sure that your child will benefit from the baby pillow in such scenarios.
Another use for the baby pillow is in nursing. In this case, it can be a semi circular pillow that will cradle the head of a small child so that your hands are free to hold the body of the baby. If you use these nursing pillows for the neck of your child AND yourself, you can both be considerably more comfortable. In many cases, a baby pillow for nursing has helped children fall asleep.
If you are interested in having a baby pillow in the crib of your child as well as around his or her neck while nursing, keep reading. There are a few important guidelines to go by in selecting the correct pillow for your child. The first guideline is that you want a small pillow. If you select a normal sized pillow, it will be too large and could suffocate the child. The second guideline is to pick something without any decorations such as beading or fringe. This is so that the baby does not choke on small pieces that he or should could pull off the baby pillow. Third, it is best to find a pillow that is made of a natural material, like cotton or silk. Last, be sure that you purchase a pillow without feather stuffing, which would lead to an allergic reaction. So, the best pillow is small, made with natural materials, and has no sewn on embellishments. With these tips, you can find a pillow that puts both you and your child at ease.