Don't Carelessly Give Pillows to Babies, Let's Know the Dangers

Family

For children and adults, sleeping using a pillow is a common thing to do. But for babies, pillows are not always needed lol, especially for newborns. Come on, see the full explanation.

Of course, many parents have prepared pillows for their newborns. But be careful, don't be in a hurry to give a pillow to the baby, especially if its use is aimed at perfecting the shape of the head.

The reason is, the use of pillows in infants under the age of one year is at risk of endangering their lives.

Pillows and Sudden Death Syndrome in Babies

Basically, newborns don't need a pillow to sleep. The use of pillows in newborns or under the age of one year will actually increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

This is because the use of pillows can cover the baby's mouth and nose when he sleeps, so it becomes difficult for him to breathe.

Apart from being associated with SIDS, there are also other dangers of using a pillow in infants, namely:

  • The pillow can lock the baby's head position for a long time

    Because the baby is still weak, he cannot change the position of his head. This causes the area of ​​​​the baby's head covered by the pillow to be prone to overheating.

  • Ithe pillow can make baby choke

    The contents of the pillow that come out, even if only in small amounts, have the potential to enter the baby's mouth or nose and make him choke.

  • Baby chokes on his own vomit

    If you use a U-shaped pillow, your baby will have a hard time turning his head or turning his head to one side when he spits up or throws up. This condition is at risk of making the baby choke on his own vomit.

It's Not Too Early To Give Pillow for Baby

So that your little one doesn't get SIDS, it's best if Mom and Dad don't give him a pillow when he sleeps. A very young baby can't do anything yet, so if a pillow covers his face, he can't help himself. Mothers and Fathers can give pillows to their little ones after they are over 1 year old.

In addition to not giving him a pillow, there are several things that should be considered when putting the baby to sleep, namely:

  • Put the baby in a supine position and place him on a mattress that has a flat surface.
  • Avoid giving the baby clothes and blankets that are too thick.
  • Put the baby to sleep in a special crib. Babies are not advised to sleep with other people, be it with siblings or parents.
  • Do not put various objects, such as blankets, dolls, and toys, in the crib.
  • Do not put your baby to sleep on a waterbed, air mattress or sofa.
  • Do not swaddle the baby too tightly. Give him a little space so he can still move and breathe freely.
  • Keep the baby away from exposure to cigarette smoke.

Actually, babies under one year old don't need a pillow to make them comfortable or to help their heads become perfectly round. Therefore, there is no need to force the use of a pillow for the baby.