Are you still using pillows for your baby? Be careful of causing disaster

In many places in my country, there is a custom of giving tiger head pillows to full-month babies, which symbolizes good health and good fortune and protects the baby from disaster. Although this meaning is beautiful, your baby\’s pillow is not something you can just use if you want. 1. Characteristics of baby’s cervical spine development: Baby’s cervical spine develops differently from adult spinal curvature. A newborn baby has no neck curvature yet, the cervical spine is \”straight\”, and the head and body are at the same level. When the baby starts to raise his head around 3 months old, the lordosis of the cervical spine begins to gradually form. It wasn\’t until I was 4 years old that my spine started to curve a little. Therefore, before neck curvature occurs, whether the baby is lying flat or on his side, the head and body are on the same level. At this time, the baby does not need a pillow at all, and it will feel uncomfortable to use a pillow. 2. How old can a baby use a pillow? The main function of the pillow is to support the lordotic cervical vertebrae and relax the neck muscles to achieve comfort. 3 months ago, the baby did not have neck curvature, so he did not need a pillow at all. Some people in China say that babies can start using pillows after 3 months. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics states that in order to avoid the occurrence of \”Sudden Infant Death Syndrome\” and suffocation, babies under 1 year old should not use pillows. Therefore, for safety reasons, we recommend that it is not too late to use pillows for babies after 1 year old. Even babies over 1 year old cannot use adult pillows. They need to choose a suitable pillow according to the development of the baby\’s physiological curvature of the cervical spine. Note that the optimal height of the pillow is 3-4 cm and should not exceed 5 cm. Moreover, the pillow also needs to be gradually adjusted according to the age of the baby. If the baby usually likes to rest its head on a stuffed toy, or will consciously lie on the parent\’s pillow to sleep, it means that it is time to add a pillow to the baby. 3. Unsuitable pillows pose safety risks • Before using the pillow, in order to prevent the baby from sweating and being uncomfortable, you can use a folded cotton towel to place it on the baby\’s head and neck instead of a pillow, but note that the thickness of the towel should be within 1cm. If the baby is cushioned too high, it will cause the neck to bend, which will not only affect breathing and swallowing, but may even cause difficulty in breathing. • The American Academy of Pediatrics once said regarding the prevention of \”sudden infant death syndrome risk\” that baby products, whether pillows, scarves, toys or mattresses, should not choose materials that are too soft. Because these too soft materials may cause the baby\’s face to sink deeply into them, causing a suffocation risk. • When the baby drinks milk, it is easy for the baby to inhale some air into the stomach. If the baby uses a pillow, it may cause the baby to overflow the milk. Spilled milk can easily choke the baby\’s respiratory tract. In severe cases, it may even cause aspiration pneumonia in the baby. 4. How to choose a pillow for your baby? (1) The height is suitable for the baby. When choosing a pillow, you must first pay attention to the height and must adapt to the baby\’s neck curvature. That is to say, when the baby rests on the pillow, the head and body need to be at the same level. Moreover, the height of the pillow is gradually adjusted according to the baby\’s age and physical development. It can be adjusted from the initial 3cm to 6~9cm. Only when the cervical spine is supported can the neck muscles relax and have a goodsleep quality. TIPS: Pillows that are too high or too low will have a certain degree of adverse effects on the baby\’s physical development. Pillows that are too high will cause the baby\’s neck to bend excessively, causing difficulty in breathing. Long-term use will also cause the baby to have a hunchback, sloping shoulders, etc. Condition. A pillow that is too low cannot effectively support the baby\’s cervical vertebrae, causing the head to tilt excessively and preventing the cervical muscles from having an effective rest. This is also harmful to health in the long run. (2) Consistent width: The width of the pillow needs to be consistent with the length of the baby\’s head; the length of the pillow needs to be longer than the width of the baby\’s shoulders to prevent the baby from slipping off the pillow when turning sideways. (3) Medium soft and hard. To choose a pillow with moderate hardness and softness, the first condition is to observe the natural fit between the baby\’s head and the pillow. It is best for the baby\’s head to sink about 3cm into the pillow. TIPS: A pillow that is too soft may cause the baby to get stuck in it and cause suffocation; a pillow that is too hard may easily deform the baby’s skull, causing the baby to have a tilted head, big or small face, etc. (4) The pillowcases and pillow covers of pure cotton baby pillows are best made of pure cotton, which is not only skin-friendly and comfortable, but also has a good sweat-absorbing effect. (5) Filling material For the filling material of baby pillows, it is recommended to choose materials with good breathability, good absorbability, moderate hardness, lightness and easy cleaning. At the same time, safety is also one of the conditions that needs to be considered. Materials that have no irritating odor, are non-toxic and harmless, and are hypoallergenic must also be taken into consideration. It is recommended to choose pillow cores made of pure cotton, kapok, memory foam and other materials. 5. Questions about sleeping (1) What sleeping position is recommended for babies under 1 year old? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that healthy babies sleep on their backs (lying flat on their backs) as much as possible because this sleeping position is the safest for babies and can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Some people may worry about flat heads when sleeping on their backs. Under normal circumstances, the asymmetry of the baby\’s head shape can recover on its own as the baby grows, and the flat head will not continue until adolescence. (2) The baby turns over on his own after falling asleep. Do I need to turn him over at this time? Sleeping on your back can not only reduce the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), but also avoid parotid gland squeezing and saliva outflow, so when circumstances permit, try to turn your baby over to sleep on his back! However, if the baby can still flexibly turn from prone to supine even after turning the baby over to sleep, then allow the baby to choose the most comfortable position! Moreover, most babies who can lay down on their own after falling asleep are mostly older than 6 months, so the risk of developing SIDS is very small. (3) Are there any health pillows on the market to choose from? The shaped pillows on the market that claim to have miraculous effects of \”preventing and correcting baby\’s head tilt\” are also called anti-side sleeping pillows. In fact, they have no effect on baby\’s head tilt. Moreover, it is possible to miss the golden time for correction due to use. Therefore, it is not recommended to choose! (4) If the baby has a head tilt, what experiences can help correct it? In normal times, Ma Ma can often change the position of the baby\’s head, take the baby to play on his stomach, tease the baby to turn his head more, etc. This can not only exercise the baby\’s neck, shoulder, and back muscles and promote the development of the baby\’s motor ability. There can still beIt can effectively prevent continuous pressure on a certain part of the baby\’s head, help restore the baby\’s head shape, and improve the baby\’s \”big or small face\” problem. Pillows are likely to become a breeding ground for bacteria due to baby\’s sweating, milk overflow, saliva, dandruff, etc. Therefore, it is best to choose two pillows, replace them in time, wash them, and air or dry them to prevent your baby from developing allergies or infections due to pillows. Your baby\’s belongings must be as detailed as possible and must not be muddle-headed. Again, the safety and health of your baby is no small matter!