Can my 17 month old sleep with a pillow and blanket?

[SaraEmily]

We're in the process of making the transition to a toddler bed. Right now she sleeps in her bed during the day and I let her have a pillow and blanket since I can check on her. At night she's still in bed with me.

I've never given her a pillow at night but now that she's had one during the day she wants to share mine at night and won't sleep without one anymore. So is it okay to let her sleep with a flattened pillow overnight at this age? I thought surely by now it would be fine but when I googled it, according to Babycenter, it's dangerous for children under 2 due to suffocation risk. Could a toddler this age really suffocate on a pillow? I thought she'd wake up if she wasn't getting oxygen.

 

[moomin_troll]

My boys have from a younger age than this, so I'd say yes

 

[Button#]

I was told from one by my HV and Ashley had had his since his first birthday.

 

[Incubus]

Keelans had his pillow for naps and night time for a couple of months now but still sleeps in a sleeping bag.

 

[YoshiPikachu]

Hannah has had one since she was a year old.

 

[InHisHands]

It is recommended to wait till 2 before you introduce a pillow. A breatheable blanket on the other hand is okay at this age.

With that said, you have to do what you feel is best for your child. If your gut says wait, then wait... if you think it will be okay then go for it. Mommy knows best.

 

[the why bird]

I always heard from one.

If you are concerned but she really wants one, you can get firm, breathable memory foam pillows specially for toddlers. Might be a good compromise.

 

[Mrs HM]

We used a first cot bed type pillow and duvet from age one. That's the guideline age in the UK. We now use a regular duvet and pillow and it's been fine.

 

[Reidfidleir]

Thorrin has slept with a blanket over him since almost day one. We haven't introduced a pillow yet though

 

[blake12336]

My lo has been in a toddler bed with a duvet and pillow from his first birthday so I'd say yes

 

[wifey29]

Yep, my lo has had a toddler pillow and duvet since 17 months. He has slept so much better since we made the switch from grobags. He loves his bed and really snuggles in which is very sweet.

 

[RachA]

Mine have used duvets from 6 months old. Pillows I introduced later-post 2 years for both of them but that was more due to the fact that I didn't see the point in introducing one unless they asked.
I would of thought that if you get a breathable one you'd be ok-mine both have natural feather pillows.

 

[Gc85]

My lo's been using this for a few months now https://www.clevamama.com/index.php/us/products/bedtime/clevafoam-toddler-pillow it's lovely, nice and slim but super comfy

We are just in the process of switching from grobags to a toddler duvet ATM but she keeps wriggling out

 

[SarahBear]

If your child has no health problems that could affect her ability to wake or maneuver, it is not a problem. Large blankets can be a problem longer than pillows can be. I'm not sure what the best guidelines are there.

 

[staralfur]

My LO had a blanket from about 10 months when she first started sleeping in her crib. We gave her a pillow around 15 months though she didn't really care about using it until a few months ago.

 

[BigAl]

A pillow really helped my lo settle in his cot at 17m. It's a pretty flat toddler one, but he wouldn't sleep without it, more to cuddle tbh.
Think guidelines in UK are from 12m.

 

[susannah14]

Yes, my son is sleeping with a small, flat, firm pillow. I didn't plan on it or think too much about it...it's the pillow I use to nurse him so just flipped it into his crib one day for his nap and he was like OH YES and settled right down on it. He was probably around 17 months. Now I let him have it all the time. He uses it every night. I don't see how he could suffocate on it...it's not puffy, so hardly any different than his crib mattress. TBH I'd be more worried about a blanket than a firm pillow. My son still sleeps in a sleep sack and he probably will until he's 2.

 

[detterose]

My LO never sleeps in the one spot, so he is still in a sleeping bag. I have tried giving him a blanket and within 10 minutes, it's already off him. So I have him in the sleeping bag to make sure he doesn't get too cool through the night. I haven't bothered with a pillow yet for the same reason, moves too much.

 

[bubblychick]

We gave DS a pillow and he wasn't interested, preferred to lie over it than put his head on it, he's still in a grobag because he wriggles a lot and a blanket is kicked off in minutes (he's done this since we brought him home from hospital) so unless he asks for one or moves into a bed he's in his sleeping bag.

Guidelines here say pillows and duvets are fine from one though

 

[Shadowy Lady]

honestly I think she will be fine. Mine is still in a sleep sack as I don't trust she will stay under a blanket and she's never had a pillow so she's not used to it.