Before looking over the ten newborn baby pillows we’ve listed below, keep these tips and tricks in mind. They will help you find the best baby pillow for a one year old and your family.
Keeping Your Baby Safe
The most important thing for all parent’s is to keep their baby safe. We all want to do what’s right for our child and keeping them safe is a great way to start. You may have heard about the controversy surrounding pillows for the newborn baby and young children in general.
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ safe sleep guidelines recommend not introducing a pillow to your baby in their crib until they are at least one year old. Some even claim that you should wait until your child is two, just to be safe. We, of course, are not recommending that you go against the guidelines. However, there are instances where a pillow may be necessary or useful, such as for neck support, head support, or to treat flat head syndrome.
In order to keep your baby safe while using a pillow, make sure that they are supervised if under one year old. Don’t put your child to bed in their crib with a pillow and then leave the room. The risk of SIDS is too high. But, in nursing situations or as a travel pillow, some products will be safe with supervision.
Additionally, try to find pillows that are either flat or conform to your baby’s body. These reduce the risk of suffocation. The plush pillows that adults use are not appropriate for babies. So, you should always choose a product that is specifically designed for babies.
Knowing When to Use a Baby Pillow
As mentioned above, most pediatricians and the CDC recommend not introducing a pillow to a crib until your baby is one year old. You may even want to wait until they are two. This ensures that they have the motor skills to flip themselves over and pull off anything that may be a suffocation risk.
However, there are instances when you may need to use a baby pillow. If you are traveling a travel pillow may be appropriate for neck support. Also, newborn babies may need a boppy pillow or a anti flat head pillow in order to support them correctly as they grow. If you do not know whether or not to use a baby pillow, discuss your concerns with your pediatrician before investing in a product.
Looking for a Baby Pillow
If you’ve talked with your pediatrician and decided to purchase a baby pillow for specific situations, then looking for the features below will help you choose the best pillow for your situation.
Washable
Purchasing a pillow that comes with a washable pillowcase—and perhaps is completely washable—is extremely important. Babies and toddlers are messy. From throw-up and bathroom accidents to food messes, your pillow will get dirty.
The products will come with a washable outer fabric or pillowcase. If should be easy to slip the pillowcase off of the pillow. Also, washing the pillowcase should get it clean. Cotton is a great and washable fabric for baby pillows.
Hypoallergenic
Another feature to look for in a pillow for babies is that the materials are hypoallergenic. You may also want to find a pillow that is organic. We have provided our top choice for an organic baby pillow below. But, at the very least a hypoallergenic pillow is ideal.
Hypoallergenic and organic pillows are important for your baby’s health because they cut down on the allergens that your child is exposed to in the pillow. You don’t want your baby ingesting chemicals and other allergens, so why would you want them to lay on a pillow full of chemicals? You don’t want this, so find a hypoallergenic or organic pillow to purchase for your baby. You won’t regret it.
Firm and Conforming
The best pillows for your baby’s body are firm and conforming. The firmer the pillow, the better. This cuts down on the risk of suffocation no matter where your baby uses the pillow.
In addition to being firm, the pillow should also conform to your baby’s body. This feature is extremely important in pillows that treat or prevent flat head syndrome. Flat head syndrome or plagiocephaly is a very treatable condition where you baby’s soft skull develops a flat head because of laying too much on their back.
Anti flat head pillows help to prevent this condition. They will also treat it—as will specially designed helmets—if your baby is diagnosed with plagiocephaly. Thus, pillows that conform to your baby’s head and body will keep the pressure of their skull, which is a great way to prevent flat head syndrome and keep your baby more comfortable.
Soft and Durable
Just because you need to purchase a firm pillow for your baby does not mean that it should be scratchy or uncomfortable. Soft fabrics like cotton should be used on the pillow. In fact, although some synthetic fabrics are quite soft, cotton is ideal because it is durable and cleans up easily.
This brings us to another feature that your baby pillow should have: durability. Any pillow you purchase will be used a lot. And, as already mentioned, baby’s and toddlers are messy. You want a high-quality pillow that will withstand the abuse and use it’s about to receive. Ideally the pillow you choose will be with you until your baby is ready to graduate up to larger pillows when they are older.
10 Best Baby Pillow on the Market Review
Now that you know what to look for in a baby pillow, that’s get to the reviews. Below we’ve listed our top picks for different types of baby pillows. You will notice that baby pillows for plagiocephaly get the most products, and that’s because this type of pillow is the most common and essential for your baby’s health. The other categories each get one product—our top pick.
Baby Pillows for Flat Head Syndrome Or Plagiocephaly
1 OCCObaby Baby Head Shaping Memory Foam Pillow
OCCObaby’s Baby Head Shaping Memory Foam Pillow is our top pick for a plagiocephaly pillow. Its pillowcase is made form bamboo and the pillow has a cotton cover. The dual pillow covering protects the memory foam internals of the pillow from messes and wear. And, the bamboo and cotton materials are very washable and soft on your baby’s skin.
The shape of the OCCObaby Baby Head Shaping Memory Foam Pillow keeps your baby’s head round as they sleep on their back. The internals of the pillow are made from vented memory foam. The vented nature of the memory foam means that it will stay cool throughout the night. The memory foam also ensures that the pillow is flat enough to keep your baby safe as they sleep. Finally, all of the materials in the OCCObaby pillow are hypoallergenic. There are no BPS, Phthalates, formaldehyde, or PCDEs used, which means that the product is safe for newborns.
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2 Cherish Baby Care Flat Head Baby Pillow
Cherish has designed their Baby Care Flat Head Baby Pillow to combat flat head syndrome from the first days of your baby’s life. This product is hypoallergenic and has a machine washable pillowcase and inner protective cover. Like the OCCObaby product, the Cherish Baby Care Flat Head Baby Pillow includes multiple cleanable layers that protect the pillow from messes.
Cherish also provides a 100% satisfaction 60-day money back guarantee with their Baby Care Flat Head Baby Pillow. Additionally, all of their products are backed by the Textile Safety Certification—Oekotex Class 100 Safe for Babies. That certification and guarantee plus the hypoallergenic nature of the pillow protect your purchase. You can rest assured that you’re putting the best and most safe baby pillow under your child’s head. You can even move this pillow anywhere you need it in its cute carrying case.
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3 W WelLifes Baby Pillow for Newborn
Our final pick for the top three baby pillow for plagiocephaly is the W WelLifes Baby Pillow for Newborns. This pillow uses organic cotton as its cover, which is soft, durable, and washable. You can adjust the height of the Baby Pillow for Newborns, which means you can make it as plush or flat as you need. The back of the pillow is made of 3D Cool Air net fabric. This keeps the air flowing through the pillow and prevents mold and bacteria growth.
W WelLifes Baby Pillow for Newborns comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If this pillow is not working for you, the company will refund your money with no questions asked. But, you will likely not have to take advantage of that great guarantee. Indeed, the concaves center of the pillow helps prevent plagiocephaly and keeps your baby’s head in place as they lay on their back. That feature plus the hypoallergenic materials ensure that your baby stays safe and happy while using this pillow.
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Best Baby Crib Pillow
4 Sable Baby Toddler Pillow for Sleeping
Finding a good crib pillow for your baby is a hard task. This is the type of pillow that can be so dangerous for babies. So, you want to make sure that you find a pillow that will ensure your baby stays safe as they sleep. Our choice for the pillow that does this is the Sable Baby Toddler Pillow for Sleeping. As the name suggests, this pillow can be used by both toddlers and babies, so you child can grow up with the same pillow.
Other pluses of the Baby Toddler Pillow for Sleeping by Sable are the shape that retains the curvature of your baby’s head, which prevents flat head syndrome. Also, the eco-friendly bio-based DuPont Sorona fiber is comfortable and will keep your baby warm in the winter. It also dries quickly and is hypoallergenic, which protects your baby from health problems.
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Best Baby Boppy Pillow
5 Boppy Original Newborn Lounger
Boppy has spent the last thirty years making great baby products. It can be hard to choose their best pillow. However, our choice has to be the Original Newborn Lounger by Boppy. This baby body pillow has a nest design. This means that it supports your entire baby’s body, not just their head.
You can use the Boppy Original Newborn Lounger anywhere in your home. It even comes with a handy handle on the top. It keeps your baby at a gentle angle for comfort and safety. The entire pillow is also machine washable. Just make sure to only use the Boppy Original Newborn Lounger when your baby is awake. It is not safe as a sleeping device.
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Best Baby Car Pillow
6 Boppy Noggin Nest Head Support
Boppy is such a good and well-respected baby pillow brand, that is no surprise they have another product on our list today. The Boppy Noggin Nest Head Support is very different than the Original Newborn Lounger listed above. The Noggin Nest Head Support is a great baby car pillow. It can be attached to any three or five point harness system.
The Boppy Noggin Nest Head Support pillow is extremely versatile as well. It can be used in the car, a stroller, bouncer, or even a swing. This swing is easy to wash and durable. Plus, the head cradle supports your newborn’s head and neck just right. No matter where you go, your baby can go in comfort and safety with the Noggin Nest Head Support pillow.
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Best Baby Floor Pillow
7 Leachco Podster Sling-Style Infant Lounger
If you want to put your baby on the floor—not for tummy time but for interaction time—without having to hold them, then you need the Leachco Podster Sling-Style Infant Lounger. This is another nest-shaped floor pillow for your infant. It has a sling-style seat, which keeps your baby at a comfortable angle and supports all parts of their body.
What’s great about the Leachco Podster Sling-Style Infant Lounger is that it grows with your baby. You can adjust the center to grow with your baby and it will even provide sit-up support. Plus, the cover is removable and washable, which is great help in cleaning up any baby messes.
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Best Baby Sitting Pillow
8 Infantino Prop-A-Pillar Tummy Time & Seated Support
Teaching your baby to sit up and develop their head and neck muscles is extremely important. The Infantino Prop-A-Pillar Tummy Time & Seated Support pillow is a great aid in this endeavor. It can be used from the time your baby is an infant. Just prop the baby on the pillows, and they will be ready for tummy time.
Once your baby has control of their head and neck, it is time to learn to sit up. You can reposition the pillows to make this product a sitting pillow. Also, the Prop-A-Pillar Tummy Time & Seated Support comes with two detachable and repositionable toys. Additionally, the caterpillar design is cute and functionable.
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Best Baby Travel Pillow
9 Eric Carle Kid’s Neck Pillow
If you want another caterpillar shaped pillow for travelling, then try the Eric Carle Kid’s Neck Pillow. This travel pillow is ideal for children of any age. The design is based on the world of Eric Carle. Therefore, the caterpillar will be recognizable to older toddlers and children. The size is universal for all children over one year old.
This travel pillow is designed for neck support above all things. It is made from polyester, which is very comfortable on kid’s necks. The fabric on the pillow is cleaned easily. And, it is small enough to be used anywhere. Finally, the Eric Carle Kid’s Neck Pillow comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Therefore, your purchase is protected.
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Best Organic Baby Pillow
10 John N Tree Organic Cotton Baby Protective Pillow
Some of the products on this list of the top baby pillows are also 100% organic. However, our choice for the best organic baby pillow is the John N Tree Organic Cotton Baby Protective Pillow. This product comes in two whimsical animal designs: baby elephant and cloud lamb.
The materials for the entire pillow are eco-friendly natural organic cotton. The pillow is also completely dye free. The natural color on the pillow will fit any décor and is gender-neutral. The curved spot on the Organic Cotton Baby Protective Pillow is designed to support your baby’s head and prevent flat head syndrome. Plus, the entire pillow is machine washable and comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
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Conclusion
Although newborn baby pillows are not recommended by pediatricians, there are some instances where you need the best baby pillow you can find. Plus, as your baby becomes a toddler, you will also need to purchase a good pillow. That is why we have written this review article, to help you find a great baby pillow or every situation.
After reading this article you should have a good idea of what to look for in your next pillow purchase. Also, we’ve provided a top ten list of baby pillows for every situation. With all of this information, you should have no trouble shopping for and purchasing the right pillow for your baby and family.