Patient's question:
Can babies sleep with pillows?Doctor's answer:
Newborn babies have a straight spine. When lying flat, their back and back of the head are on the same plane, and their neck and back muscles are naturally relaxed. When lying on their side, their head and body are also on the same plane. If a pillow is used too high, it can easily cause the neck to bend, and in some cases, it may even lead to breathing difficulties, affecting normal growth and development. Therefore, newborns do not need pillows. However, to prevent spitting up, their upper body can be slightly elevated when necessary.At around 3 months of age, babies begin to learn to lift their heads, and the cervical segment of their spine starts to develop a forward physiological curve. By 6 months, babies start to learn to sit, and the thoracic segment of their spine begins to develop a backward physiological curve, while their shoulders also develop and widen. If a pillow is not used at this stage, the lower head position may result in increased blood flow to the brain compared to when a pillow is used, potentially affecting the baby's ability to fall asleep. Therefore, babies around 3 months of age should start using pillows.
The height of a baby's pillow should be moderate, slightly longer than the baby's shoulder width, and the width should be equal to the length of the head. The ideal height is 3 to 4 centimeters, and it can be gradually adjusted as the baby grows. The pillowcase should be made of soft white or light-colored cotton fabric. The pillow stuffing should be soft, lightweight, breathable, and moisture-absorbent, with a moderate firmness. Materials such as rice hulls, millet husks, down, or cotton can be used. Some traditional fillings include tea leaves, green bean shells, silkworm excrement, bamboo fungus, chrysanthemums, or papaya, but foam plastic, acrylic, or silk cotton should not be used as fillings.
Infants have a high metabolism and tend to sweat a lot on their heads, making it easy for their pillows to get damp when sleeping. Sweat and scalp flakes can easily trap pathogens, dust mites, and other allergens on the pillow surface, not only causing an unpleasant odor but also potentially triggering bronchial asthma or skin infections. Therefore, the pillowcases and pillow fillings should be washed and dried frequently.