How To Make Baby Pillow? Complete Step-by-Step Guide

In just three simple steps, you’ll have a soft, comfortable pillow for your infant. It is possible to convert some pregnancy pillows into baby pillows, but it is still preferable to have dedicated pillows for each of the children. The best aspect is that the infant pillow may be personalized, and the process is simple.

An explanation on the meaning of the term “baby pillow” Keep in mind that, despite the name, it will be quite some time before your infant can sleep comfortably on a pillow. As a result, a baby pillow is a U-shaped breastfeeding pillow.

The Right Age to Start Using a Baby Pillow

At birth, a baby’s body is perfectly formed, thus they don’t need a pillow. However, by the time the infant reaches the third month, he or she has developed enough muscle to hold the head up. The spine begins to curve forward in preparation for the developmental milestone of sitting. The psychological advantage of cushion use at this age is very clear. It prevents the infant from having to struggle to sit up, which keeps them more comfortable.

A baby pillow ought to be at least 3 cm high and should be raised progressively as the baby grows. A baby’s pillow should be as wide as their shoulder and as long as their body. This will make sure the baby is properly supported without putting any stress on the mother’s body.

Advantages of Getting Your Baby a Pillow

Avoiding Flat-head Syndrome

The head is a particularly vulnerable area for a baby. Most of a newborn’s waking hours are spent sleeping in the first few months. It’s natural for parents to fret over how their child’s sleeping posture could affect the development of their child’s skull. Too much time spent with the baby flat on his back can cause the flat-head condition.

Manufacturers of baby pillows often include warnings about flat-head syndrome prevention in their product copy. Parents should exercise extreme caution while selecting a cushion for their child. The baby’s head has to be properly supported with pillows that are the suitable height and form.

Even Temperature Distribution Around the Head

Sometimes it may be several hours before a newborn awakens for a feeding. Singapore’s hot and humid climate makes it difficult to ensure the baby’s comfort. By keeping the baby’s head elevated, excess perspiration on one side, which might cause discomfort, is avoided. Your infant will be more comfortable and sleep longer if the temperature is kept constant throughout the room. Keep in mind that getting enough sleep is essential for a baby’s growth. The baby will be irritable and you will be worn out if you both have to deal with sleep disruptions due to the heat.

Improves Blood Circulation

The first year of a child’s life is a pivotal time for development. Developmental changes in the brain are largely dependent on the availability of blood. A baby pillow ensures adequate movement of blood to the brain and the other developing body organs. It is, however, essential to note the type of pillow you pick is crucial during this period. There are a variety of baby pillows available, but not all of them are ideal. The pillow should not alter the baby’s natural posture, when asleep or awake. It should only make your baby more comfortable, especially when he is exploring his surroundings.

Learn more about our Baby Donut pillow, which can be used from infancy onward to protect against flat-head syndrome.

For optimal sleep, health, and development, your newborn’s mattress and bed should be carefully selected to promote good circulation, maintain a constant and healthy body temperature, and reduce the risk of SIDS. The Babies Products collection from Sofzsleep includes two mattresses for infants: a cot mattress and a playpen mattress. Learn more about them here.

How Do You Make A Baby Pillow?

Step #1. Designing

First, a baby pillow needs to be designed. You should wait until your infant is 18 months old before introducing a baby pillow. Then, a U-shaped cushion is the best option for a nursing mother.

You can use the pattern to cut out the fabric for the baby pillow. Use the provided measurements to cut two U-shaped pieces of cotton cloth. Standard practice making these pillows is to cut the pattern without a seam allowance and then alter the size of the pillowcases to fit.

Step #2. Sewing

Putting these two pieces of fabric together is the second step. To make stitching easier, pin the right sides together from the outset. Once again, ensure that the sides are aligned, and then begin sewing from the top edge all the way around, stopping briefly to turn the item right side out.

Space out your seams by about 5 inches, give or take, and add another half an inch for the seam allowance. Finally, backstitch to reinforce your stitches and make sure the cushion can take stuffing. Notches should be cut close to the stitching along the curved edges, about an inch apart.

Step #3. Stuffing

In order to complete a baby pillow, stuffing it is necessary. Take advantage of the slit you made and flip the cushion over. To create a baby pillow that is both comfortable and free of gaps, it is necessary to press the seams with an iron and to pull the arms back completely. So that it can properly support your head and neck, you should start packing the pillow now.

A typical filling for baby pillows, especially nursing pillows, is polyester fiberfill because it is easy to find, affordable, and washable. Once you’re satisfied with the pillow’s form, pin the opening and sew it securely. Remember that you want to leave no gaps for the nursing pillow where the stuffing can spill during use.

How To Use A Baby Pillow

Nursing and feeding

Polyester fiberfill is commonly used in infant and nursing pillows because it is readily available, inexpensive, and hygienic. Closing the pillow by hand is a simple matter of pinning the opening and sewing it shut once the shape is right. Make sure there are no openings in the breastfeeding pillow that the filling can escape through.

Put your infant carefully on his side in the pillow. Avoiding choking or gastric reflux is easier if your infant is facing you, belly up. This pillow is very handy for bottle feeding.

Put the cushion where your tiny one’s head will rest, whether that’s on your lap or your side. Avert potential discomfort and problems by making sure your baby is lying on an angle, with his head tilted slightly upward. Caretakers should breastfeed with the infant at chest level and the infant’s neck straight, as recommended by experts.

Tummy time

The baby pillow you just constructed will be just as helpful for tummy time as the Boppy pillow was. The term “tummy time” is unfamiliar to me. Introduce your child to this activity to help him develop motor skills and strengthen his neck.

Your infant will spend a lot of time on his tummy in the beginning as he learns to crawl, roll over, and even exert force. The U-shaped baby pillow can be used to keep your baby from flattening out on his tummy. However, keep in mind that you can’t promote this activity until the baby is at least four months old.

Sleeping

Although infants under 18 months of age should not be given a pillow at bedtime, you are welcome to use one for yourself. A U-shaped baby pillow helps encourage correct spinal alignment while you sleep. You can prop it up behind your back to alleviate lower back pain, or use it to prop your head up to ease snoring or acid reflux.

Baby Pillows And Safe Sleep Recommendations

When it comes to baby pillows and the security of your child, the first and foremost concern should be the establishment of a secure sleeping environment.

Since you, as an adult, sleep with a pillow (and probably like to deck your bed out with throw pillows, too), you might feel the need to provide your infant with a pillow to lay their head on.

You may feel the urge to get your baby a pillow because you use one yourself while you sleep and because you undoubtedly prefer to decorate your bed with a variety of pillows.

In order for your infant to get some rest, you need only provide a firm cot mattress and a fitted sheet (and a waterproof mattress pad if you like). Let’s discuss these three necessities for your baby’s room before we go any further.

A Firm Crib Mattress

A firm mattress is best for a baby’s safety when sleeping. But that doesn’t mean compromising on your baby’s comfort.

The Newton Baby Crib Mattress, for instance, is a significant improvement over the rigid, plastic-wrapped options now on the market.

Neither do we employ the usage of glue, latex, springs, or foam. Actually, our infant mattress has been evaluated and verified by an outside organization as meeting the Greenguard Gold Standard for low chemical emissions.

What could be safer than a firm mattress in a baby’s crib? A baby mattress similar to ours in that it is firm but yet allows airflow. Its innovative Wovenaire core is composed of 90% air and 10% food-grade polymer, making it completely permeable to air and eliminating the risk of back sweating as you sleep.

The other perk is that the entire mattress, from cover to core, can be cleaned. Sayonara to the spores, bacteria, and mold that cause allergic reactions.

A Fitted Sheet

If you already have a firm mattress, all your child needs is a fitted sheet to make themselves at home in bed. The use of a top sheet or blanket is not safe for your child.

Swaddling or placing your baby in a sleep sack is preferable than using a blanket to keep your baby warm and secure while they sleep.

For a sweet finishing touch, try using patterned, breathable linens like Newton Baby’s Organic Cotton Sheets. Our muslin cotton has been preshrunk so it is soft, machine washable, and adaptable to any standard crib mattress size.

A Waterproof Mattress Pad

The use of a mattress pad on your baby’s mattress is optional, but it will make cleanup much simpler. In addition, a mattress protected with a waterproof pad is less likely to be damaged by spills, sweat, or mildew.

The Newton Waterproof Crib Mattress Pad is fantastic since it serves as a mattress protector while also increasing the stability of any crib mattress.

Our pad has two layers of permeable material, increasing airflow on top of the mattress by 3/8″.

Everyone benefits from this situation.

The Dangers Of Baby Pillows

Now that we’ve established what a baby should sleep with, let’s address the obvious question: Why not a pillow? This is a straightforward question with a straightforward and crucial response.

Putting a pillow in a baby’s cot raises the danger of suffocation since the infant can overheat or accidentally force their face into the pillow.

However, there are still a number of different options for infant pillows available. When and how should one use them, and what are they exactly? To put it another way: let’s check it out.

Different Types Of Baby Pillows

There are a wide variety of baby pillows available, and we won’t be able to go through them all here because there are just so many other baby supplies. But we’ll go through a handful of the more frequent ones so you can use them properly and avoid injury (or not use them).

Anti Flat Head Pillow

Many parents are interested in finding a baby pillow that will aid in avoiding flat head syndrome. This is a common complication when a newborn sleeps in the same posture night after night.

The fear of their child having a flat head is natural for parents to have.

Flat head syndrome isn’t normally a serious issue and can easily correct itself with a little bit of care, but if you’re worried, talk to your baby’s pediatrician.

The bottom line is that no infant pillow, no matter how fancy, should be used for swaddling or sleeping.

Safely preventing flat head syndrome can be accomplished by increasing tummy time, holding your baby frequently, and providing them with a wide variety of stimulating visual input.

Baby Positioner Pillow

One of the best ways to ensure that your baby always sleeps on his or her side is to use a baby positioner cushion.

So, can someone please explain the purpose of these infant pillows? Simply put, there is never any justification for employing them.

Baby should always sleep on his or her back instead of his or her side, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Second, there is no excuse for putting a pillow in the crib with your infant even if you want them to sleep on their side.

Nursing Pillow

A nursing pillow is for both you and your baby!

Each of you can benefit from a nursing pillow.

If you have aching arms or a sore back, these pillows can be a huge relief. When your baby is a few months old, they can also be used to help prop them up or encourage them to sit up on their own.

Please keep in mind that none of these pillows are intended for use in a crib, and neither should your infant sleep with you on the bed.

Baby Lounger

A baby lounger is just a large pillow for your infant to sit or rest on while you relax.

This pillow can be used for tummy time, sitting exercises, or just to provide your baby a comfortable area to rest their head.

A baby lounger cushion, like a nursing pillow, is useful for your baby when he or she is awake and spending time with you. However, a baby lounger is not safe for your child to sleep on and should never be placed in the cot.

Pregnancy Pillow

While your baby is safe and well in your womb, this cushion is more concerned with your own comfort.

When you’re in the third trimester of pregnancy and your tummy is huge, this extra-large body pillow is a lifesaver.

While you wait for the arrival of your new little bundle of joy, a pregnant cushion may help you obtain a good night’s sleep.

Decorating Your Nursery With Baby Pillows

Your baby shouldn’t have a pillow in their cot, but that doesn’t mean you have to avoid pillows in the nursery completely!

It is acceptable to place decorative pillows in the crib, but they should be removed before putting the infant to sleep.

Also, if you have a rocking chair, you can outfit it with a throw pillow, and if you don’t, you can use floor pillows to create a reading corner that your child will love.

There are a lot of fantastic ways to incorporate soft pillows into a nursery, whether you’re trying for a gender-neutral look or going all out for a boy or girl.

Conclusion

Did you know that utilizing a nursing cushion can make the experience more pleasant for both you and your baby? Baby pillows can be made in only three simple steps. To get started, give two pieces of cotton cloth a U-shape cutout.

Leave an opening for rotating and stuffing the pillow before closing the seam. Turn the pillow right-side out after you’re done sewing, then stuff it with polyfill until it’s firm. Finally, close the opening by stitching it shut, and you have a finished baby pillow.

For the purposes of this guide, the baby pillow is a nursing pillow. Since infants can’t yet sleep on pillows, this one is designed to prop them up while they nurse or drink from a bottle. The pillow can be used for tummy time with a baby, or by the parent to relieve back pain and improve sleep quality.