American Academy of Pediatrics Recommendation Babies should be placed to sleep on their backs, on a firm, flat mattress with no pillows, blankets or bumpers, so there’s no risk of suffocation. But once your child moves onto regular bedding, eco-conscious parents need pillows that are safe for not only their child, but the planet too.
Most experts seem to agree that it’s safe to introduce a pillow when a child transitions from a crib to a regular bed. This usually happens between 18 and 24 months of age. Parents should look for a pillow that fits their toddler’s body size — about 12 x 16 inches long and only 2 to 3 inches thick to reduce neck strain. Ideally, the pillow should be sustainably produced.
As long as your child sleeps well without a pillow, there’s no need to change the pillow. But over time, your child’s shoulders will be wider than his head and he’ll be more comfortable sleeping with a pillow. At this age, the risk of suffocation is smaller, but a firm toddler pillow filled with hypoallergenic material is still the safest option.
For babies who are too small to use pillows, Savvy Rest make GOTS certified A latex crib mattress that is free of toxic flame retardants, phthalates, and pesticides. As a new parent, you know it can be hard to go green with your baby. Earth911 researched the most eco-friendly pillow manufacturers, and luckily for you, some of them make pillows for toddlers.
Holy Lamb Organic
The following are highly ranked on Earth911’s list: Holy Lamb OrganicHoly Lamb is a family-owned business with strong environmental ethics. They make five pillows for toddlers and children. All pillows are made with the same eco-wool and organic cotton as their full-sized pillows. The smallest pillows are made with wool fleece for a soft texture.
Naturepedic
Naturepedic Excellent Organic children’s pillowswe make our machine washable toddler pillows using PLA (non-GMO plant-based polyester) and organic cotton covers. GOTS certified organic children’s pillow The PLA filling and organic cotton blend is wrapped in an organic cotton cover.
White Lotus
White Lotus Travel Pillow Toddler sized. Available in four different fillings, the organic buckwheat hull filling is firm enough to ensure safety. You can add or remove filling to get the right thickness. Buckwheat hulls can be a good alternative for kids who are sensitive to wool or find latex memory foam too hot.
Nest Bedding
If you’re having a hard time getting your child to sleep with a pillow, try Nest Bedding’s Easy Breather JuniorThe children’s pillow is a little larger and softer than the toddler pillow, but still large enough for a child to use comfortably. This foam pillow is covered in Tencel fabric.
avocado
We have long been impressed with Avocado Organic Mattresses, Organic Toddler Pillow Continuing the tradition: Made from GOTS certified organic latex, Toddler Pillos are filled with kapok fiber, which comes from tropical trees. Kapok fiber is biodegradable, renewable and harvested without cutting down trees, making it an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic fibers.
The environment your child lives in will shape the choices they make in the future. Investing in your child’s early health and sleep by eliminating synthetic materials made from plastic and other allergy-causing substances will set them up for a lifetime of green shopping. Set a green example from the start.
