Setting up your baby's nursery is one of the sweetest parts of getting ready. You pick the crib, the sheets, maybe a mobile, and it's only natural to picture a tiny pillow, too. Here's the good news: when it comes to bedding, your baby needs far less than you do. In fact, a pillow can wait for a couple of years.
The short answer: around age 2, once they're in a bed
Most children are ready for a pillow somewhere after their second birthday, once they've moved from the crib into a bed. Even then, there's no rush. If your toddler is sleeping happily without one, you can leave it until they ask. When you do add one, choose a small, flat, fairly firm toddler pillow rather than a fluffy adult one.
Why babies shouldn't sleep with a pillow
For the first year, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a firm, flat sleep surface with nothing in the crib but a fitted sheet: no pillows, blankets, bumpers or stuffed toys. Babies, and especially newborns, can't reliably move their heads away if something soft covers their nose and mouth. Always lay your baby down on their back to sleep.
Even after the first year, there's no need to bring a pillow into the crib. A pillow can give a determined climber a boost over the rail, and young toddlers sleep perfectly well without one.
Will my baby be uncomfortable without a pillow?
Not at all. You might not like sleeping without your pillow, but babies and young toddlers have big heads relative to their shoulders, so lying flat is naturally comfortable for them. A pillow only starts to make a difference as their shoulders broaden. Often the real reason a toddler wants one is simpler: they'd like their new bed to look just like yours.
What bedding does my baby need instead?
Keep it simple: a firm crib mattress and a snug fitted sheet. If you're worried about your baby feeling chilly, a wearable sleeping bag over their pajamas keeps them cozy without anything loose in the crib. Our aden + anais Sleeping Bag review covers our favorite, and our guide to choosing the right baby blanket explains when a real blanket can join the bed.
Our favorite first pillows
When the big-kid bed arrives and your toddler is ready, these are the two we'd start with:
- Little Sleepy Head Original: our favorite first pillow, fully washable and complete with its own case.
- KeaBabies My Little Dreamy 2-Pack: two pillows, so a fresh one is always ready.
Little Sleepy Head Original
At 13 × 18 inches, this pillow is made for small people, so it sits neatly on a toddler bed instead of taking it over. The whole pillow goes in the washing machine (cold, gentle cycle, then a low tumble dry until it's completely dry), which you'll appreciate after the first spilled sippy cup. It comes with a white cotton envelope case, too, so it's ready for bedtime straight out of the box.
The right size, easy to clean and complete with its own case: everything a first pillow needs to be.
Shop the Little Sleepy Head Pillow & Case on Amazon
KeaBabies My Little Dreamy 2-Pack
Two 13 × 18-inch pillows, both washer- and dryer-friendly. Keep one on the bed and one in the closet for those middle-of-the-night sheet changes, or leave the spare at the grandparents' house so sleepovers feel like home. Cases are sold separately, which makes a fun job for your toddler: let them pick a favorite color or character.
A clean spare waiting in the cupboard is one less thing to worry about.
Browse KeaBabies My Little Dreamy 2-Packs on Amazon
Want more options, including organic and plant-based fillings? See our guides to the best toddler pillows and the best organic toddler pillows.
Our recommendation
Skip the pillow for your baby, and enjoy how simple their bedding can be. Then, once your child is past two and settled in a big-kid bed, make the first pillow a small celebration. Our pick is the Little Sleepy Head Original: toddler-sized, fully washable and ready to go with its own case.
