What kind of pillow is good for newborns? How to choose a pillow for newborns

You should pay special attention to the sleeping posture of a newborn baby. The head shape of the baby when he grows up is often determined by the baby's sleeping posture. You must pay special attention to it when the baby is very young. So what kind of pillow is good for a newborn baby? How to choose a pillow for a newborn baby.

What kind of pillow is good for newborns?

Baby pillow material

Babies grow and develop quickly, have a vigorous metabolism, and sweat a lot on their heads. When sleeping, pillows are easily soaked. Sweat and dandruff are mixed. In addition, babies often drool. Wet saliva and dirt on the scalp can easily remain on the pillow, which can easily cause skin infections and other diseases. Therefore, we must pay attention to the baby's sleep health. Secondly, the baby's pillow must have good moisture absorption, good breathability, and moderate hardness. The old saying of the elderly is "keep your head cool and your feet warm", so the pillow core should preferably be filled with natural, non-toxic, and odorless pillow cores, such as buckwheat husks, tea leaves, chrysanthemums, etc. The new pillow filling material elastic tube is also a very breathable filler. Food-grade elastic tubes have good plasticity and good breathability, which is a good choice for pillow cores. The best pillowcase is pure cotton, which is best for moisture absorption and close to the skin.

The hardness of the baby pillow

Remember that baby pillows should not be too hard. During the growth period, the baby's skull and other bones are relatively soft, and the connection is not firm. Long-term use of a hard pillow can cause the baby's skull to deform. In severe cases, one side of the face will appear larger than the other, and the little head will have one or several depressions.

How to choose a pillow for a newborn baby

Baby pillow size

The main function of a pillow is to support the cervical spine, so the height of the baby's pillow should be adapted to it. If babies under three months old need a pillow, you can use a towel folded in several layers instead. After three months, a 4 cm high pillow is generally sufficient. As the baby grows older, you can adjust the height of the pillow at any time. The standard for this height is that after the baby falls on the pillow, the head and body remain balanced, without the uncomfortable state of sinking or lifting. The length of the pillow should be equal to the width of the baby's shoulders, and the width should be about the same as the height of the baby's head.

Height of baby pillow

The cervical vertebrae of babies aged 4-5 months begin to bend forward. At this time, in order to allow the baby to breathe smoothly and grow smoothly with his body, you can use a 1cm high pillow. Of course, you can also use a cotton towel instead, folding the towel to about 1cm high. For babies aged 3-6 months, the most reasonable pillow height should be less than 3cm. After 6 months, the pillow height should be appropriately increased to 3-4cm.

When to use pillows for babies

The head of a newborn baby is almost as wide as the shoulders. When lying flat, the back and the back of the head are on the same plane; when lying on the side, the head and the body are also on the same plane. Therefore, a pillow is not needed. However, if the mattress is soft and the baby's head is heavy, you can use a lower pillow to keep the body balanced.

Generally, babies start to learn to lift their heads after 3 months. Their spines are no longer straight, and the cervical spine begins to show physiological curvature. At the same time, as the body develops, the shoulders gradually widen. In order to maintain the physiological curvature during sleep and keep the body comfortable, you can start using pillows for your baby. Otherwise, the low head position will affect the baby's sleep and normal development.

Symptoms of constipation in babies

1. Difficulty in defecation

It will take longer for the baby to defecate, and the process will seem more difficult and tiring. Each time, the baby will have to get red in the face and ears before he can pass a small amount of dry and hard stool. When the baby still can't pass stool after trying his best, the mother needs to use her fingers to help the baby dig out the stool.

2. Crying and restlessness

Constipation can cause abdominal distension, constipation, poor appetite, and other problems, which can make babies feel uncomfortable and cause them to cry and become restless. Parents should pay attention to whether their babies are constipated.

3. Dry and hard stools

The frequency of bowel movements varies from baby to baby, but as long as the stool is about the same hardness as toothpaste, it is normal. However, once food stays in the body for too long, it will gradually become hard due to loss of water. Therefore, if you find that your baby's stool is dry and hard, it may be constipation.

4. Abdominal bloating

When babies are constipated, undigested food will remain in the intestines, causing abdominal distension and, in severe cases, abdominal pain. At the same time, the bacteria in the stool will decompose in the intestines, producing gas and flatulence, which will make the baby feel uncomfortable.

5. Loss of appetite

The most common symptom of constipation in babies is decreased appetite. Because food residues remain in the body, gastrointestinal motility slows down, and babies feel bloated in the abdomen, so they naturally can't eat anything.