Environmentally Responsible Toddler Pillow Choices
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all babies be placed on their backs to sleep. Sleeping on a firm, flat mattress without pillows, blankets, and bumpers eliminates the risk of suffocation. But once a child graduates to regular bedding, environmentally-minded parents will need a pillow that is as safe for the planet as it is for their child.
Most experts seem to agree that introducing a pillow when a child transitions from a crib to a regular bed is safe. This usually happens between 18-24 months of age. Parents should look for a pillow scaled to a toddler’s body — around 12 by 16 inches long and only 2 to 3 inches thick to eliminate neck strain. Ideally, a pillow would also be sustainably manufactured.
As long as your child is sleeping well without a pillow, there is no need to make a change. But eventually, a child’s shoulders will become enough wider than their head that sleeping with a pillow will be more comfortable. By this time the risk of suffocation is small, but a firm toddler pillow filled with hypoallergenic material is safest.
For babies who are too young for pillows, SavvyRest makes GOTS-certified latex crib mattresses that are free from toxic flame retardants, phthalates, or pesticides. New parents know that it can be hard to stay green with a baby. Earth911 has researched the greenest pillow manufacturers, and fortunately, several of them make pillows for toddlers.
Holy Lamb Organics
Ranked very highly on Earth911’s list is Holy Lamb Organics, a family-owned company with a strong environmental ethic. Holy Lamb makes five different toddler and child-sized pillows. All of them use the same Eco-Wool and organic cotton as their full-sized pillows. Their smallest pillow uses wool fleece for a soft texture.
Naturepedic
Naturepedic makes an excellent organic children’s pillow, using PLA (a non-GMO plant-based polyester) and an organic cotton cover to make a machine washable toddler pillow. They also offer a GOTS-certified organic children’s pillow with an organic cotton cover around a blend of PLA batting and organic cotton.
White Lotus
While not specifically made as a toddler pillow, White Lotus’ travel pillow is toddler-sized. Available with four different fillers, the organic buckwheat hull fill is firm enough for safety. Parents can add or remove fill to achieve the appropriate thickness. Buckwheat hulls could be a good alternative for children with wool sensitivity or who find latex memory foam too hot.
Nest Bedding
If you’ve waited a little longer to transition your child to sleep with a pillow, Nest Bedding’s Easy Breather, Jr. child’s pillow is a bit larger and softer than a toddler pillow, but still small enough to be comfortable for a child. This foam pillow is covered in Tencel fabric.
Avocado
We’ve long been impressed with Avocado’s organic mattresses, and the Organic Toddler Pillow continues the tradition. Made with GOTS-certified organic latex, the Toddler Pillos is filled with kapok fiber from a tropical tree that produces an environmentally responsible alternative to synthetic fibers because it is biodegradable, renewable, and harvested without cutting down the tree.
What you surround your child with shapes their future choices. Making the investment in their early health and restful sleep by eliminating synthetic materials made of plastic or other allergy-inducing materials will prepare them to shop with the environment in mind throughout their lives. Set a green example from the start!