The Best Pillows for Kids to Keep Them Asleep All Night

From that first toddler pillow to a full-sized adult version, children depend on their pillow to make them comfortable and help stay relaxed and asleep. But, children aren’t adults, and their proportions are different. You might just assume they can transition from a crib with no pillow to a bed with an adult pillow, but there are cautions about doing that. The biggest concern is misalignment of the shoulders, neck, and head that can result in poor sleep and poor posture as they are still growing.

The best pillows help keep our spines aligned while we sleep and thus our blood flow even, our breathing regulated, and our spinal nerves free from pinching. For this to be the case with little ones, the pillow needs to be proportionate.

Best Pillows for Kids

• Best for Infants: John N Tree – Cloud Lamb, Organic Cotton Baby Protective Pillow
• Best Organic: Beans72 Organic Buckwheat Pillow
• Best for Toddlers: My Little North Star Toddler Pillow
• Best Memory Foam: RestCloud Toddler Pillow

Why Do Kids Need a Good Pillow?

As your child grows, there will come a time when they will need a pillow to remain comfortable through the night. Finding the right pillow will ensure both your little one — and you — sleep well through the night. 

The best pillows for kids should be soft enough to be comfortable yet firm enough to provide optimal support for your little one’s developing body, says Kim West, a.k.a. The Sleep Lady, and author of Good Night, Sleep Tight.

Do size and support really matter? Absolutely. A regular size pillow is designed to support the head and neck of adults. Children’s bodies are proportioned differently. Sleeping with a regular pillow may put unnecessary strain on their necks and shoulders, disrupting their sleep and leading to discomfort and poor posture when they’re awake. Smaller pillows also help young children learn to toss and turn less at night in order to keep their heads on the pillow. 

The bottom line — a comfortable pillow is key to your child getting a good night’s sleep, so they wake refreshed for the day ahead. 

When Should Kids Start Sleeping with a Pillow? 

Just like moving out of the crib or toilet training, you can plan the timing of changes in your child’s life or wait and take your cues from them. There is no exact time to introduce a pillow; however, the average age is around 18 months. Babies should not use a pillow; toddlers can go either way, but by the age of 2 or 3 they need one for good sleep.

Related: Best mattress for kids

There are circumstances and preferences that might push your timeline in one direction or another, like needing to prevent flat head syndrome, which could necessitate a crib pillow or noticing your child always bunches something and puts in under their head for sleep. If you have a particularly verbal child, they may tell you directly that they want or don’t want a pillow for sleep.

At whatever age you introduce a pillow, it is good to start thinking about what material is best for your child. Do they want a fluffy down pillow, a cradling memory foam pillow, or a structured cotton pillow? Pillows are generally made from only a few different materials that have their pros and cons. Below is a list of common pillow fillings and things to consider.

How to Choose the Best Pillow for Kids

There are several factors to consider when choosing a pillow for your child: 

Material: Pillows are made with a variety of materials including memory foam, synthetic filling, down, latex, cotton, and even buckwheat hulls. Consider the pros and cons from our list to determine the best options for your child.

Safety: Pillows can pose suffocation hazards for toddlers if they are not developmentally ready for one. Be sure your child is at least 2 years of age before you introduce a pillow for sleeping. 

Durability: You’ll want your toddler’s pillow to last. Be sure your toddler’s pillow is made with quality materials that can stand the test of time. 

Easy to clean: Your toddler’s pillow cradles your sweet one’s head, but it is exposed to a bunch of unpleasantness like saliva and sweat. You’ll want to keep your child safe from bacteria and illness-causing germs by regularly washing their pillow. Pillows that are machine washable are much lower maintenance than ones that require hand-washing or other special care. 

Compatibility with sleeping position: Your child may toss and turn a lot, but generally, children fall a specific sleeping position. If they settle in as a side sleeper (as most adults do), a thicker pillow will help keep their spines aligned. Stomach and back sleepers fare better with a flatter pillow. Combination sleepers do best with a pillow they can scrunch into different heights. 

Size: Standard size pillows are designed for adults. But children have different proportions. Toddler pillows are designed especially for little ones. They’re smaller (13” x 18”) and have a lower loft than standard pillows.

Special features: (cooling, hypoallergenic, easy for travel, etc.) Many pillows offer added features for specific needs. For example, some have cooling technology for hot sleepers, hypoallergenic materials for sensitive sleepers, or tension-relieving qualities for those who need extra relaxation at night. 

FAQs

What is the best pillow for a 4-year-old? 

Toddler sized pillows (13” x 18”) are best for children ages 2 and 3. By age 4, your child can transition to a child pillow (16” x 22”), which is slightly larger than a toddler pillow. If you cannot find a child pillow, stick with the toddler pillow.

What is the best pillow for a 5-year-old? 

By age 5, you can begin to transition your child to a youth pillow (18” x 24”), which is slightly smaller than a standard pillow. If you cannot find a youth pillow and are not using a youth pillow, you can size up to a standard pillow (20” x 24”).

What age should a child have a pillow?

The best age to introduce a pillow to your child is between 2 and 3, when they are transitioning from a crib to a “big kid” bed. 

What is the difference between a toddler pillow and a regular pillow? 

Toddler pillows are 13 inches by 18 inches and designed to fit the smaller proportions of a developing toddler’s body. Regular pillows (also called standard pillows) are designed for adults and are 20 inches by 26 inches.

Summary

Compare the best pillows for kids below:

Pillows are an important part of getting a good night’s sleep. Kids don’t generally start using one until around 18 months and sometimes later. There are numerous materials that pillows are made from, so let your little one help decide what is most comfortable for them. Also consider something with a non-toxic certification to insure a healthy sleep environment for your child.