When shopping for our babies we always want the best and the safest, especially during the toddler stage because they are so curious! If you’re a tired mama like me, you also want them to get a good nights rest without being worried about what they are sleeping with in their beds.
That’s why we thought we should talk about organic toddler pillows. Not only as a safety hazard (suffocation) but also because since their face is resting on it, we don’t want toxic chemicals off-gassing every time they lay their head down!
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Jump straight to our list of favorite organic toddler pillows.
When Should You Introduce a Pillow to Your Child?
The right time to introduce your sleeping child to using a pillow is around 18 months old. This is recommended to avoid the risk of suffocation in infants from using a pillow. Waiting until your child is 18 months old will give them time to develop a stable sleeping routine that can then be enhanced with a pillow.
What Type of Pillow is Best for Toddlers?
Sleep is crucial for all of us, especially for toddlers and growing children. Choosing a pillow for your toddler should take some careful consideration and planning. You should choose a toddler-specific pillow that is the perfect thickness to support, but not strain, their head and neck. We also recommend finding the best organic toddler pillow you can, as they use natural materials that are super comfortable and non-toxic.
What’s the Difference Between a Toddler Pillow and a Regular Pillow?
You might think you can just throw any old pillow on your toddler’s bed, but don’t! Toddler pillows and regular adult pillows have their differences and will absolutely impact your toddler’s sleep. An organic toddler-specific pillow will be smaller than an adult pillow, use hypoallergenic materials, and eco-friendly filling that won’t pose a choking risk. Regular pillows are usually too large and thick for a toddler, which could pose a suffocation hazard.
What to Look for When Buying an Organic Toddler Pillow
Buying an organic toddler pillow is your best bet for maximizing your toddler’s comfort and health when sleeping. Look out for these components when searching for the best organic toddler pillows:
Materials
There aren’t many materials in your toddler’s pillow, just the fabric and filling, but those few materials matter. Use a pillow and pillowcase that is made from 100 percent organic cotton, which will be free from chemicals and super comfortable. The filling should be a synthetic fiber or memory foam, neither of which poses a choking or allergy hazard. We also have a guide on how to shop for an organic crib mattress and organic crib sheets!
Hypoallergenic Fabric
The best organic toddler pillow can be seriously leveled up by choosing one with hypoallergenic fabric. Hypoallergenic pillows will reduce or limit the number of bacteria and mold that can grow on a pillow over time. This will save your toddler from allergy attacks and discomfort that can interrupt their sleeping patterns.
Certifications
Keep an eye out for toddler pillows that are GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified. GOTS-certified textiles are sustainably and ethically created, and use organic fibers that are held to a high processing standard.
Safety Considerations
Always consider safety when looking for the best organic toddler pillow. A true toddler pillow will be about 13 x 18 inches in size and a moderate thickness. The filling shouldn’t be small pellets that can pose a choking hazard or use materials that’ll cause suffocation risks.
The Problem with Conventional Toddler Pillows
The main problem with conventional toddler pillows is that they don’t consider how your toddler will be affected by the materials it’s made with. Most conventional toddler pillows don’t use natural or organic materials, which can cause allergy or irritation problems for your toddler. The best organic toddler pillows will use natural, hypoallergenic materials that won’t interfere with your child’s sleeping patterns.
The Best Organic Toddler Pillows
Naturepedic
This organic cotton toddler pillow is made with a 300 thread count and has pure PLA on the inside. Naturepedic sources the PLA (polylactic acid) from non-GMO sugar cane and it is a 100% renewable resource! You never have to worry about a chemical smell and it does a great job at “wicking.”
Avocado Organic Toddler Pillow
If you are looking more into pricing this, toddler pillow is affordable and can fit within any budget! Not only is it safe and non-toxic, but it’s 100% GOLS organic certified latex and GOTS organic certified kapok fabric, and organic cotton. The only consideration to think about is if your child has a latex allergy. They also offer a cute little pillowcase to keep it covered. (P.S. We love the crib mattresses from Avocado too)
Woolino Wool Toddler Pillow
These are made from Australian wool which is a renewable and sustainable source. The actual shell of the pillow is 100% cotton and is Oeko-Tex Certified. The Woolino toddler pillow is naturally hypoallergenic and has been ergonomically filled to support their neck and spine.
Nook Asthma Friendly Jr. Pillow
Moms are raving about how great this little pillow is! Your toddlers don’t need to have asthma to benefit from this pillow! It’s perfect for traveling, 100% organic certified, and they have a huge selection of pillow covers to choose from! Moms warn that you will become addicted to shopping for the covers!
How to Clean Organic Toddler Pillows
When cleaning an organic toddler pillow, machine washing is discouraged because it could deteriorate the pillow more quickly. It is encouraged to spot clean and air-dry pillows that are entirely organic (the shell and the fill). However, we know toddlers can be pretty messy, so finding a pillow with an organic shell and washable synthetic fill can make washing it a lot easier.
Organic cotton is one of our favorite products to shop for when it comes to pillows and even our matching family pajama sets! Have you used a toddler pillow before? Let us know in the comments which are your favorite!
