When Can Your Baby Sleep With a Pillow or Blanket?

Wondering how old your baby should be before you can put her to bed with a pillow, blanket or stuffed animal? Here's what's safe.

Your sweet newborn has morphed into an adorable bouncing (or crawling, or walking!) baby. She seems so grown-up compared to those very early days, which may have you wondering: Is she ready to sleep with a pillow or a blanket?

It might seem like adding some soft, fluffy accessories to the crib could make your little one more comfortable. But the truth is, your baby doesn’t know what she’s missing. And she’s better off that way for now. Though it’s scary to even think about, pillows, blankets and other soft bedding items can create the potential for suffocation or strangling and increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS.

In short, there’s no real reason to add extra bedding to your baby’s crib now — and lots of good reasons to wait. Here’s how to know when she might be ready for pillows, blankets, stuffed animals and other accessories. 

When is it safe for baby to sleep with a pillow?

Babies should sleep on a flat surface free of pillows, blankets or other soft bedding until age 1, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics' safe sleep guidelines. The only thing her crib needs is a simple fitted sheet.

Still, there’s no need to celebrate your little one’s first birthday by getting her a pillow. You’re better off waiting until she transitions to a toddler bed, which can happen between 18 months and 3 1/2 years old (though ideally as close to age 3 as possible). And it’s fine to hold out until she shows active interest in having one.

When the time does come to give your tot a pillow, avoid the fluffy adult-sized models in favor of a small, firm toddler pillow. And keep extra fabric out of the mix by skipping the pillowcase, the good pillow for your baby .