Baby Nursing Pillows - What Are The Benefits To Them?

A baby nursing pillow is a half doughnut or U shaped pillow commonly used for support in holding a baby on the mother's lap, as a rest that will help nestle the baby comfortably while sleeping, or as a wrap around while the baby is learning to sit upright. Some mothers also buy a baby nursing pillow in advance, during pregnancy, to serve as a pregnancy support pillow. Here's a closer look at the benefits of these pillows.

A baby nursing pillow will prevent excessive strain on the mother's back and arm muscles, which helps significantly because mom may be a little weakened after giving birth. Even normally healthy and strong women should use one during prolonged breastfeeding sessions. They are a big help at night when it comes to feeding your baby because you won't need to turn on the lights.

These types of pillows come in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and designs, although the most common ones usually have bright, baby-oriented colors (I have not seen a black or gray nursing pillow yet) and half-doughnut shapes. As far as materials go, the most common ones seem to be made from non-allergenic cloth and stuffing's, but new innovations are appearing such as foam and other materials.

Baby nursing pillows are important for a number of different reasons, but first and foremost among them is the fact that they allow a woman to maintain proper posture during feeding sessions. Without proper support and posture, the muscles and bones in a woman's arm, neck and back could be strained and lead to intermittent aches and pains. Neglecting proper posture could also accelerate the effects of osteoporosis, especially for women with weak bones. They also help women who have just had a c-section, since the pillow will elevate the baby high enough to nurse or bottle-feed, without putting unnecessary stress on the area where the c-section incision was made.

Another benefit of using a baby nursing pillow is that it allows the proper positioning of the baby's mouth and the mother's nipple or the bottle, which results in the prevention of sore nipples or less gas from the infant (gas and burps are usually the result of incorrect bottle feeding). Some pillow designs also allow baby feeding with one hand, leaving the other free to caress your baby or do other things.

While there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of different designs available, when choosing one a mother should always consider several things। First is the weight. The pillow should be light enough to carry anywhere, yet the lightness should not come at the cost of frailty. Next is the shape and contours. Try to test several and see which one "feels" right. Finally, you should consider the extra features; some baby nursing pillows provide a useful adjustable waist strap, which gives it added security and the adjustability means any woman can use it regardless of their size. Others provide straps for the baby itself so the baby will not be easy to drop even in rare cases where a mother's hand has let go accidentally.

Source: http://www.babypillowtips.com/

Choosing The Best Baby Pillows For Your Baby

There is no doubt that a mother expects only the best for her baby, and would do everything within her ability to make sure that her child is safe, secure, and comfortable. Extra care is always taken when it comes to sanitizing the feeding bottles, the crib, the play area, and the various toys and accessories that are within the child’s easy reach. However, there is one area where a mother's intention may slightly deviate from the outcome: choosing the right baby pillow for her baby.

Most mothers tend to make bad choices when it comes to buying baby pillows, and it usually is the fault of not being able to readily understand the baby's needs. Generally, mothers judge what the child needs based on what they deem comfortable and safe based on their own standards. This could be a serious and fatal mistake when it comes to your baby's pillow.

Most women choose baby pillows with comfort in mind, unaware that they are sometimes compromising their health and safety for their wrongly perceived sense of comfort. For example, women tend to choose the softest pillow they can find, with the idea that a soft, gentle material corresponds to comfort and ultimately, their peace of mind. Unfortunately, pillows that are too soft are actually anything but comfortable, and may even result in SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

SIDS usually happens when the baby's bedding or pillow is too soft that their breathing area becomes severely limited, resulting in their nose and mouth not being able to breath any air except the ones they have already exhaled. This is a lethal situation since humans exhale carbon dioxide, which can be toxic regardless of their age. Prolonged inhalation of carbon dioxide instead of oxygen will almost always result in brain damage, coma, and even death.

On the other side of the equation, baby pillows that are too stiff shouldn't be used, for reasons that are slightly more obvious; first it is highly uncomfortable for the baby's sensitive head and neck, and it could pose a physical risk if your baby is already capable of crawling and liable to throw himself down on his pillow. For children less than 2 years old, prolonged use of stiff pillows could deform the child's head.

When choosing the right pillow for your baby, a perfect balance between comfort and safety should be observed. In physical aspects, your baby pillow should be neither too hard nor too soft, and should be of the proper height based on your baby's head. Choosing tall pillows will strain the baby's neck area. In terms of texture and material, try to choose pillows that are smooth and don't have any fur. This holds true even if your child does not have any allergic reaction to small, foreign particles. And as a good rule of thumb, try to gauge your baby's reaction. Mothers will have a basic idea if a certain object makes her baby feel uncomfortable. If they become ornery every time you use a certain pillow, there's a huge possibility that the baby doesn't like it.

Source: http://www.propeller.com