Warning

• Although it happens rarely, children under two years of age can suffocate from sleeping with a pillow if they roll over and bury their head in it. Therefore, kids under two should not sleep with a pillow in a crib, even if the crib bedding set came with a pillow. Babies can sleep comfortably without a pillow.
  
  

Time Frame

• It's safe to introduce pillows once your child has moved from a crib to a bed, something which usually occurs between the ages of two and three. Children don't necessarily need pillows at this stage, but they may want one for comfort, or to be like everyone else.
  
  

Considerations

• Your child's first pillow should be small, flat and firm, similar to the pillows handed out on airlines. Avoid feather pillows at first, since they are so soft and yielding they could possibly lead to suffocation. Older children can choose any type of pillow unless they have problems with allergies to substances such as down.