Newborn sleep positioner: reviews, pros and cons

Nowadays, manufacturers are trying their best to please young families by inventing various accessories to make life easier for mothers. A sleep positioner is considered a similar novelty. Before you think about whether this device is needed in your home, you should find out what a baby sleep positioner is.

Adults are ready to make every effort to ensure that their little one grows up healthy and vigorous. Even before his birth, parents think about the living conditions for the baby: how the room will be equipped, what kind of crib to buy, what to bathe the baby in. In infancy, good, sound sleep is extremely necessary, because in this state the child’s body is formed.

What is a newborn sleep positioner?

In the modern market of children's goods, we can often find such an item as a positioner pillow for sleeping a newborn. Our mothers and, especially, grandmothers do not know what this is, since in their time there was no such device. Accordingly, we will not be able to borrow experience of use or listen to feedback from them. Well, let's try to find out on our own what it is, and is it really such a necessary thing?

The use of the word “pillow” in relation to this item is not entirely correct, because it does not perform any of the functions of a pillow. It was invented in order to hold the child in a certain position while sleeping, and is a simple design of several cushions and ottomans connected by a fabric strip. Although, of course, there is a fairly wide range of these devices, and multifunctional models include several Velcro or belts that hold the baby in a certain position.

In addition, it can have a different angle of inclination. Thus, if the child often burps, then you can put him half-sitting, then you will be sure that he will not choke if he burps during sleep. This position is also convenient when a newborn has a runny nose, then his sleep will be sound and calm.

About companies

In Russia, several companies have established themselves in the commodity market. Among them are Red Castle, Plantex and Chicco. The latter brand is in the highest price category due to its quality and original model range. Italian manufacturers indulge in built-in sensors and study the development of children under 3 years old, so their products are beyond competition.

Red Castle is a French company specializing exclusively in products for babies. It has long established itself in the global market. The company's assortment includes clothing and various accessories for children. Among the products discussed in the article, Red Castle Bebecal (sleep positioner) is especially in demand.

Among the budget ones. This is a Russian brand whose products are also made of high-quality materials and meet various standards, but their design is significantly simplified.

In a word, the choice of positioners in our country is very wide; all that remains is to find a device that suits your pocket and meets your personal requirements.

Why do you need a positioner?

Each such design faces several tasks:

• Prevent rolling over onto your stomach while sleeping. Many experts argue that this situation poses a danger to the newborn. The fact is that a child at this age cannot yet regulate the movement of the limbs, neck and head, therefore, turning over on his stomach, he is unlikely to be able to turn his head to the side, and accordingly, this can cause suffocation.
• If your baby spits up frequently, you can place your baby in the positioner on his side. This way, you will prevent your child from choking.

• Thanks to this design, the newborn's safety is ensured, since he will not be able to roll over and roll off the sofa or bed. At the same time, if you practice co-sleeping with your baby, then he will not have the opportunity to get to his parent’s side.
• According to recent studies, it prevents deformation of the skull bones and flattening of the back of the head.
• Allows the baby to sleep in a physiological position that is comfortable for him.
• And, of course, due to proper fixation, it promotes sounder and longer sleep for the newborn.

Advantages and disadvantages

Among the main advantages of wearing an orthodontic positioner are:

1. Earlier possibility of removing braces, in contrast to the installed light arch;
2. Active gum massage.

The disadvantages, in turn, are considered:

1. Long time for individual production of the device;
2. High price;
3. Strengthening the incisal overlap negatively affects the deep bite;
4. Expanded teeth can return to their original position.

Types of positioners for children

• The simplest and most inexpensive option is a lightweight design in the form of 2 rollers connected to each other by a fabric strip. This option can be used for up to 3-4 months. It is very light, and therefore it can be used not only at home, but also on a walk, in a stroller, and then the baby will sleep in the correct position.

• In the classic version, two triangular-shaped pillows are connected by a fabric strip. A large pillow is designed for the baby to rest his back on, while the smaller pillow limits his movements. Thus, the newborn is fixed, and he cannot roll over either on his side or on his stomach, at the same time, this design well supports the child in the correct, physiological position for sleeping. However, there are also disadvantages to this design: the pillows are not adjustable, and when a child grows up at 3-4 months, it is impossible to use this thing in the future.

• Mattress. The basis for this design is an orthopedic mattress, and on top of it there is a pillow under the head and 2 bolsters that limit the movements of the baby. This option is convenient to take with you on the road instead of a cradle, in a stroller, and put on an adult bed if you choose to sleep together.

• Option with clasp. This option has a slight slope, which provides the opportunity for the baby to rest and stay awake in a physiologically correct position. It has a clasp, so you can fasten your newborn and not worry about his safety.

How to fill the sides of a baby crib

It is only natural that bumpers intended for use in a crib should be environmentally friendly. That is why it is important not only to select natural fabric, but also the right filler. When sewing bumpers, you can use the following types of “filling”:

1. Foam rubber is a microfiller that requires careful care and high-quality drying. The material is endowed with the properties to retain moisture inside. With prolonged dampness in the room, microorganisms accumulate in the foam rubber
2. Synthetic winterizer is one of the best fillers for bumpers, affordable. Synthetic winterizer washes off dirt well and dries quickly
3. Holofiber is a material that is considered the best analogue of padding polyester. It is non-toxic and dries quickly. Its advantage is considered to be the preservation of the shape of the side of the crib after washing. The spiral structure of holofiber is endowed with high wear resistance.
4. Periotec is an innovative type of hypoallergenic material. The flexible product can be washed in a washing machine. Periotec filler does not cause allergies in babies
5. Holcon is an artificial filler. Holcon is hypoallergenic, heat-resistant, wear-resistant
6. Polyester is a hollow fiber that retains its original dimensional characteristics and shape. Polyester does not absorb extraneous odors and moisture

Important! You should not use down and feathers to fill the sides of the crib, so as not to provoke an allergic reaction in the baby.

How to choose a positioner

When choosing, you should pay attention to several details and subtleties:

1. The most correct option is the one that has a certificate of quality for products for newborns.
2. The materials from which it is made must be natural and environmentally friendly, the same applies to fillers.
3. You may be able to choose a model that includes a set of removable covers. This will make life much easier, as it will allow you to use the positioner continuously.
4. It is advisable to choose universal models that can be used for up to 6 months.
5. Pay attention to those options that have a “memory effect”. It is this model that will be able to adapt over time to the characteristics of the child’s body.

In the modern world this is far from news. However, before purchasing this item, read reviews from other moms who have already used the model you have chosen.

Do you really need a positioner?

It's up to you to decide whether to purchase this design. Indeed, our mothers and grandmothers managed and managed without him. After all, you can try to make something similar from improvised means, and not spend the family budget.

On the one hand, millions of children fall from changing tables and other heights, and if you purchase a positioner, then these troubles can be avoided. But, on the other hand, you can simply not leave the child on dangerous heights, and when he learns to crawl, transfer him to a warm floor covered with a blanket.

Simply put, the positioner has plenty of advantages, but it’s up to you to decide whether to buy it or not.

How to make a positioner with your own hands

In truth, the positioner is not exactly the know-how of our time. Our mothers and grandmothers have long known and used it to make their lives easier. However, they built similar structures with their own hands. You, too, can resort to this kind of secret, and thereby save the family budget.

To keep your newborn safe, you can use pillows, blankets, towels or swaddles. Roll one of the suggested items and place it on both sides of the baby. Also, if you're worried about him rolling off the bed, grab a few pillows and place them along the edge of your bed. Thanks to this barrier, the newborn will definitely not be able to roll over.

Does a baby need an orthopedic headrest pillow?

Most often, the truth in any dispute turns out to be somewhere in the middle. This also applies to the question of the need for pillows for newborns.

Experts who believe that a child does not need to be given a pillow from birth to 1-2 years are right. The natural curves of the human spine are formed only by the age of 2 and do not need support until this time. In addition, the circumference of the baby's head is comparable to the chest and there is no discomfort when lying on a flat surface.

An orthopedic pillow is not needed for a healthy baby under 1-2 years of age. Its use is necessary only for diseases of the musculoskeletal system in a child. Buy such a pillow only after consultation and in accordance with the recommendations of a pediatrician or pediatric orthopedist.

The famous pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky does not recommend using a pillow for children under 1-2 years of age.

An ordinary pillow will create additional stress on the baby’s cervical vertebrae and the risk of choking when regurgitating, and it makes no sense to place an orthopedic product under his head.

As a headrest and for hygienic purposes, it is enough for a healthy baby to lay a diaper folded in four.

Unfortunately, not all children are born one hundred percent healthy. Various diseases and injuries of the skeletal and muscular systems can arise both as a result of the enormous stress that the baby experiences upon birth and during its intrauterine development. Many of them can be easily corrected in the first year of life, and the earlier treatment is started, the more effective it will be.

During this period, a children's orthopedic pillow for newborns will become one of the effective tools for preventing the development of various pathologies of the musculoskeletal system and their complex therapy. You need to understand that such a pillow is not a panacea, and its use must be combined with massage, manual therapy, electrophoresis and other methods of therapy prescribed by a doctor.

An orthopedic pillow for infants adapts to the anatomical features of the baby’s skeleton, reduces the load on the cervicothoracic spine and helps maintain the physiological position of injured cervical vertebrae, fixing the head and neck in the anatomically correct position.

There are many pathologies for the complex treatment and prevention of which it is recommended to use a children's orthopedic pillow. The most common of them is torticollis, the most common disease of the cervical spine, which is characterized by an inclined position of the head with constant rotation to one side. It can be either congenital or acquired, and in the future it threatens with asymmetry of the face and skull and spinal deformation.

Depending on the complexity of the disease, torticollis can be treated surgically or with manual therapy, and correction of the position of the head and neck is a prerequisite for its effective treatment.

An orthopedic pillow is also used for such pathologies as:

• scoliosis;
• improper formation of the skull bones;
• deformation of the occipital part of the head in the early stages of rickets;
• displacement of the cervical vertebrae as a result of birth trauma;
• hypertonicity or hypotonicity of the muscles of the cervical and shoulder girdle.

Video

I suggest you look at what a positioner for a newborn should look like. In this video you can see the description and subtleties of one of the possible models.

If you think about it, what do young parents need for peace of mind? Everything is very simple, they will be calm and happy when they know that everything is fine with their baby, his health and life are not in danger. You can understand that this is really the case simply by observing his behavior. So, for example, if a newborn eats well, has regular bowel movements, is not bothered by constipation and colic, and also sleeps soundly for the prescribed amount of time, and then is just as actively awake, then this most often indicates that the baby is absolutely healthy and happy, that I was born into such a wonderful family.

Today we found out the effectiveness of one of the items that is sold in a children's store - a positioner. I cannot say that this thing is mandatory in the life of a newborn, however, if parents want to further protect the baby, then this thing will be useful to them. Now share with us your observations and experiences: has this thing been useful to you in your life, has your baby slept in it, and which of the proposed types do you consider the most effective and comfortable.

Recommendations for choosing an orthopedic pillow

An anatomical pillow can be used not only for complex correction and treatment of congenital or acquired musculoskeletal pathologies. Its use can be prophylactic in nature to prevent the development of diseases if there is a disposition to them and small risks. In any case, you cannot do without an examination by a neurologist and an orthopedist in this matter.

• the pillow must be certified for use at a certain age;
• only hypoallergenic filler is used;
• The cover material is made only from natural fabric and is removable (for frequent washing or cleaning).

Before purchasing, you must study the recommendations for caring for the product. Some materials cannot be washed or can only be washed on gentle cycles at low temperatures. Spinning and twisting are prohibited, and drying only on a horizontal surface in the shade. How long the chosen pillow will last directly depends on the quality of its filling. If the pillow does not return to its previous shape when pressed, it is time to replace it.

Modern orthopedic pillows for newborns take into account the structural features of the child’s skeleton and serve as one of the means in the complex treatment of diseases associated with congenital or acquired pathologies of the baby’s musculoskeletal system. Buy them only after consultation and in accordance with the recommendations of a pediatrician or pediatric orthopedist.

Healthy babies do not necessarily need it, but it can serve to prevent the development of these diseases in them, if there are indications. For example, if the child sleeps only on one side all the time. Thanks to the orthopedic pillow, parents can control and regulate the time the child spends on his side and on his back.

It is believed that, if indicated, such a pillow is usually used no earlier than the 15th day of the baby’s life. By this time, it becomes clear whether he has health problems and what kind of pillow should be chosen.

The cover and filling of the pillow provide a comfortable temperature for the baby's head, so you can lay the baby on it without a cap.

It is advisable to wash the headrest pillow in an automatic machine at a temperature not exceeding 40 °C and dry it, avoiding direct sunlight on the product.

If the pillow has lost its elasticity and the filling does not return to its original shape after pressing, it should be replaced.

Safety is the main requirement for children's products. Be sure to ask the seller to present a certificate of conformity of the purchased product.