When to Begin Pillow and Sheet/blanket

I started using a pillow at 2 yrs old, and she is almost 2 and a half now, in a toddler bed, but didnt move her into that until she fell out of her crib one time and that was enough for me. I just use the fitted sheet on her mattress, but she does have a blanket. I dont bother with the extra sheet, one its FL in the summer right now, and two, I am sort of cautious because I think crazy stuff like she can get caught in it and stuff, so I dont bother with it.

My children started using blankets as soon as they were able to use their arms to move stuff out of the way. Nothing too heavy of course and we always tucked it in around our kids. Pillows started at about a year old. Just so you know, I have 3 and another on the way. None of my children had any problems with pillows and blankets. My advice if you are really worried, put him down for a nap with a pillow and blanket next time. Watch him closely and see how he does. Use a receiving blanket or something similar. If he does okay for about a week with blankets and pillows at naptime he should be ready for them. Just make sure the blankets aren't really heavy and the pillow is kind of firm. Something he won't sink into. Maybe even a travel size pillow like the ones they sell at Wal-Mart and Target for road trips. Those work well when they're first getting used to a pillow.

Believe it or not, they dont make sheets for crib mattresses. I foudn a site online that i ordered different size sheets from, they fit the crib mattress, but it was smaller than a twin. let me know, i and i can dig up the what site it was. Or you could just use a twin sheet, i have done that too. I do recommend getting a small pillow, not twin size, but it is flat and smaller than a twin.

Sam just turned two and he doesn't use either. I don't see a need for him to. I do still put him in footed, long-sleeve pajamas, though. Since he curls up in the fetal position with his knees under him, I can't see him using a pillow.

I have to ditto the others that said go with your gut.

i'm pretty sure as soon as they could turn over (4 to 6 months) -- i gave them a blanket.......i waited for the pillow until they could sit up -- definitely by age 1.......my 2 1/2 year old likes his blanket and pillow but rarely uses either.....he moves around a lot.
Your child may love them or not need them......I'd at least offer it. At almost 2 years, I think you wrote, there is no danger from a pillow or blanket if that's what you are worried about. Soon you'll be having to deal with a big kid bed! We're putting that off as long as possible too.

I believe it depends on the child and how you feel. I have 3 children. My oldest is now 8 but I had him in a twin bed with the side rails you buy at the age if 15months. Because at 9months he was climbing out of his crib. My 2nd child who is now 7 was in a tot bed around the same age as my first but he never climbed out of his crib. At this time they both had a pillow and used blankets when they were able to move/roll over. I now have a 13month old. He still is in the crib with no pillow but has to have a blanket or he won't sleep.:) I would just be cafeful that if you do use a pillow in the crib he/she don't use it as a stool to climb out:) But I've worked in daycare and have a big family, for sure by 2 they can use a pillow and blanket and should be fine in a tot bed or a twin with rails. But again whatever your comfortable with. There is no wrong or right way to do things. Hope this helps.

My 7 month old sleeps in a crib with a light baby blanket on him. My daughter started sleeping in a "big girl" (twin) bed with a small/thin pillow and blanket at about 15 months old. My older two boys made the transition when they were about 23 months old. Hope this helps!

H.
www.theflutterbyshoppe.com

I put a travel size pillow in my son's crib when I noticed he showed a preference and interest in using a pillow; like on my bed or the couch. He was probably a year and a half. I was lucky in that my mother-in-law made us some sheets, they were not big enough to tuck in but he never had a problem with them. I think toddler sheet sets fit a crib mattress. It might be worth it to buy a set especially if your son will be moving to a toddler bed soon or his crib converts.

They do make sheets for cribs, same size as toddler beds, at walmart. That's the only place I ever got mine. Also, we used blankets for both our children from day one. When they were infants, we did the swaddling, but when they grew out of that, we just put the blanket on them, no problems. I think when it comes to stuff like this, you have to go with your gut and do what you think is right. Like the whole "only let babies sleep on their backs" thing... my daughter would only sleep on her tummy. She would wake up over and over if I put her on her back... so she slept on her tummy and she's fine! As I said, YOU are the mother, YOU know your child best, YOU do what YOU think is the best for your son!!!