Getting a good night's sleep is essential when it comes to ensuring that your kids are feeling their absolute best. Disrupted sleep can affect concentration and stress levels, so making sure your child is comfortable at night is vital for their health. Whether they're still at the cot stage, or moving on to a single bed, it's important to find the right pillow to cushion and support their head.
Pillows for kids come in all sorts of inventive shapes and sizes, some with removable covers and pillowcases, others made from memory foam and hypoallergenic pillows to keep dust allergies at bay. You might even want to pick up a travel neck pillow to help them get some shut-eye on the move. In this article we've ranked the top 10 best pillows for kids on Amazon, Argos and eBay UK, so your little one can have the comfiest place to lay their head.
Quick List - Top Pillows for Kids
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At first, you could be fooled into thinking that pillows - simple looking things that they at times are - are not that complicated. In actuality, their designs are surprisingly intricate and vary a huge amount. So it's worth exploring what's out there, which is exactly what this guide will help you to do.
Different pillows are better suited to different situations. After all the type of pillow you would ideally want for their bed, isn't going to be great for use during long car journeys. To help you find the right one, here's what you need to know.
Pillows for kids fall into two main types. The first is a standard bed pillow, although even some of these are far from standard. These pillows are designed to be used in a bed or a cot as your child sleeps at night. Most are rectangular, but some will come in more creative shapes, offering different levels of support.
The shape of a pillow will be dictated by a number of factors. While the typical rectangular shape is great for a bed, getting one that's designed for children won't be identical to an adult's. Instead, it should be smaller so as to align their neck in the right way.
The other option is a travel pillow, used to prop up your child's neck and head so they can have a serene slumber even while on the move. These pillows look dramatically different to bed pillows, but need to be equally comfortable and supportive.
Travel pillows are usually round, with a hole in the middle for your child's head. The surrounding cushioning sits on the shoulders to support their neck. However, even these don't all follow the same simple circular shape, with some having more cushioning in certain areas than others.
There is a whole range of materials to choose from when it comes to what's used to pad out your child's pillow. Each has unique properties, and they can feel pretty different when you lie on them, as well as the all important differences in price.
Memory foam is a hugely popular material when it comes to sleep, and for good reason! It moulds itself to your body and remembers your movements for a more tailored fit. This means your child can find maximum comfort to help promote a restful sleep!
However, it's not the top choice for everyone. It can be more expensive and for some people it takes a while to get used to the feeling.
A microbead filling, like memory foam, is very malleable and can will adjust to accommodate your child's movements as they sleep. It's also highly breathable, stopping them from overheating at night.
The disadvantage of microbeads is their synthetic odour - although it should be stressed that it is in no way dangerous! Microbeads also have a shorter lifespan and can flatten over time, which will mean the pillow loses its spring.
Most cheap pillows are filled with synthetic down, making them the budget-friendly option of choice. Synthetic down is hard-wearing so these pillows can often be put in the wash, which is just what you need when you have lively, messy kids.
They aren't the most breathable option, though, and your kids might feel that this type of pillow is too warm in the summer months.
The filling material may be vital in providing the springiness and overall feeling of a pillow, but the outer cover is important too! Even if it's going to go inside a pillowcase, the material the cover is made from still has a part to play in making the pillow as comfortable as possible.
As with synthetic down, pillow covers made from synthetic fabrics are affordable and durable, so can withstand a large amount of wear and tear. But, also like synthetic down, they aren't as breathable as natural fabrics. This lack of ventilation might lead your kids to become uncomfortably hot, which can cause sleep disruption.
While they are more expensive, natural fabrics have many advantages. The creative use of slightly unusual fabrics like bamboo, and more conventional choices like cotton - sometimes in conjunction with a synthetic fabric like polyester - brings qualities like breathability and softness to a pillow.
Children, especially young children, toddlers and babies, tend to have smaller-than-average beds. In some cases, they may still be sleeping in a cot. This means they need a pillow that's smaller than average to ensure it fits perfectly.
Check the measurements of your child's sleeping space and mattress to see if it matches the dimensions of the pillow you want to buy. The dimensions for a child's pillow vary hugely, but as a guideline, should be smaller than the standard pillow size of 70 x 50 cm.
The cover that comes with many rectangular bed pillows doesn't normally act as a pillow case, or in other words, it is not the material which your child will lie on. These covers are used to keep the filling contained and add another level of protection.
Pillows that come with a removable cover or pillow case give you an easy way of keeping your child's bedding clean. This allows you to refresh the pillow regularly by simply throwing the cover in the wash, something that can't often be done with pillows that don't separate.
The build-up of dust can be a nightmare for those who have allergies! Bedding can be a real trigger for allergic reactions, so if your child does struggle, it is worth looking for a pillow that's hypoallergenic.
This just means that they are unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. Often, this is achieved by using materials that are inhospitable to dust mites.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | HelpAccess Memory Foam Toddler Pillow | ![]() | An Ergonomic Pillow for Maximum Comfort | |
2 | Panda Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow | ![]() | A Bigger Pillow for Growing Kids | |
3 | N/C Baby Pillow | ![]() | Keep Your Baby's Head Just Where It Should Be | |
4 | Snugl Travel Pillow for Kids | ![]() | A Supportive Travel Pillow That Can Be Worn At All Angles | |
5 | Arlinens Memory Foam Cot Pillow | ![]() | Soft and Small, Perfect for Little Heads to Rest | |
6 | Silentnight Safe Nights Anti Allergy Cot Bed Pillow | ![]() | An Incredibly Affordable Pillow With Hypoallergenic Properties | |
7 | Keababies Toddler Pillow | ![]() | A Pillow That Comes With a Very Cute Case | |
8 | Maibar Animal Travel Pillow | ![]() | Children Will Love This Clever Animal Design | |
9 | Slumberdown Little Slumbers Toddler Soft Pillow | ![]() | A Simple Pillow That Helps With Allergies | |
10 | Trunki Kids Travel Neck Pillow | ![]() | A Fun and Bright Pillow for Resting on the Go |
This pillow is designed to support the unique shape of each child's head and adapt to their individual needs. It sinks in where it needs to, while still maintaining its supportive structure under the heaviest parts of the head. It's small and perfectly to suit kids of all ages.
This pillow is the perfect sleeping companion, but that doesn't mean more practical, non-sleep related considerations haven't been taken into account. The soft cover can be easily taken off and washed and is made from hypoallergenic materials to keep everyone happy.
Pillows for kids can often be very small, which is great if your youngster is still in a cot, but if they've grown enough to move into a bigger bed it might be time to move on to a bigger pillow too. That's why this pillow is perfect for kids who are 4 years and older.
The pillow uses squishy memory foam so your child can find just the right position. Plus, the bamboo cover keeps things cool and can be taken off and washed to freshen it up - essential given its bright white colour!
This pillow is designed for babies who are just learning how to sleep with a pillow. The teddy bear design is very sweet, but it is the way that the shape supports your baby's head that is the real star of the show.
With a hole in the centre, surrounded by memory foam, you can place your baby's head in the middle and know that it will be supported from every angle. Best of all, the cover of this pillow can be taken off and washed and the memory foam filling can be wiped clean!
If a simple travel pillow just won't cut it, you need this clever product that can be worn in all sorts of ways to offer your child's neck and head the maximum support. Whether their head lolls from side to side or front to back, this head rest has them covered!
It can be annoying to carry travel pillows around with you as they are often quite bulky. Luckily, this pillow manages to solve that problem by folding down to 30% of its normal size. In addition to this, it has case which you can use to carry it around when it's not in use.
Bamboo is a bit of a wonder material, and in this pillow, all of its benefits are used to full effect. The fabric is super breathable, making it the perfect choice for hot nights. You'll need to put a pillowcase on top, but the ultra-soft bamboo cover certainly adds to the overall comfort of the pillow.
The smaller size means it works better for little heads, cots and tiny beds. The filling is made from memory foam, offering excellent cushioning and making it a pillow that will adapt to all your kid's tossing and turning at night.
This product is a great choice for a first pillow, whether tit's for a cot or their first proper bed. It's hypoallergenic to stop sneezing, sore eyes and asthma. Plus, this pillow has been rigorously tested to make sure it is suitable for young children, so you can rest easy knowing your child will have a safe sleep.
The synthetic fabric might be what gives the pillow its anti-allergy properties, but polyester does share the same problem that these types of fabrics all suffer from - and that's the lack of breathability.
This pillow comes with a removable case, so it's ready to be used as soon as you get it. The natural cotton used for the outer material will keep your kids' heads cool on hot days, and let's not forget how soft it is!
Although it's made from natural materials, this pillow isn't hypoallergenic, which is something to consider if your child suffers from allergies. This means it's slightly more on the expensive side, too.
The simple travel pillow design has been redesigned to look like a sleeping fox, an additional feature that will really draw kids in! This pillow does more than just look good, though. With its hypoallergenic properties, kids who are sensitive to dust will be able to rest their heads without a problem.
The design of this pillow might have been upgraded in terms of style, but the shape might not provide the degree of support and comfort that your child needs to sleep whilst travelling.
This might look like a normal pillow, but it has been specially tailored to children. The fill has been reduced to improve the alignment of the neck, head and back. Furthermore, Little Slumbers take allergies seriously, and have created a product that provides asthma and dust mite protection.
On the downside, this pillow is not made from any natural materials. Whilst polyester is fine for pillows, it can be very hot as it doesn't breathe as well as other fibres.
Trunki are most famous for their child-friendly suitcases, seen in airports all over the world. Now, you can buy a matching travel pillow to help your child rest whilst going on their adventures. This pillow is held in place round the child's neck with magnets connecting the two ends, and children are sure to love the cute design of an animal's face.
Sadly, this pillow is very basic and might not offer as much support as other options. The manufacturer also don't specify the materials from which it's made, making life more difficult for those with allergies.
Finding the right pillow is a step in the right direction when it comes to creating the ultimate sleeping experience, but it's not the only thing you can do for your child to help them feel adequately rested. A good bed and some cosy blankets will also aid their sleep, perhaps so soundly asleep they'll need a top-notch alarm clock to wake them up too!
Bedtime for kids can be frantic, sometimes turning into a bit of a battle. With the help of these comfy pillows, the prospect crawling into a cosy bed with the perfect place to rest their head might be just enough to tempt them towards the land of Nod.
Author: Emma Cramp
No. 1: HelpAccess|Memory Foam Toddler Pillow
No. 2: Panda|Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow
No. 3: N/C|Baby Pillow
No. 4: Snugl|Travel Pillow for Kids
No. 5: Arlinens|Memory Foam Cot Pillow
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