10 Best Baby Pillows UK 2022 | ClevaMama, Silentnight and More

The use of a night-time or nap-time pillow for a baby under 12 months is not recommended by the NHS, due to the increased suffocation risk. Young babies who have rolled or wriggled into a different position, are unable to push a pillow off their face, potentially leading to over-heating (a major factor in cot death) or airway obstruction. 

For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:

1. Babymoov - Lovenest Organic Cotton Anatomical Head Support for £21.59
2. ClevaMama - ClevaFoam Baby Cushion for £17.99
3. Koala Babycare - Perfect Head Baby Pillow for £26.85
4. IKEA - LEN Cot Pillow for £6.85
5. ClevaMama - ClevaFoam Toddler Pillow for £24.08

For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of baby pillows available and understand how our ranking was determined.

This article’s chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.

1. Think Safety - Pick a Daytime Pillow For Newborns Or a Cot Bed Pillow For 1-Year-Olds
2. For Pillow Fillings, Choose Breathable Memory Foam or Budget-Friendly Polyester Fibres
3. Check the Cover - Is it a Breathable Cotton, Bamboo or a Synthetic Pillow Case?
4. If You Have a Baby Prone to Sickness, Go For a Fully Washable Pillow 
5. Allergies or Asthma Affecting Your Baby? Choose a Hypoallergenic or Anti-Allergy Pillow

Plagiocephaly or 'flat head syndrome' generally happens when a young baby's head becomes a little misshapen due to the vast amount of time that they spend lying down. Most occurrences of skull indentation will self-correct, as the baby gets older and naturally spends less time asleep. The NHS suggests talking to your health visitor or GP if you are concerned. 

Baby pillows for newborns and young babies under 12 months which are designed to reduce plagiocephaly, will have a curved appearance or a gradual slope, to support the skull and neck, thus avoiding pressure points. Such baby pillows will clearly state that they are to be used with supervision at all times - so are not for nap times or during the night.

A pillow described as a 'cot bed pillow' will only be up to 60 x 40 cm in size, some may be as small as 50 x 30 cm - for comparison, a standard size adult pillow is 66 cm x 51 cm. Also aim for just 4 cm to 5.5 cm in height (adult pillows are much higher, 8 cm is considered a 'low' adult pillow).

Cot bed pillows are smaller and much less plump as this reduces the risk of suffocation, ensures delicate neck muscles are not over-stretched and make it less likely that your child will be able to use it to climb out of the cot.

Not all older babies will be ready for a cot bed pillow at 12 months, some won't be coordinated enough to remove a pillow obstructing their breathing until they are 18 months old. So do consider the unique developmental stage of your own child before adding a pillow to the bedtime routine.

To encourage a calming bedtime routine, we have baby bath and baby lotion recommendations. 

• Memory foam moulds itself to your body and offers a firm surface. While an expensive option, it holds its shape well and will last for years. Some foam pillows will have air holes to ensure increased ventilation, assisting with temperature regulation. However it does take a while to get used to the feeling of sleeping on foam - so your child may not take to it quickly.

A removable pillowcase means that you don't need to wash the whole pillow each time a launder is required. Check whether a pillowcase is included with your potential purchase and if not, factor in the cost of buying one (and preferably a spare) separately. 

Pillowcases can be made from breathable cotton, a soft and fairly breathable polycotton (mixing polyester and cotton) or from polyester - which is durable and cheap to buy, but as a synthetic material, it can be a rather sweaty choice. Bamboo is also a newer, more-sustainable option than water-thirsty cotton, and even when mixed with polyester, bamboo provides a breathable and sweat-free pillow surface.

Cot pillowcases are notoriously hard to find (as 'cot bed pillow' dimensions vary) - you do need a properly fitting pillowcase so there isn't excess fabric causing a suffocation risk. Often cot pillowcases only come in a set with a cot duvet cover, making pillows that come without pillowcases potentially a false economy.

To help keep an eye on the temperature of your baby's room, take a look at our best room thermometers.

Some babies are just more prone to sickness than others, especially if you have a posseting infant (who regurgitates up their milk after a feed). So be sure to check whether the pillow is washable - it is a big bonus if you can chuck the entire pillow into the washing machine and even tumble dry it afterwards too. 

Most washable pillows need low or low-ish washing temperatures, but some can be washed at 60 degrees - so if a really hygienic clean is important to you, check out the care instructions before purchasing.

Pillows classed as 'hypoallergenic' are less likely to cause or trigger allergies - they will most likely have a close-weave outer material to block dust and allergens from accumulating in the pillow and be filled with natural or synthetic fibres which naturally deter dust mites and bacteria.

Pillows labelled as 'anti-allergy' have been treated in a chemical-free way to repel dust mites and bed bugs. Look out for the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification (a guarantee of no harmful chemical usage in the manufacturing process) and approval from Allergy UK or the British Allergy Foundation.

This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used. 

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Written and researched by Lucy S