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Quality sleep is essential at any age, but especially when you’re still growing and developing. The general consensus is that children 1 to 2 years old need 11 to 14 hours of sleep per day and children aged 3 to 5 require 10 to 13 hours of sleep. This is easy enough to accomplish when you’re at home and on your regular schedule, but travel can throw things out whack. But what is the best kids travel pillow on the market?
Whether you’re traveling by car, plane, or something else entirely, it’s important for your child to have a good travel pillow so they can get some much-needed rest. We’ve done the research to find the best travel pillow for kids on the market to help you make your choice.
Read on to learn about the 5 best kids travel pillows that stand out as the best options in different categories.
The Top 5 Travel Pillow for Kids
Everyone deserves to get a comfortable night’s rest and a good pillow can help. When it comes to pillows for children, however, you need to exercise caution. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends not giving a child a pillow until they’re at least 2 years old. As long as your child is old enough to use a pillow safely, it’s a great idea to keep a travel pillow on hand.
Here are our top 5 recommendations for the best kids travel pillow:
#1 Overall Best: BCOZZY Kids Chin Supporting Travel Pillow
The BCOZZY Kids Chin Supporting Travel Pillow is made from soft materials that strike the right balance between comfort and cooling. With the wrap-around design, this pillow can be adjusted to fit any child in any situation. Plus, the custom curved Velcro system keeps the pillow in place once you’ve found the perfect fit. This pillow keeps your child’s head and neck supported on long and short rides, helping to promote safety as well as comfort.
#2 Affordable Pick: Cloudz Kids Microbead Travel Neck Pillow
A good travel pillow for kids doesn’t have to be expensive. The Cloudz Kids Travel Pillow is a great option for its affordability, simple design, and supportive comfort.
The Cloudz Kids Travel Pillow features a simple u-shaped design that rests on your child’s shoulders, supporting the head and neck. Filled with ultra-premium Comforlite microbeads, the pillow conforms to the shape of your child’s body for customized comfort. Choose from two different sides – soft and cozy plush fabric or cool and relaxing spandex – according to your child’s preferences. Best of all, this pillow comes in over half a dozen fun colors and patterns.
#3 Traditional Choice: Snuggle-Pedic Toddler Pillow for Travel
If your family spends a lot of time on the road, your child could definitely use a high-quality travel pillow. The Snuggle-Pedic Toddler Pillow for Travel is a more traditional option perfect for travel.
This travel pillow is filled with shredded memory foam, making it a comfortable and supportive solution for kids. Wrapped in a micro-vented bamboo cover, this pillow keeps your child cool while delivering the contouring comfort and support he needs. All of the materials used in this Snuggle-Pedic pillow are Greenguard Gold Certified and the entire pillow is machine washable for your convenience. Just throw it in the washing machine when you get home and let it dry before the next use.
#4 Most Fun: H HOMEWINS Travel Pillow for Kids
Most kids hate taking naps but only because they don’t realize how much they need them. If your child struggles to sleep in the car, a fun travel pillow like this one from H HOMEWINS might be the ticket.
Choose from over a dozen designs in this kids travel pillow from cute and cuddly pandas, pigs, and kitties to silly shapes like strawberries and sea monsters. The H HOMEWINS Travel Pillow for Kids features a classic u-shaped design to support the head and neck, making it a great option when traveling by car, plane, bus, or anything else. It is filled with soft cotton filling and wrapped in a cozy fleece fabric.
#5 Honorable Mention: IFANZIA Kids Chin Supporting Travel Neck Pillow
When it comes to a high-quality travel pillow, a supportive design means more than a cute shape. The IFANZIA Kids Chin Supporting Travel Neck Pillow is uniquely designed to keep the head from falling forward, supporting the head and neck during sleep.
This kids travel pillow features a u-shaped design but the ends are thicker and wider than usual to provide full support for your child’s head in the back, front, and sides. This pillow helps keep the head from falling forward, ensuring lasting comfort as well as safety when sleeping in the car or on a plane. The pillow is filled with soft materials and covered in a breathable honeycomb-like fabric that is 100% washable. It also features an adjustable snap button in the front to keep it in place during use.
Benefits of a Kids Travel Pillow
The best pillow for kids is one that is appropriately sized for your child and provides ample support for the head and neck. When it comes to travel pillows, you may want to look for something a little different than the pillow your child sleeps with at home. The right kids travel pillow will help your child rest comfortably to prevent fatigue which, as any parent knows, can lead to tantrums.
Travel pillows are designed to be compact and easy to carry. Some travel pillows are similarly shaped to traditional pillows, and these are ideal for use in the hotel, but a circular or u-shaped neck pillow might be better for use in the car or on a plane. These travel pillows help provide a natural resting position for your head while supporting the curvature of the neck and spine.
If you and your family like to travel, it’s well worth investing in a quality travel pillow – especially a travel pillow for kids. Check out some of the options we’ve reviewed above to see if one might suit your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my child sleep in the car more comfortably?
Depending on your child’s age, he or she may still be using a car seat. To make your child’s sleep more comfortable in a car seat, consider using a kids neck pillow or a car seat head rest. If your child no longer uses a car seat, a traditional travel pillow might be an option. Providing your child with comfy blankets and a favorite stuffed toy to cuddle may help as well.
Can you use a travel pillow in a car seat?
It depends on the design. A traditional travel pillow may not be ideal for use in a car seat, especially car seats that already have built-in head rests. A good alternative is a neck pillow. While headrests support your child’s head, a neck pillow can provide neck support and comfort.
Is a memory foam pillow good for kids?
As long as your child is old enough to safely use a pillow, memory foam is a good option. Memory foam provides cushioning and support which are important at all ages. Just be sure to choose a memory foam pillow made with safe, nontoxic materials.