FAQs

What is SIDS?

SIDS is the acronym for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, sometimes referred to as cot death or crib death. It is the leading cause of death in children between one month and one year of age. Most SIDS deaths happen when babies are between 2 months and 4 months of age.

What is “Back to Sleep”?

“Back to Sleep” is an initiative backed by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) at the National Institute of Health to encourage parents to have their infants sleep on their backs (supine position) to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Why is Plagiocephaly (Flat-Head Syndrome) increasingly common among newborn babies?

Since the Back-to-Sleep campaign, promoting supine infant sleep position (face up), the incidence of SIDS has declined by more than 50%. However babies’ soft heads suffer from constant high pressure spots when they sleep on their back in one position which can result in a flattening of the skull over time. Plagiocephaly is the term that is used to describe a diagonal asymmetry across the head shape.

How can parents preserve their baby's head?

Mimos Pillow is designed to prevent skull flattening and allow your baby’s head to grow normally and round out to its natural shape. In addition, we recommend parents with young babies do more Tummy Time and basic head positional exercises (physiotherapy).

Why do babies sleep in one position?

Your baby is likely to have a favourite sleep position that feels comfortable. Alternatively, it may be that the neck muscles have developed a tightness which causes the head to tilt and/or turn to one side (known as Torticollis). Babies that always sleep on one side do have a higher tendency to develop Plagiocephaly.

How can I tell if my baby has Flat-Head-Syndrome?

Severe Plagiocephaly is easily identified by visual observation of your baby’s head from the top/zenith view. If you are not sure consult your GP. We also provide The Craniometer that can be used to measure the index of deformity.

When should my baby start using Mimos pillow?

Mimos pillow can be used from birth upwards; different sizes are available depending on age and cranial perimeter.

Is Mimos pillow only used for babies with Flat-Head-Syndrome (Plagiocephaly)?

No, it can be used for every newborn baby to preserve natural head shape. We highly recommended using Mimos Pillow from birth.

Until what age can my baby use this pillow?

Our M size pillow can be used up to a maximum of 18 months old. However, it can be vary depending on baby’s head size and physical development of the individual. Head circumference is more accurate for the size guide as follow:

Size-XS: Less than 37 cm

Size-S: Between 36 and 46  cm (proximate start age 1 to 4 month)

Size-M: Between 42 and 49 cm (proximate start age 5 to 10 month)

Size-L: Over 49 cm 

Size-P: Between 36 and 46 cm (use in pram, car seat, mosses basket) 

How is the pillow maintained (is it washable)?

We recommend turning the pillow once a day to maintain its original shape (example: flip over the pillow to the reverse side but keeping the shorter part at lower side). It can be machine washed at 20ºC on a cotton cycle. There is also an optional cover available for the pillow. Note: Do not tumble dry!

How is Mimos pillow different to memory foam products ?

Memory foam is a polyurethane structure that has been recognised as dangerous for babies as they pose a high risk of suffocation. Mimos pillow is made from a three-dimensional spacer fabric and has Air-Safety certification (Anti-suffocation TUV Certification), meaning it is certified as safe for use with babies

Is Mimos pillow allergy-free?

Yes, it is made of anti-Allergenic material with Oekotex 100 Class 1 certified for direct baby contact

Where is Mimos pillow made?

Mimos Pillow and its cover are manufactured in Barcelona, Spain, at a specially designed facility approved by Spanish health authorities in accordance with European CE regulation.

Can I use Mimos pillow together with my baby’s bouncer, cot, and stroller?

It should be used anywhere when the head is resting on a flat surface, even if is a soft flat surface

What are the Key Advantages of Mimos Baby Pillow?

Safety is our highest priority. Mimos pillow is the only pillow engineered with high quality 3D breathable spacer fabric. It is tested for anti-suffocation or CO2 rebreathing safe, offers superb comfort with 4 times less pressure, and is allergy free. Mimos Pillow is the safest pillow; it is the only baby pillow you can trust for its clinically efficacy and breathable safe.

Is there research suggesting that Pillows increase the risk of SIDS?

A study that looked at historic photographs of scenes where babies had suffered from SIDS and compared them to current settings where SIDS had not, as yet, occurred, found that pillows were significantly more likely to be present in settings where SIDS had historically occurred. Although this research did not provide any evidence of a causal link between any individual factors and SIDS, SIDS is such a devastating occurrence that the results of this study resulted in several recommendations, including not sleeping with a baby in your bed and not using a pillow with your baby. However, the research predates the existence of Mimos Pillow, which is made from a unique 3D fabric, and this pillow has been extensively tested for safety

Is there research suggesting that pillows help with baby flat head syndrome? (is Mimos pillow effective ?)

Yes, please visit our resources page to download the clinical studies.

What safety certification does Mimos baby pillow have?(are Mimos pillows safe ?)

1. Clinically Proven Effective
2. Air-flow Safety – Anti-suffocation TUV Certification
3. European Safety Certification EN71-1:2005 “Safe for Children 0 -3 years”
4. European CE Class 1 Medical Device
5. Textile Safety Certification - Oekotex 100 Class 1
6. CO2 rebreathing safe - prevent rebreathing Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

What is Flat Head Syndrome (FHS)?

Flat Head Syndrome, also known as Positional Plagiocephaly, is a disorder that affects the skull, making a baby’s head appear flat.

Flat Head Syndrome can occur while the baby is still in the womb, but flattening of the skull now appears much more commonly after the birth of the child. It can also be particularly prevalent in premature babies. This is because the younger the baby is, the ‘softer’ the skull is and so it can be easily ‘flattened’ if the baby sleeps in the same position for a prolonged amount of time.

In the early stages of a babies life, usually around the development stage of being a few months old, babies can appear to form a flattened, asymmetrical skull shape, as a result of them spending too much time on their back. This is because the younger the baby is, the ‘softer’ the skull is and so - it can be easily ‘flattened’ if the baby sleeps in the same position for a prolonged amount of time. This is known as a flat head syndrome and there are two main types of this syndrome to be aware of: 

• Positional Plagiocephaly:

  This is where a babies head is flattened across just one side, causing it to appear asymmetrical. Positional Plagiocephaly may cause the ears to appear misaligned and the babies face could potentially bulge as a result of this type of flat head syndrome. There are no exact numbers of how many babies are affected by this syndrome, but recent research suggests that almost 1 in 2 babies can develop positional plagiocephaly, either during the womb or more commonly in the development stages after birth.

• Brachycephaly:

  Brachycephaly is where the back of the baby's head becomes flattened and causes the rest of the babies skull to expand and widen in other areas. Similarly to positional plagiocephaly, this can also cause a babies forehead to bulge.

What causes Flat Head syndrome?

Babies are in a special development stage of their lives, where their soft skulls allow room for brain growth, which occurs during the first year of their life. As a result of their delicate skulls, a babies head shape can be easily molded and ‘shaped’, if pressure is repeatedly applied.

The most common cause of a flattened head shape, is a baby’s natural sleeping position. Infants sleep on their backs for several hours at a time and if they prefer a sleeping spot and sleep in the same position time and time again, their head can sometimes appear to flatten in place.

Do pillows help with flat head syndrome?

Not all pillows can help with Flat Head Syndrome. It is important to choose the right pillow that has been designed to help with Flat Head Syndrome, which is safe and has been tested and certified to be safe for babies.

The Mimos Pillow is designed and clinically proven to prevent and treat positional plagiocephaly, otherwise known as baby flat head syndrome. For best results, we advise using both the Mimos Pillow and a number of other techniques together.

What other techniques can I implement to help with Flat Head Syndrome?

In order to prevent or reverse Flat Head Syndrome, parents typically leverage a number of techniques:

1. Remove the pressure as much as much as possible

   Parents are encouraged to carry their baby as much as possible using a sling or baby carrier and also introduce regular ‘Tummy-Time’. This helps to remove the pressure from the flattened side of the skull. However, not all babies enjoy doing tummy-time and usually tummy-time only lasts between 3-5 minutes two or three times each day. This means there’s only a limited amount of impact that tummy time can have to prevent or reverse flat head syndrome.

2. Alter the pressure points

   Some babies have a preferable side that they sleep on habitually, in which case the parent may intervene to change the position of their baby. This technique is called supervised repositioning. In order to alter the pressure points on the skull parents are encouraged to assist their baby to sleep on an alternate side (not flat) using positioning aids or toys to attract attention for baby to turn to the required side.

   In general the repositioning technique can be effective, however it requires unwavering effort and is hard to implement consistently through the night or while baby/parents are sleeping.

3. Reduce or distribute the pressure while baby is in the supine position (lying horizontally with the face and torso facing up)

   This can be done using a specialist pressure distribution pillow, cushion or mattress such as the Mimos Pillow.

Can Flat Head Syndrome correct itself?

Not always. The standard recommendation from the NHS is that the flat head is just a cosmetic problem and can either recover itself or be hidden by a baby’s hair as the baby grows older.

However, clinical publications suggest that only 25% - 75% of babies with Flat Head Syndrome see their skull recover by itself. A recent study from the Netherlands published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) indicated that 75% of infants continue to have some degree of skull deformation at two years of age. The authors also stated that:

“Skull deformation does not completely resolve in all cases by natural course, and helmet therapy does not seem to have an added value for recovery. Therefore, we emphasise the importance of prevention, early detection, and early treatment with paediatric physiotherapy of skull deformation.”

Is it safe for a baby to use a pillow?

Health professionals at the NHS and safe sleep experts at the Lullaby Trust say you should not use any pillows before your little one is at least one year old. That’s because, according to a study in the US, soft surfaces including typical soft mattress and pillows increase the risk of SIDs.

Mimos pillow is the only baby pillow with European CE approved Class 1 Medical device with proven clinical efficacy.

Also, thanks to the special 3D mesh fabric use and unique construction, the Mimos Pillow and its cover have been rigorously tested and certified as safe from being a suffocation hazard. This is because the air permeability and airflow requirement in our fabric exceeds the standard requirement. Also, the pillow has been tested in the US as being a low hazard for CO2 rebreathing.

How long does delivery take?

Shipping within the UK is with Royal Mail Signed For service

• Tracking # will be sent to you via email.
• Orders are usually fulfilled 24 hours after your purchase (excluding weekends & holidays).
• Orders will usually arrive within 2-6 business days.

What’s in the Mimos Baby Pillow?

Each pillow is handmade and is made up of 32 layers of 3D-Mesh-fabric to form a torus shape. This torus shape is a patented design and offers even pressure distribution to make the product safe and suitable for babies to use. The USPs of this unique combination of material and design are:

1. Provides great pressure distribution for ultimate comfort
2. Allows for Extreme Airflow to prevent suffocation
3. Because of the Airflow capability – it also helps to disperse moisture more quickly. This is particularly useful in case your baby sweats, spills milk or soils the pillow.
4. The complete pillow is also machine washable and can be hung to dry under the sun. Most of the alternative pillows on the market (including those made from memory foam) are not washable – this means that they may collect bacteria and dust mites. Also, memory foam cannot be dried under the sun. If you do attempt to dry memory foam then it may be hardened and begin to crumble if exposed to the sun’s UV light that kills bacteria and bed bugs.

How is Mimos Pillow Different to Memory Foam Products?

Memory foam is a polyurethane structure that has been recognised as dangerous for babies as they pose a high risk of suffocation. Mimos Pillow is made from a three-dimensional spacer fabric and has Air-Safety certification (Anti-suffocation TUV Certification), meaning it is certified as safe for use with babies.

Where are Mimos Baby Pillows made?

Mimos Pillows are Handmade in Barcelona Spain by ISO 13485 registered manufacture (Quality Management System for Medical Device).

Does the Mimos Baby Pillow help with Flat Head Syndrome?

The Mimos Pillow is designed and clinically-proven to prevent and treat positional plagiocephaly, otherwise known as baby flat head syndrome. For best results, we advise using both the Mimos Pillow and a number of other techniques together.

Is the Mimos Baby Pillow Allergy-Free?

Yes, the Mimos Baby Pillow is made of anti-Allergenic material with Oekotex 100 Class 1 certified for direct baby contact.

When should my baby start using the Mimos Pillow?

Mimos Pillow can be used from birth upwards; different sizes are available depending on age and Cranial Perimeter.

Until what age can my baby use the Mimos Baby Pillow?

Our Size-M pillow can be used up to a maximum of 18 months old. However, it can vary depending on the baby's head size and physical development of the individual baby. Please Check our size guide based on the head circumference.

Can I use Mimos Pillow together with my baby’s bouncer, cot, and stroller?

The Mimos Baby Pillow can be used anywhere when the head is resting on a flat surface, even if is a soft flat surface.

What size Mimos Baby Pillow do I need?

One size does not fit all - and so choosing the right size Mimos Baby Pillow and upgrading to the larger size at the right time is very important.

Different sizes are needed to support different head circumference and neck size. The pillow sizes differ in cavity diameter, cavity position, overall thickness and neck support area.

This helpful video shows how to choose the right size pillow for your baby to ensure the safety of using the Mimos pillow.

How to wash your Mimos Pillow?

The Mimos Baby Pillow is machine washable. This helpful video shows you how to wash and care for your Mimos Baby Pillow.