Both of my kids were more distracted by their loveys at bedtime than soothed by them. It took much longer for them to fall asleep with them, so they don't go to bed anymore.

Anonymous wrote:NP--I was wondering what age the lovey was introduced? my 6 month old wakes up and plays with her hands or her paci--but I worry that having a piece of fabric is still too dangerous at her age.
is around a year a reasonable time to introduce one?

We introduced a small bunny stuffed animal around 5 months. He cuddles with it and also with his wubbanub, which he doesn't use as a pacifier anymore.

We introduced one of those stuffed bunny heads on a little blanket when my DS was 6 months. SIDS levels drop off dramatically at that age and at that point my DS had started crawling, so I personally felt like the odds that he would be unable to move his mouth away from a near-impossible suffocation position were low enough that I didn't worry.

Well, if the baby plays with her hands and her pacifier, then she's found something to do while she goes back to sleep or while she wakes up fully. You could add a lovey at 12 months, but honestly before then I wouldn't. And also if the lovey "works" and she likes it, get 2 or 3 STAT. Because she'll love it and want it and if it's ever left anywhere by accident, sleep will be very difficult that night. Also after a lovey has been used, rubbed, washed and dried many times, it doesn't look new and the new replacement is often refused. So you will want to switch them out all the time so they all are equally loved, rubbed, and washed/dried!

Anonymous wrote:When my daughter was just over a year, we gave her a soft bunny to keep in her crib. She loves it. She is now 15 months old and calls it "Bah." "Going to see Bah" has become synonymous with taking a nap/going to bed at night, and as soon as she gets into her crib, she grabs the bunny, hugs it, and says, "Oh, Bah!!" as if they have been separated for weeks rather than hours. It's definitely made it easier for her to settle down in her crib than it was before she had it. I expect Bah will go with her to college someday.

This is my DD too. After our bedtime routine, I'll ask for a snuggle and she'll point to her crib and say "bunny". She would prefer to snuggle the damn bunny to me! Sigh.

When my daughter was just over a year, we gave her a soft bunny to keep in her crib. She loves it. She is now 15 months old and calls it "Bah." "Going to see Bah" has become synonymous with taking a nap/going to bed at night, and as soon as she gets into her crib, she grabs the bunny, hugs it, and says, "Oh, Bah!!" as if they have been separated for weeks rather than hours. It's definitely made it easier for her to settle down in her crib than it was before she had it. I expect Bah will go with her to college someday.

Anonymous wrote:Yes! Lovey is crucial to sleep for us - we introduced at 5 months, once he could roll over. Started sleeping 12-hour stretches 2 weeks later! At 2 years he's still a great sleeper.

This PP - you need to choose a small light breathable one at that age.

Yes! Lovey is crucial to sleep for us - we introduced at 5 months, once he could roll over. Started sleeping 12-hour stretches 2 weeks later! At 2 years he's still a great sleeper.

How old is your baby? That will change my answer.

We let my daughter have a small stuffed animal around 15 months. I was comfortable with it then. Before a baby is able to really move around well in the crib, I'd be a no-go on anything in the crib. So for my 6 month old I'd say no way. He can roll, but that's it at this point.

Lovey was a game changer for us. My almost 2 year old is still obsessed with his "ya ya" (he named it) and carries it around all the time, reaches for it while he sleeps, etc.

NP--I was wondering what age the lovey was introduced? my 6 month old wakes up and plays with her hands or her paci--but I worry that having a piece of fabric is still too dangerous at her age.
is around a year a reasonable time to introduce one?

Yes, both my DS's sleep with lovey/taggie blankies

Yes, my DD has a little stuffed bunny. I put it in with her once she started spending a little more awake time in her crib, both before falling asleep and after waking up. I think I started right around a year. Now she's 19 months and she LOVES that bunny. We can see her on our video monitor and when she rolls over, she almost always reaches and pulls the bunny with her. When she wakes up, she plays it a little. She likes to fiddle with it, meaning she rubs it's eyes and the ends of the arms/legs. It's a calming thing.

Anyhow, it's been great for us. Gives her comfort and helps her feel positive about being in the crib. Give it a try and see.

My son has been helped by his "taggie" blanket. It is a lovie that has tags sewn all over it. He loves to rub them and it settles him down.

Wondering if a lovey that smells like mom would help soothe baby at night? Or is it just something else to keep them up and distracted at night?