Tags
Aden + Anais, Aden + Anais security blankets, comforting a baby, introducing a lovey, lovey, security blanket, Sleep training
With the ongoing process of sleep training and trying to get Jack comfortable in his crib and to be able to self soothe, we felt introducing a lovey might be able to help. I don’t remember growing up with one but Dave had a blankie that he used for years. With Jack at just over 5 months, it seemed like now would be a good time to make that introduction.
I did some research and found the Aden + Anais security blankets. At 16″x16″, they seemed like the perfect size. Breathable fabric with a soft satin trim. We settled on the ones with the monkey’s on them:
I washed them as soon as we got home and had intended on sleeping with them that night so they would smell like me but Jack was having a particularly tough time going to sleep that night. I left his room, grabbed the blankie and gave it to him. Within minutes he was asleep curled up on his new blankie.
If the connection continues with it, then I will go buy another pack of two and make sure that I wash them all at the same time and try to rotate them in so we don’t have one falling apart too fast.
I know Jack could want to carry that blankie with him wherever he goes which could potentially be a nightmare. I see blankie falling in puddles and in the grocery store etc. But I have read that you can set rules with respect to a lovey and have it only a bedtime thing which is what we are going to try to do.
I would love to hear of other parents experience with loveys. What was your child’s? How did you introduce them? How did you wean them off of it and at what age?
Becoming Jen 
With our first, Rose, we didn’t introduce any kind of lovey. She did have a binky for sleeping until she was 1 but dropped it with no problem. She just never seemed to want one. Even now, she has stuffed animals she likes to snuggle with but not one in particular.
With Evelyn, now 14 months, we used a wabanub (those binkies attached to a stuffed animal) for sleeping. She liked to snuggle with the animal as she slept so when we dropped the binky a week ago, I made her a soft lovey to snuggle with. She still isn’t that happy with not having her binky, ha, but likes to snuggle with the lovey. We only let her use it in the crib for the reason you mentioned. Don’t want it to become a dependence she needs everywhere. I know too many people who have horror stories of leaving them places. The drama! 😉
Thanks for your comments!
I think having it only as a crib thing will definitely make it easier! We are introducing it during our bedtime and nap routine. We grab it and give to him during story time.
Nolan’s lovey is a Harley Davidson bear that his uncle Kevin bought him the day he was born. He needs it to sleep and cuddles with it all day long. We have rules, he can’t take it in stores or to school.
Archer’s lovey is a blanket. He cuddles with it when he’s sleepy and needs comfort. It’s also not allowed in stores.
I wish we’d thought to get more than one blanket, but we didn’t
Laundry day is a horrible experience haha.
I can imagine! Hopefully the rotating schedule will work.
We tried a little stuffed monkey but it just didn’t take but the blankie is working so far!