Toddler Sleep with Stuffed Animal?

My daugher has a couple stuffed animals that she likes in her crib with her (and I often find her "talking" them them in the morning). I felt, by about a year old, that she was more than able to move her head away if she was face-first into her fuzzy friends.

A., I think an animal would be fine. My oldest found her bear at 11 months and has slept with it every night since then (she's 7 and still sleeps with it) and my youngest started sleeping with her cow at 6 months (she's 5 and still has "Moo"). My advise for having them though is to try and keep the animal out of stores and stuff like that. We did that to keep from losing them (we did once but found it) but we found that it helped when school started. My oldest carried her's every where and when she went to preschool had a real problem being separated with the bear. The little one because we always left Moo in the car and she didn't take it in places was fine without him at school.

You could always take the animal out after he falls asleep, or roll up a blanket, or put a pillow next to him?

He needs to choose his own lovey-- we tried over and over to get our son to pick one up at that age (for the same reasons), but one day he picked up a stuffed dog I had given my husband when we were engaged b/c it looked like our dog, and he has slept with it every night since (he's 4!). Maybe it smelled like my husband since it had been sitting with his stuff so long? Have you thought about taking him to a toy store where you could see if something catches his eye?
--Oh, and do NOT use a Beanie Baby for a small child. Their tags say 3 and up for good reason-- if even slightly ripped (say, by a toddler's chewing or rubbing) they drop beads that look like candy, and especially at night you don't want a baby swallowing that.

just throwing this in here, i didn't catch the website but i googled "SIDS/13 months old" just to see what came up. a Dr. Carrol from California (again, i don't know his credentials), says, "...>95% (of SIDS cases)... occurred before 6 months of age." apparently most of them occur between 2 and 4 months of age, with more than 95% ocurring by the 6 month mark. (this made me feel better too because i have a friend who swears there's a toddler version of SIDS...)

i'd say (and i'd still encourage you to do some research of your own, i just did a quick five-minute search) that i'd be okay with those odds. but that's just me. good luck getting your little guy to sleep!

I don't have any advice about sleeping with a stuffed animal, but just wanted to say great job with continuing to nurse your son!! I have a 13 month old son and I still nurse him as well. We have always co-slept and I co-slept with my two other children when they were little. I would encourage others to research co-sleeping and SIDS. There is research out there that was conducted by the top scientists on sleep that shows that co-sleeping actually reduces the instances of SIDS. Babies that sleep in cribs actually have an increased risk of SIDS compared to those that co-sleep. Babies that co-sleep have different sleep cycles than those that sleep alone and the mother and infant actually regulate their sleep patterns to match. This is for the safety of the infant. Most other cultures in the world co-sleep and have for centuries. Like anything else, you must be cautious and use good judgement. Just like you don't put blankets or pillows in cribs with little babies, you would not take sleep medications, drink, or have cracks where your baby could fall into and suffocate while co-sleeping. Anyway---just wanted to say what a wonderful thing you are doing for your son and how secure he will be as he grows up because you provided him with love and security now when he needs it. My children are very independent and they all nursed and co-slept.
Good luck!

I let my daughter sleep with a small baby doll or something she enjoys she is 20 months old she loves her stuffed kitty pillow and a blankie.I worry about SIDS all the time but she was introduced to these items slowly and when I worry to much to the point of me not sleeping I wake up and get them out of her bed.There is a toddler version of SIDS and I fear that as well now that I know it is out there it has a name but can't remember exactly it was in a parenting/baby magazine a while ago.SIDS does occur between 2-4 or 2-6 months of age however it does occur beyond that.I wouldn't go with anything to big bulky or heavy till he is way older.Have you tried a beanie baby they have them very inexpensive at Walgreens they are the perfect size.Sahm of 2 and 1 more due in March

A.,
My oldest son at that age had a Barney stuffed animal that was maybe 12". He was the one who picked it out, he slept with it all the time. He had to have it swadled like a baby too. He kept it until he was about 7 then he gave it away to someone else. I wish he hadn't but I couldn't take it from the girl he gave it to. My middle son passed away from SIDS at 4 months old. I read everything on SIDS and I been so anal about how and what my 6 month old sleeps with. Everything I read on SIDS says the danger zones are from birth to 4 months. There is still a possibility up to 12 months. After the year mark the possibilites drop drastically. When my youngest gets to the age of your son I'll probably let him pick out a small animal. Once your son falls asleep if you are still worried you can always go in and move the stuffed animal.

I would let him sleep with it. He's old enough to be able to move if he cant breathe easily. I dont know the rules as far as age goes with the SIDS thing or with the no stuffed animal rule, but I would think it is ok. I say go for it!

I've been blessed with a good sleeper who has never really needed a lovey, but he received a small teddy bear after a recent surgery that he instantly attached to. It is small, maybe 10 inches long, the perfect size to hug and cuddle. I think my friend told me she got it at the Marshall's Home store in Olathe. Its actually a special brand that is safe for kids (no plastic eyes or nose that can pop off and become a choking hazard). When my son received "Teddy" he was 11 months old and we let him sleep with it right away and he's been just fine. The brand is Kids Preferred. Good luck on finding a lovey!

A.,

I have an online store that sells lovies for toddlers and babies. They are made out of Minky fabric on both sides so they are SUPER soft, they are all about 20 inch square and have a TY plffie attached to them. I have sold to several parents that claim their children either didn't sleep alone or as well before they bought them these blankets. Most of the customers come back and buy more of them.
I will have them for sale at the South County Y craft show on Oct 11 & 12 as well.
Check out the website and see what you think www.lovems1.etsy.com. If you decide you would like to try one, let me know - all mamassorce members receive 10% off.
Baring the purchase of something like this blanket, I would take him out to someplace with alot of stuffed animals and see if he seems to like one over any of the others and try and see if that works for you.

Good Luck! N.

i think as long as they are mobile enough to move away from it if their face gets pushed up against it at night, they should be fine. It really depends on the child, but we let our daughter have stuffed animals and a blanket once she could roll over both ways and crawl.

A stuffed animal should be fine at this age, just be sure it doesn't have plastic eyes that can be pulled off or something else that could be a choking hazard. It should say it's for all ages on the tag. Our son has a puppy that winds up and plays Brahm's Lullaby in his crib.

I also think that since he's still nursing at night (which if you want to keep doing that's certainly your choice, but he's old enough that he doesn't physically need the meal) you're really his "lovey" - why would he want something else when he can have you? As long as you want your sleeping situation to stay the same I wouldn't make any changes, but if you're wanting him to sleep better on his own I would eliminate the night feedings. Good luck!

My daughter and her husband also co-sleep with their 10 month old son...and I would imagine when they start trying to use the crib they are going to have a bit of a problem too. Anytime that you change the bedtime routine there is going to be resistance and I am not sure what you would do to get past it. I will be happy to contact my daughter and find out what online support group she corresponds with...I am sure that someone there has dealt with this particular situation before and would have some success stories to share with you. If you want to get in contact with me I will be happy to share the websites or blogs with you after I talk to her.
Good luck

kudos on still nursing! i weaned mine from the breast and into his crib/toddler bed at same time at 20 months. i think my trick will work for you too! (no you do NOT have to wean him for this trick!) i started sleeping with a body pillow when i was pregnant(and still do! i dont know why i didnt start long ago!)and was in desperate need of a new one as mine was quite flat! when i bought the new one it occurred to me that my old one smelled like me and we used to give the puppies a blankie mom slept on when we weaned them for that reason. i figured it was worth a shot so i gave it to zack(who had never had a pillow. he was in his toddler bed so i laid the extra over the side, but you could use a smaller pillow or cut it in half and sew it up. the important thing is use one you have slept with for at least a week and is fairly flat(far safety reasons) zack is almost 5 now and still has my pillow! LOL

A.,
My daughter was never interested in a blanket as a lovie. We did get her a 24" Nemo when she was about 15 months old, because she loved the movie. She used at as a lovie from almost day one! Still does, Nemo goes everywhere she is going to sleep and she is now four.
Not every child is the same though. My son is now 18 months old and shows no interest in anything like this. Although he has cuddled up to Nemo on occasion. (Of course, this would be when his sister is not around!) :-)
I thoughts are, yes it would be worth the try. However, I would definately look into the risk for SIDS. Not that I want to upset you, but I believe children are at greater risk when they co-sleep. (I am not trying to sound judgemental, my son still co-sleeps occasionally!)
Best wishes! J.

I also keep hoping to find just that right lovey, for exactly the same reason. We co-sleep and nurse during the night, but sometimes it would be nice if he could cuddle and soothe with something else! So far, my son isn't remotely interested in anything I've tried to give him (although just this past week, he won't go anywhere without his baseball, but I really don't want to roll over on that in the middle of the nigh, LOL :). He is 18 months old. I have given his sister one or two stuffed animals and now a little blanket and pillow (she's 28 months). My two suggestions to try would be to make a sock animal (fun, easy, doesn't require a sewing machine and can look like anything) from a pair of your old socks (washed of course), these animals are pretty um..porous? so even if it was smashed against his face (extremely unlikely as he can move himself around, which is why SIDS is less of a risk at this age), he could breathe through it. Or make him a small pillow any shape, out of one of your old t-shirts. And as someone else noted, research does show co-sleepers are less likely to die from SIDS, between that and his age, I think you are good to go with a stuffed animal!

At 13 months he really doesn't need to nurse in the middle of the night. At this age if he is still doing that he's using it as a soother to go back to sleep. If I were you, I would definitely cut out the middle of the night feedings (if in fact you are still doing that). I believe that he is past the age for SIDS (I think up to 6 months is the most critical time) - anyway, he should be fine with a stuffed animal - you can't really press your face completely into one of those. Since you have been co-sleeping his whole life there will be an adjustment period when you move him to his crib - but be patient because it will be fine and so will he (even if he crys at first). Good luck and be strong!

WOW! It's sounds like you're doing a wonderful job of being flexible, trying new things, and working him into it gradually. I think a larger 'lovey' could work. Each kid is different. My son likes to play with hair falling asleep. He's 2.5 now and when he doesn't play with his dad's hair to fall asleep, he finds his own to play with. Funny, I know. Anyway, I believe the risk of SIDS reduces greatly when they learn to roll over and I think it's pretty much nill after a year. However, you may want to check safety standards (AAP) and be aware of suffocation. How bout a pillow from your bed? It will smell like you and be cuddley.... I think these sorts of things take time and experimentation, just like your doing. Happy sleeping,
K.

Also, it's wonderful that your still nursing. ;)

Good Morning A., as some other Mom's mentioned let him choose what he wants to sleep with, with the exception of the beanie baby's that is. Our 11 month old grand son just has a very soft blanket he likes right now. He kicks it off also but will touch it and rub his hands over it. His older brother has a Woo-Bee Little blanket with a puppy head in the center, He won't sleep if woo-bee isn't with him. We also find Monster Jams in his bed at times, or a book. Woo-bee is getting pretty tattered on the corners.

I hope you are getting up to nurse at night. It works better even though you are tired to put him back in his bed when he is finished. Sometimes it is really difficult to get passed the co-sleeping.

We also play Baby Einstein Classical Cd's when they nap, it worked so great, Mom plays them at night also.

Best of God's blessing for you and your little man
K. Nana of 5

stuffed animals aren't good to have in their beds at any age. They are dust collectors and cause breathing problems. When my babies were born and the little training speeches they give you before the hospital suggested never give kids stuffed animals to sleep with because of suffocation reasons but they also stressed the breathing factor from breathing in the dust that stuffed animals collect. In fact when my son got bronchiolitis at 3 months and had that constant cough until he was 2 years old that was the first question they asked me was if he was sleeping with stuffed animals in his bed or even playing with them. I had them in a net high near the ceiling for decoration in his room so we didn't have them down for him to play with or have in his bed. He did have 1 or 2 in his toys to play with but didn't usually play with them anyway.

I have 15 month old twins and both of them sleep with dolls, smaller sesame street characters. They both chose these on their own, I think that helps.... Try giving him a few stuffed animals that you think are appropriate to play with during the day, he might develop an attachment to one of them and readily want to take it to bed with him at night, that's what happened for us!

i started tointroduce a 'mr. cuddles' (half blankie and half stuffed animal baby thing...they are really popular...head and arms of a stuffed animal and body of a soft blanket)when my son was about 9 months old. i read at this age that there is no longer a risk of suffocation like there is when they are younger as well as SIDS. The suffocation facter is always there though, but it is with everything! Anyway, i wold give it to him duing the day to get used to it and to have his smell on it and i started introducing it during naptimes and then at night. it works like a charm. By the way, if you do end up finding something that works for you son, make sure you buy at least 2 so that if on eis in the wash you won't be out of luck when it comes to needing it for sleep. best of luck!

Let your child tell you what he wants by his actions.

He doesn't want a "lovey"...he doesn't want covers...sounds like he wants room to stretch out perhaps? Is he hot?

I would try a sound machine in his room and see if that is more soothing since he apparently doesn't want to cuddle.

It's hard to say since you don't really say what kind of difficulties he is haveing?

Have you tried giving him something of yours, like maybe your t-shirt, or some silky pajama bottoms? Babies tend to like the feel of satin or silk, and something that smells like you might help.
Hope this helps.