It is familiar to them, it smells like them and it has that unique essence no look-alike can mimic. Many, but not all, youngsters have comfort objects. The Guardian says, 'Studies have shown that up to 70 per cent of young children develop strong attachments to objects such as toys or blankets.
Although a parent might feel that it's time for their child to let the lovey go, there's no 'normal' age for a child to move on from their comfort toy. Professor Oberklaid says children grow out of the habit at different times and, 'The age they stop using [comfort] objects varies according to the child, the family situation, the child's temperament [and] experience. What I try to do is normalise all of that behaviour,' instead of setting ages where comfort toys are seen as 'abnormal'.
Saying that, if an older child is 'too attached' to their comfort object, parents should consider whether the child is anxious about something else in their lives.
Although one study found that children with strong bonds to comfort objects have stronger attachment to a parent and are happier than those without a lovey, the same study found that teenagers who need their comfort object on a daily basis may have poorer mental health. Again, this comes down to the temperament of the child. Professor Oberklaid says that, 'Parents need to make that decision based on their instinct. For some kids the thought of separation from something at any time is so traumatic that by all means let them take it.
Here are a few tips Choose breathable fabric if possible, such as cotton, muslin or bamboo. See if your baby is interested in satin tags, as our Taggies are good for that. Choose something that you can get a spare of later or buy 2 at the same time. Machine washable, as the comforter will get sucked and dribbled on! Small is a good idea, so it can be easily handled by little hands.
Our recommendation We highly recommend the wonderful Cuski range - these are made from breathable fabric and are in a very easy to manage shape.
Babies almost without fail become very attached to their Cuski! Recommended Products. Sold out. Shop All Comforters. Introducing a Comforter Here are a few ideas for getting your baby attached to their new friend: Start by putting the comforter between you and your baby during feeding. Pop the comforter up your top for a few hours or overnight, to get your scent onto it. Tuck the comforter in with your baby. Recommended Articles.
Introducing a comforter thread We asked The Sleep Store Facebook community if they used a comforter, and if so what type and if they had any tips to share for introducing it. Read More. So remember when a child uses a comforter, that comforter can make a positive contribution to their healthy emotional development. Many babies get attached to a special toy or other comforter at about 6 months of age although they may have it before. If the comforter is a blanket or soft toy remember it is safest to take it out of the cot when your baby is asleep if your baby is under 12 months old.
Children need the comforter most between about 1 and 3 years of age, before they have learned to feel safe when you their parent is not there. Children are usually ready to give them up by 3 to 4 years of age — at least in the daytime. If a child still clings to the comforter by school age, it is important to ask what it is that is making your child worried, rather than to abruptly take the comforter away.
However a friend of mine Priya Desai is a Speech Therapist and she is worried that a child could develop a lisp if they use a dummy too much and for too long. When do children need comforters? They are usually needed at times such as bedtime or when staying with someone else eg childcare. When your child starts at preschool or nursery or starts in a new childcare environment they may still want their comforter while they are there, but they might not want the other children to know.
In this case, sometimes a dummy or piece of blanket can be pinned hidden in a pocket so your little one can touch it when they feel anxious or need reassurance or when they need to. Sometimes, however, if your child needs their comforter a lot, this will interfere with their opportunities to interact with you and others, their ability to join in with play, or their speech development as well as their social skills and their vocabulary.
One of the good things about a dummy is that you can easily replace it if it gets lost or damaged. It is important not to let dummies get too worn before you replace them. Sometimes a child may develop a speech problem, such as a lisp, if the child has a dummy in their mouth too often or for too long, when they are talking. If dummies are used with very young babies before breastfeeding really gets going well, the babies may not suck on the nipple as well as is needed to keep up the milk supply.
Babies use a different kind of sucking on the dummy from the breast, so it is recommended by breastfeeding organisations that a dummy is not used until breastfeeding is going well. There have been quite a few claims that dummies can have bad effects on the health or development of children.
These claims have generally been shown to be untrue. We know that it can be really tricky to get your little one into a healthy nighttime routine that allows you both to get enough shut eye. He would cry the moment we put him down. Sign up to receive exclusive discounts, offers, hints and tips via email. You can unsubscribe at any time - see privacy policy. Close Shopping Bag. Subscribe to Save Subscription orders can be cancelled at anytime.
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