At What Age Do You Use Blankets

Children kick off blankets for years. I recommend blanket sleepers. You can put them on over their regular pajamas and they can't kick them off. They come in much larger sizes than sleep sacks---up to size 6x I think. I used them on my daughter and they worked great.

We used co sleeping with my son, but when he slept in his bed, I used to double jammy him. There was no way to keep any covers on him. As a baby, he hated being swaddled. Even as a newborn, he would fuss and fuss until he got his arms free. Such a free bird. Anyway, the extra jammies worked for us.

I have been using a blanket on my now eight-month old daughter for a few months now (since she was at least five months). She sleeps better swaddled and wrapping her in a blanket has been the easiest since she has gotten so big! At five months, she seemed old enough and dexterous enough to be able to pull the blanket off of her face or cry rather than just suffocate. It has not been a problem at this age, I feel like it is safe. And she loves being wrapped in it now, when she's tired and I pull it out, she recognizes it and knows it's naptime or bedtime.

Hi Heidi!!

I agree with some of the earlier posts and 6 months is way too young to use a blanket. I too used sleep sacks and blanket sleepers. I was always afraid that the blanket would get wrapped around my daughter and she wouldn't be able to get out of it. I think my daughter started using a blanket at around 2 years old. There was never anything "extra" in her crib when she was sleeping in a crib. Just her. But then again, I'm a paranoid mother.

My daughter is 3 1/2, and even though she starts off with a blanket, she never lasts the entire night in one. Then again, she is like a little inferno when she is asleep. My advice. Stick to blanket sleepers and sleep sacks. They make them in pretty large sizes and in a variety of cloths depending on the weather...Good Luck!!

L.

I don't think we used actual blankets with our oldest son until we moved him into a "big boy" bed. Six months, in my opinion, is way to young. They do make sleep sacks in larger sizes, we use them on our 14 month old. They also come in different materials depending on the season. Try babiesrus.com, they seem to have a good selection.

Um, if that is the case, I would not use a blanket yet. They are not coordinated enough to "save" themselves if they get tangled up. And their reflexes are not sophisticated yet at this age to help themselves.

As a side note: Remember, suffocation is a "silent" event. You can't "hear" a person suffocate. I know, I suffocated on a candy once, and NO ONE heard me trying to get help... when suffocating.. the person CANNOT make any noises to save themselves, as there is no air in the lungs to cry out. Not to scare you... but just personal experience.

For keeping her warm at night, just get pajamas that are long sleeved, and long pants, or with feet on it. And close the windows to prevent draft.

I LOVE the GAP pajamas for babies/kids. They are great! I use them for both of my children, and the designs are so cute.

All the best,
Susan

We used sleep sacks for both of our babies. And they were plenty thick to keep them warm. I never saw thin ones, but maybe I was shopping at a different time of the year. If you can't find any, maybe check online. My boys are 3 and 2 years old now, and they still move around too much at night to keep a blanket on (although my 3 year old is able to cover himself if he needs to). I just have to dress them warm enough and keep the thermostat at an appropriate setting.

Hi, I believe no blankets until they are one year old.

I would wait until she's about one, and then only use a light blanket. I let our 18 month old fall asleep and then about an hour later, I go in and cover her with her blanket. Remember, you don't want to over bundle. If it's comfortable in your house for you, it's comfortable for her too. :)

Sleep sacks actually go up to at least 2 years or 36 pounds. Here is a link to one... http://store.babycenter.com/product/left+nav+pgroups/shop...

Both of my girls hated the sleep sack because I think it was too warm for them and/or restricted the movement of their feet. They make them in fleece and cotton, so if you're determined to use some kind of cover, I'd try both. What I did was use blanket sleeper pajamas (warm footie pajamas) or just not keep the room too cool at night.

Babies don't need to be too bundled up - they tend to be comfortable in the same temperatures we are. It's just when you are outside, and you walking around, keeping warm with activity, and the baby is in a stroller or backpack carrier, that they may need more layers than you would be comfortable in yourself.

If you have your baby in footie pajamas, she doesn't need a blanket at all. When my first baby was little (adopted at not quite 8 months), I tried pajamas and the sleep sack - and about cooked her! Try the sleep sack, or don't make the room too cool at night.

Good luck!

M.

I have 5 children and have always used blankets with them. I also used sleep sacks. If you live where it's cold then use pajamas with feet. Most of the time your baby will just kick it off anyway. I'm not sure if there is a "right age" to start using them. I generally wake up a couple of times every night and still cover my girls up, my teenagers seem to be able to cover themselves up :-).

As a mom you have a sense about your baby, learn to listen to it and you'll be fine. There is lots of information out there and some of it is really scary and written by people who have never had children and have no practical experience or who had a horrible experience and project onto everyone else. You are your baby's best resource and support, trust your instincts.

A.

The sleep sack company, halo, sells fleece type ones also. They have a great website www.halo.com and sell cribsheets and sleepsacks. We had a wonderful experience with them and used sleepsacks until my son was 2+ years old, as he loved to sleep in them. Good luck in your situation.

Have you tried making your own sleep sack? I'm going to to do that when my daughter grows out of the ones she has. Also. You could put your baby is double pajamas. Good luck!

Although the risk is greatest up to 6 months, babies are at risk for SIDS until they are at least 1 year old, possibly longer. Please consider using a sleep sack versus putting a blanket in the crib. Halo makes them in sizes up to 5T and I'm sure that there are several other companies that make them in larger sizes, too. My son used his well past his 1st birthday and my 10 month old daughter will do the same. Sweet Dreams.

I am sure that 6 months is too young...I am not sure what age is recommended but we didn't start using blanket until my son was two. They make sleep sacks in in large and extra large that I think go up to age 2 or 3. Anyway, since it is summer they would most likely be a light fabric but in winter they have the cozy sleeper material.

My daughter (now 12 months), never liked bveing swaddled, so we used the footie jammies when she was much smaller and a blanket tucked in at the sides if it was cold. This worked fine for us. When she started moving around more and flipping every which direction through out the night in her crib, I figured she could obviously pull a blanket of her face if neccessary. It has never been an issue for her, I never once found the blanket on her face. She cuddles with the blankies when it's warm and when it's cold, she wear warm pj's, because thje blanket will come off while sleeping. Good luck and do what you think, too many people go exactly by the "rules" but that doesn't always work for everyone. I guess I'm just a rebel : )

I have two friends who's babies almost died because the blanket got over their face. They were smaller, 2mos old.

That said, I have used blankets with my babies since day one. Swaddled until they could get out of it, then tucked under their bodies. We live in a cold climate with the first two, so we felt it was necessary for them to be warm. A crocheted or knit blanket that is loose in stitching would be a good idea if you are nervous.

All three of my kids have "blankies" now too.

My 3 year old and 9 year old still love to sleep in the "footie jammies". You know the ones that have feet and long sleeves and zip all the way up. It's basically the same idea as blanket sleepers but they have feet. They make them in all sizes (even adult). My kids of course use blankets at their age, but in the middle of the night when the blankets all fall off, they are still warm. In a month or two, you'll start seeing them at the stores for the winter season. I always buy them at Target. In the meantime, you might want to use a thicker "comforter" type blanket on your son. They are less inclined to wrap around them like a thinner blanket.

Sleep Sacks actually do come up to size 5T (at least the ones made by Halo company)
https://www.halosleep.com/products/results/?product_categ...
I've seen them in various kinds of materials at Babies R Us.

My son sleeps either in a blanket sleeper, a thicker material SleepNPlay (although we can't find them for his size anymore and he's rapidly outgrowing the two he still has), or a Sleep Sack.

I have a loose-weave hand knitted afghan he sleeps with for naptime if he's wearing shorts during the day.

My 7-mos-old son likes his blanket, but it is more for cuddling than for warmth. I have discovered him with the blanket over his head, which was scary at first, but he hasn't suffocated yet, and I know he can get it off himself.

Anyway, the sleep sack is obviously better anyway. We have a Grobag, which comes in 3 different weights. The heaviest one they call 2.5, which is "ideal for standard nursery temperatures of 16-20°C (61-69°F)". The sizes also go up to 3-6 years of age, according to the website.

When it is cold where we live, I put my son in a cotton onesie, then a cotton or fleece footed pj, then in the Grobag. I check him and he has never been cold.

Grobag is a British brand, so the weak US dollar makes them a bit pricey, but there is a sale on now, so check them out at http://www.grobag.com/grobags.aspx. They ship to the States. Good luck!

My daughter is almost a year and I have found with her (and my son when he was younger) that they move around too much so blankets are pointless. I use a small space heater that I got from Home Depot and I have it set so it only goes on if the temperature in her room drops below 72.

It's not safe at all. Our pediatrician recommended waiting until they are at least 18 months. I am waiting longer with my youngest because my older son moved around too much to keep a blanket on until he was 3 anyway. I didn't like the sleep sacks either so I use long sleeve footed sleepers that are fleece and it keeps them warm enough. In the summer we use cotton because the fleece is too hot.

I've seen sleeping bags up to at least a 3 year size, and some mothers I know swear by them, so keep looking, if that's the route you want to go - they are out there.

I don't know any 6-month-olds (or two-year-olds) who will stay under blankets, so I just gave up on that idea. I'm also pretty sure that blankets are *not* considered safe at 6 months.

Personally, they never worked for us. My daughter just didn't like being in them, and she's an early riser, so I put her in blanket sleepers - sleep suits that are like thick, cuddly blankets with feet. Check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanket_sleeper - there's a cute picture too. :)

I usually go for fully cotton-lined ones that are the only thing she needs to wear. They work well for us since she's an early riser - I can just leave her in the sleeper until the morning starts to warm up a little. You can also get thinner unlined polyester ones that you put over other layers - like comfy cotton jammies. Gives you more options for layering, if you need to deal with a wider range of temperatures. I wouldn't put my kidlet in one without something cotton in between, but they do work a treat with the right layers.

once they can sit up and roll over

NO blankets yet! Suffocation hazzard!! Use a onzie and footed PJ's if you ar concerned about her being cold. You can get them at baby gap or pretty much anywher else. If you child needs a "lovie" or transitional object it should be smaller enough that it is not a hazzard.

ALSO, sleep sacks are not the best option either as they can inhibit the natural movements that you child will make as he/she explores while sleeping or awake hoe to crwal, move and eventually sit up and stand all while in their crib.

i always used a blanket with my daughter from birth up. i never really worried much because by the time my daughter got put into her own room (at 3 1/2mo) she already had great head comtrol and could push up well also she was rolling. they do make sleep sacks bigger (some are 0-9 months). i tried them on my daughter but didnt like having her legs contained like that (well with the ones that were not opened at the end). i prefered the ones that were opened at the bottom. i think your daughter will be ok just watch her and if you dont feel comfortable using a blanket then dont and try it again in a couple months. good luck!

I started using woven or crocheted blankets with both of my boys fairly early. I made sure they were able to lift their heads and turn them while laying down first. I used the crocheted blankets since they are loosely woven and still allow for children to breath if they are close to their mouths. Both of my boys ended up sleeping on top of the blankets for the most part but if they got cold they would wiggle under the blankets.

Both of my boys have woken up from naps with a blanket turban but again since it was such a loose knit blanket I was never worried. I am sure your little one will be fine with a blanket.