Introducing a "Lovey" to 1 Year/sleeping Habits

My 3 yo son has his lovey he sleeps with and it's perfectly normal - healthy even (my daughter had a blanket for a long time too). I don't see any harm in introducing this to him, although it may take some time before he finds something he connects with. Maybe put several in his crib and see what sticks - at 1 yo he should be able to have some stuffed animals in his crib. One piece of advise though - once he has connected with something go buy another one as back up - I speak from nights of searching for "guy" only to find him 3 days later in a suitcase side pocket - apparently they were going on a trip.... *sigh*

I think we introduced the lovey to our son at about 7 or 8 months. He didn't really show any interest in lovey until he was about 1 year. We just started putting it in the crib with him.
We have rules for lovey, such as he can go in the car but not the store and not daycare (so he doesn't get lost). He can come to the dinner table but you can't hold him (so he doesn't get food all over lovey).

i am not saying you are doing anything wrong but you need to consider the long term of the things you propose. I have gone through a mess of pillows and blankets until I found one they like. My youngest is ten, she will still drag out that blanket.

Blankets and pillows have no real long term bad effects.

Pacifiers are a nightmare but not as bad as thumb sucking. At least you can take a pacifier away, can't really cut off fingers.

I guess I am saying go with comfort items not habits.

My son has a sock zebra that he's had since he was a year old. He's now six and sock zebra is in sad shape. But he loves him and sleeps with him every night.

My best advice is to make sure it's machine washable, buy about 5 of whatever your child bonds with and keep them in rotation so that if you lose one or one gets ratty you have back ups, and they smell the same. By the time I figured this out they had discontinued sock zebra. I ended up getting a "monkey bear" (the same design and feel) and now he sleeps with both! And I know other people that have gotten an extra much later and then the child had "stinky cow" and "pretty cow."

I don't have any children. My two neices and my nephew have all had or still have what they call "teddy" It is one of those little blankies with an animal head. They are cute! It seems to help them fall asleep!
I hope everything works out for you!

I think it is a good age to introduce a lovie. Both of my boys began nursing/sleeping with their lovies right around now. I just found a material that they liked, sewed it in a small rectangle, and then we nursed with it at every session. Then I would lay them down with it as well. Also, before the first time that they got the lovie, I would sleep with it inside of my shirt for a few nights.

I also made sure not to wash it for the first month. I know that sounds gross but part of bonding with it has to do with your smell. Also, it seems like I remember reading that a baby can smell its own tears on material and that this gives them a sense of bondedness to the lovie as well...

HTH! Good luck!

We use blankets and stuffed animals . .. one of each. we rotate them around so that my son does not get overly attached with one specific item.