Hi Moms! Just needed some advice. I have a beautiful one year old daughter. It's our first so I'm new at everything. She has slept through the night since 2 months old. I would let her cry for 10-15 minutes before I would run in there and trust me it worked after a month. that was the advice my pediatrician gave to me. He's a brilliant man that means very well and I value all his opinions. He has helped us out so much. He has told me about sleep association. Never give a child anything in their bed because they will use that to help them go to asleep and could be a problem for the future. I understand that. Her molars are all coming in and haven't broke through yet and she is absolutely miserable. She was on the teething tablets(which work great) and motrin. When on both of those, she would still wake in the middle of the night adn be up for hours. There was nothing left of me to do as a mother. I have done everything. EVERYTHING!!!! So I thought, let me just give her a thin thermal blanket and maybe that would comfort her teething or her for that matter???? Within a few days she was sleeping right through the time she was waking up and I haven't gave her medicine in a while. Now the teeth haven't broke through yet so there's time for them to come but I'm thinking "Did I do a bad thing now that she has something that's soothing her through this teething process?" I would like to think not. But lately at bedtime she'll point to her crib to go lay down and the blanket is right by her and at times she'll sit up and give it to me!!Ha Ha And then at times she whines and then I lay it next to her and she rolls on top of it to get comfortable and then I walk out of the room and at times sh'ell cry and I'll give her a few and and she falls right to sleep. What do you think she's doing when she hands it to me and then wants it back?????? I feel like I really might have screwed her up w\ the blanket think. But then she falls to sleep faster this way so I don't know. Like I said before, she never had aproblem going to bed. Any imput on this would be great!!!!! Thanks Moms. Sorry so long!!!!
Is there a reason you don't want her to have the blankey? When I was growing up, I had a "blankey" I slept with it every night, took it everywhere and about age 5, I just outgrew it. My daughter, 3, has a teddy and she sleeps with it every night and Ted goes everywhere with us.
Ted has been a lifesaver! He'll calm her down when shes upset, If we have to travel, or sleep in unfamiliar places, Ted soothes her. She'll outgrow it, eventually.
Ok, I hope I don't make you mad by saying this, but Doctors have knowledge of doctoring---NOT putting babies to sleep. I have 3 boys, 13, 9 and 7 mos. I never let any of them cry themselves to sleep. Child psychologists will tell you that a child who is tended to when they need you will actually grow up to be a very independent and secure person. In my opinion and experience, Dr's only have experience with many issues with babies, outside of health issues, if they have their own kids---in which case they are just a parent giving their opinion. I worked in an office with 40+ docs, 9 of which were pediatricians, and trust me, they are good at doctoring, because they have studied that, but they ALL have very differing opinions on how they parent their own children and how they advise their patient's parents. Many pediatricians will also tell you that teething doesn't have anything to do with your child's illnesses that seem to ALWAYS coincide with eachother, after 3 kids I definately do not agree :o) My baby is cutting one right now and bam here is the green snotty nose and etc.
Kids go through sleep disturbances, they push the buttons, they love their mommy and daddy and of course want them around as much as humanly possible. So, they come to the door and call for you, they need 20 drinks of water, they are scared, cold, hot, have a tummy ache, whatever they can think of to get you to come back to them one more time :o) If the blanket helps you get her to sleep and keep your sanity, then I would leave it in there. She will give it up eventually.
Kids go through stages, they will get rid of their pacifiers, they will bottle break, they will eventually get rid of their blankie or stuffed animal they can't live without, they will not be 15 walking around with blankies, trust me! Do what works for you all as a family, don't worry about what your Dr or anyone else tells you. You will meet a ton of parents on here who have slept with their children in bed with them, or that put their babies on their tummy to sleep as soon as they were rolling over. Even though this Dr, or that study tells you otherwise. SHe is your child, do what your mommy instincts tell you to do!!
Good Luck!! Parenting is a ongoing expedition, you learn as you go, and we are all different, you have to do what works for you. Take Care!
It sounds like your daughter is a perfect little angel! I wouldn't worry about giving her something that comforts her. The blanket probably smells like you, and that is why she is more comfortable sleeping with it (she probably does wake up in pain several times, then smells you and feels safe, and falls right back asleep). If it helps her sleep better and makes her feel safe- I do not see a problem whatsoever with allowing her to have it for comfort! :)
Hi N.,
No, you have not nor are you doing anything wrong to your lovely daughter. I am a Grandma of 4 boys, and a Mother of 3 Sons. Our youngest grandson is 16mos. old and his molars are breaking through and believe me, they are giving him one heck of a time as well. He has a blanket which is satin on one side and fleece on the other. He loves the feel of the satin and likes to suck on it and chew on it with his back teeth. He too will grab his blue blanket and will try to climb into his bed. He falls to sleep with his blanket as well and it helps him just like the blanket is helping your daughter. Out of 3 of my sons, only 1 did not need assistance for sleeping etc. and he is the father of our youngest grandson who takes his 'bankie' as we call it, to bed. My other 2 sons each had something different. 1 was a passie which was left in his crib at all times, until he was ready to give it up (at age 3) and my oldest son had a blanket and he let go of that when he was 4yrs. old. So, please, do not fret yourself over this...do what you can to help soothe your childs pain and discomfort as best as you can and don't worry about 'damaging her life'...you are molding her life to be a strong and beautiful woman. God be with you! I hope this helps to put your mind at ease.
Grandma M.
I think the blanket won't hurt anything in the long run! Everything I read says to give your child something as a soother, but to be careful what you give (i.e., something that can be replaceable in case it gets lost or disintegrates). My 3 kids each have a 'lovey' and yes, they need it when they go to sleep. But if they have their lovey (blanket or stuffed toy), they will sleep anywhere, even relatives' houses with unfamiliar pillows and blankets. It calms them when they have a boo-boo, comforts them when they are sick in the middle of the night, and is something to hug when Mommy and Daddy are simply not available. A soft lovey is better than a pacifier because it won't cause eventual dental problems, and it's not something you'll ever have to 'take away' -- how many teenages went off to college with their lovey? Peer pressure and sleepovers will gradually retire the soft lovey to a keepsake box or the back of the closet. Relax and give your child something to cuddle up to at night!
I have to agree with some of the other moms...if my pediatrician was like that I would switch! That said, having a blanket is a very healthy thing at this age. She's associating the blanket with sleep, which (cognitively speaking) is a good thing. If you don't want it to turn into a full time lovey (i.e. taking it everywhere) keep it in the crib and tell her it's just for sleeping. As adults we associate sleeping with all kinds of things...our bed, pajamas, reading a book, etc so I don't see why a child can't have something to associate with sleep also.
After having done little to no sleep training with my 7 year old and paying for it nightly, we followed Ferber's advice on sleep training with 2nd child, starting when he was 3 months old or so. It has worked like a charm! So simple and uncomplicated. Unlike many think, this is not "crying it out", but rather giving them tools to soothe themselves and not setting them up for a dependancy on something that will be taken away eventually (breast, rocking, etc). I suggest reading his book "solve your child's sleep problems" and then follow it to the t. I found it easy, compassionate and effective. This, after having thrown the book away without reading it when my mother gave it to me with my first born.
Good luck!
J.
I agree with everyone else, let her have the blanket. Yes she might get attached to it even after teething, but in my opinion, so what, it wont hurt her or any one else.
If it helps her, makes her feel safe, and comfortable, what's the big deal if she sleeps with it for the next 6 years?
However, if you do choose to take it away, I would do it now, before the attatchment gets any stronger. Otherwise, you wont be able to take it away at all.
Good Luck!
and Merry Christmas!
Hi N.,
I agree with Christin C she probably likes the blanket because it smells like you. When she gives it to you then wants it back it might be because she wants it to smell like you again. My oldest daughter is six and I still find shirts of mine that she hords in her bed. I thought it was weird at first but after getting some advise I was told that it smells like me and it makes her feel close to me at night. I would not worry about giving her a blanket because of what might happen in the future. Babies need comfort, they soothe themselves and if a blanket helps with that let her be.
Hope this helps.
J.
I think I'd get another Pediatrician if mine told me that. What little one doesn't need something to cuddle with. I have never heard of this before. Seriously you're not doing anything wrong by giving your child a stuffed animal or a thin blankey. I'll bet if you ask your Mom/Dad/Guardian you had something yourself. My little guy has many interchangeable "Bed Buddies" as he calls them. Good luck.
