Lovey/Soother Scare

EmmaD312

I just put Augie down for his afternoon nap with a Jellycat soother we've been using for about a week now (see pic). He loves it; it's really been helping him sleep. Well, back downstairs I heard him making a weird noise through the monitor--different from is usual pre-nap light fussing. I looked at the screen and saw that the soother was on his face (something I worry about constantly). I ran up and snatched it off. It was fully covering his face and he didn't seem to know how to move it. He let out a big shout and started crying. He seemed scared. I know I was. I've been searching online to see if these soothers are considered suffocation hazards and can't find much. Should I take it away from him for good? Are you using one? 

AcaAwkward

AAP recommends nothing in the crib, and, as such, I think this would probably considered a hazzard.

That said, having a lovey also really helps DS sleep. DD used (and still uses) the a+a muslin "Issie" blankets mentioned above - they are small, light and breathable. We just bought a pair for DS and I feel fine about one in his crib.

MamaFantastic

Tessa's crib lovey is a blanket bear where the cloth body is about the size of my full hand. The "arms" and "legs" are little nubs at the corners of each blanket, and there's a stuffed head at the top. I specifically gave that one to her because it was small enough that I didn't feel concerned that it would pose a suffocation hazard.

EmmaD312

I think I'm going to have to switch to a smaller one or a muslin version like you ladies have mentioned. Hate to do it since he already likes the elephant, but now it just seems too thick and fuzzy to be safe. 

knotty-girl

Jack has a dog one similar to what MamaFantastic described and an owl Jellycat one. I put him down with one or the other because he likes tactile things as part of his self calming method. He'll knead them like a kitten and rub his face on them as he drifts off. As soon as he's out (which takes under a minute) I stealthily snatch it away.  I won't leave him unsupervised with them whether he's on his play mat or in his crib.  He sometimes flings them over his face, and I always pull it off, however I never felt like he was struggling with it or scared.

Laroo0220

We have the owl one like knotty-girl and we do exactly what she does

MamaFantastic

Here's ours:

MamaFantastic

I found it on amazon. Bonus: it comes as a 2-pack! Always important for loveys.

knotty-girl

@MamaFantastic‌ Yes, for when one is in the wash. (Or lost in a parking lot.) I had no idea these were called loveys/soothers. My niece and nephew called theirs night-nights and they're super ratty and dingy looking even clean. The nephew claims his smells like chicken.

MamaFantastic

I added that to my amazon "save for later" list because I'm going to get 2 more if T really takes to this one. The older I get in my parenting, the more I realize you should STOCK UP on something your kid is attached to. Kiddo has 3 "special blankies" and 2 of his favorite penguin. We already can't find that second lovey bear, so all the more reason to keep some as backups!