Need advice about sleeping with a blanket...

royalcrown1

So, DS#1 didn't start sleeping with a blanket until he was close to two.  The twins do not sleep with a blanket at this time.  My pediatrician does not recommend blankets (or anything in the crib) until 2 years old.  Recently, the twins started OT for rocking.  The OT feels that they are sensory seeking and is recommending a weighted blanket to give them deep pressure while sleeping so they can stay asleep all night and not need to wake up rocking.  All the pediatrician will say is he does not recommend blankets until 2 years old.  I know MANY people start blankets way before two so I am tempted to give the twin s a weighted blanket.  The other issue is while they are almost 18 months, their gross motor skills (to keep them from getting suffocated by the blanket) is only about a year so I feel like giving them the blanket is like giving the blanket to a one year old. 

So my first question is at what age did you start giving your kids a blanket?  My second question is what would you do - weighted blanket or no blanket?

TIA and I hope this makes sense (long day around here so my brain is not functioning well)!

iluvadam

I went completely by the book with DS1 and did not give him a blanket or any stuffed animals until he was well over a year old.  With the twins we started with the very breathable A&A at 6 months.  Around a year we gave them blankets and they have done very well with them.  I think you have to go with your gut on whether or not your children are ready for them and can handle getting out from under them if need be.  My personal opinion on a weighted blanket is that it could be dangerous for a small child but I truly do not know enough about them to make that judgement call...only you would know if your kids can handle them.

schoolsoutbride

Mine don't have a blanket, but maybe something like an afghan would help and be more breatheable?

One of mine sensory seeks a bit and the sleep sacks have helped because he has has something to push his feet against.

Hunter22

With DS#1 I didn't use a blanket until maybe one-ish. This time, they have had a blanket from pretty much the time they came home. First an A&A blanket swaddled then another tucked around it to make it secure in a rock and play, then a blanket in a rock and play tucked in, when they moved to their cribs they were freezing even with wearbale blankets and fleece pj's so we put their heavy blankets on them. I am definitely in the minority on this (the girls are six months) but it works for my girls. I do a lot of things different this time though. 

naflmj

DS got a crocheted blanket around a year or so, it is plenty breathable and I felt OK about it...he didn't have a heavier  blanket until closer to 2. Not sure what she means by a weighted blanket...if it's like a weighted vest, I'd be nervous to have that in a crib since there are actually weights inside of it and I'd be nervous that they couldn't remove it if they needed to.

Hunter22

I'm not sure what she meant either, I just mean my weighs a lot more than a lighter blanket. I guess that really doesn't make sense huh? Thicker blanket ha ha ha

royalcrown1

A weighted blanket is a blanket bought specifically for sensory seeking kids.  I am buying it from an occupational therapy website.  It is like the vest but it is spread out over a whole blanket.  It is made special based on a person's weight - only to be 10% of their body weight.  In my case, we would get somewhere between 2-3lb.   

caitdana

The girls were swaddled until 6 months actual, since then we had blankets in the cribs. My girls didnt really move around until 10-11 months actual in their cribs. Now, Sophia has to have the corner of the blanket on her check to sleep. I also felt okay to do it because Ella was on a pulse ox moniter.

scraw99

We started providing blankets at 14 months or so.  The blankets are very small.  

How about an alternative to the "weighted" blankets?  They don't seem very breathable.  I think there are vests that are weighted that may provide similar input for them.  

eyelovemascara

We love the "buddy blankets" by Bunnies by the Bay--(sold cheaper on amazon) They are small enough that I would never be worried about them suffocating under them, and they have silk on the inside that my girls LOVE to put on their face and rub to go to sleep. Best things ever.