How did you get DC attached to a lovey?

CD+AL · July 2011

I haven't had much luck getting either of my kids attached to a lovey (other than me). DS finally has a few stuffed animals that he'll snuggle with at night, but I'd really like DD to have a comfort lovey before she's 3yo like DS. I've tried all sorts of things from stuffed animals to blankets, and nothing ever seems to stick. There might be an interest for a few days, but then it's like any other toy...The new wears off, and they move on to something else. Any tips?

alrrla621 · July 2011

Not trying to sound snarky but why are you wanting DD to have a lovey so badly? I have 3 children and only 2 of them have/had loveys. My oldest, who never had one, never had any security issues with staying with a sitter or being dropped off at daycare, etc. My 2 youngest, however are horrible when I try to leave. I guess I just kind of associated the need for loveys as a lack of security and comfort because they only wanted them when I wasn't present (bedtime, daycare, etc.)

dunvilles · July 2011

From the day DS was born, he always had a flannel receiving blanket with him. I didn't do that with the intention of it becoming a lovey. They were just nice to tuck around him in his seat, warm, and great for catching spit up. He started really using it as a lovey around 9 months. He now carries them with him all the time.

At 1 yr old, I would think your DD would choose one if she wants it.

delg23 · July 2011

alrrla621:
Not trying to sound snarky but why are you wanting DD to have a lovey so badly? I have 3 children and only 2 of them have/had loveys. My oldest, who never had one, never had any security issues with staying with a sitter or being dropped off at daycare, etc. My 2 youngest, however are horrible when I try to leave. I guess I just kind of associated the need for loveys as a lack of security and comfort because they only wanted them when I wasn't present (bedtime, daycare, etc.)

The sleep book I'm reading says to get them attached to a lovey to help them sleep. I guess the idea is that they can comfort themselves w/ that instead of you returning to their room repeatedly. My son has no attachment to objects though.

TinaL99 · July 2011

We gave her one when we started sleep training and she could roll over in her crib (around 5 months). It's not something we "made" her take, but we gave it to her at bedtime and now she sleeps with it everynight and chews on the corners (it's a small satin/fleece square, maybe 12"x12"). Some days I can't get it away from her and it goes to day care, sometimes she walks around the house with it, some days it doesn't get touched at all. I think this is something that's very individual to the child.

MrsBraun · July 2011

DD has slept with a bunny/blankie combo thing since about 6 months old. She just gradually became more and more attached and now has to have it almost all the time. I don't know if that's a great thing though? I know she does sleep better with it that's for sure.

Novem06 · July 2011

DS had one of the super soft little giraffe square blankets since he was born. I started putting it in his crib at 8 mo or so and he never cared. Finally at 17 mo he became obsessed! Carries it everywhere and rubs it on his face. It just might take time.

Sara Scissors · July 2011

My DS never became attached and I'm kinda ok with it. It made sleep training harder because he also isn't interested in a paci or sucking his thumb. But those habits are just things you have to break later. I'd be happy they can comfort themselves without it!

groovygrl · July 2011

We introduced ours (they're the Gund comfy cozy ones) just before they went back to DC after I was off last summer b/c the room they were going back to was a 1 nap a day, on a mat room, vs the 2 a day in a crib they were used to...we wanted something that could potentially ease that transition so we used them at home & then got a set for DC. We just put them next to them in the crib to start & they sort of started hanging onto them. We never really encouraged it, just stuck it in there w/ them & also gave them to them during bedtime routine while we read books.

We only use them for sleeping though, they've never carried them around outside of naps/bedtime and have never really asked for them.

Topi-Jan · July 2011

DS1 never had one until his 2 year molars started to come in. At that point bedtime had regressed to the point where someone had to be in there for ridiculous amounts of time with him so he could hold our hand and play with our nails (and, many times, he would instantly wake up when we would try to leave or if we took our hand out of the crib), and I thought a lovey might help.

We happened to be in BRU and saw some cute stuffed animals we hadn't seen before. I asked DS1 which one he liked and wanted to take home (the dinosaur). We named him Dino and talked about him a lot. We brought him home and played the first day and took him to bed. DS never really slept with anything so he pretty much ignored him. The next day we said that Dino really likes staying in the crib because it is so warm and cozy. That's why Dino doesn't leave the crib (it helped that it was a crib so he couldn't just grab it and go). Again, he could have cared less at the time, but I wanted to establish Dino with sleep in the long run. We would also tell him that he can snuggle up with Dino or hold Dino's hand at night too.

During the day we'd say things like "wow, that was so much fun. You should tell Dino about XYZ." Right before bedtime we reminded him of all the cool things he wanted to tell Dino about and would model it for him by telling Dino some of our own stories of the day. It wasn't instant, but we soon established Dino as a good buddy who was at home all day and wanted to hear stories at the end of the day. He would go to bed and tell him stories and we eventually got to the point of being able to go back to putting him to bed without the extended hand holding fest. If he asked for our hand on our way out we would remind him about snuggling up with Dino and/or holding his hand.

Dino still only plays in the boys' room. At this point is just another toy that happens to stay on/near the bed (although we will take him with us when we travel so he has something consistent to associate with sleep). However, that little dinosaur was just what we needed a few months ago!!

I hope this helps. Good luck!

g8trkim · July 2011

Is there a reason you want them attached to something? DS just loved his on his own. I didn't do anything. If it doesn't come naturally I don't think you could force an attachment.

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