Why it is no bad thing if your child needs a comfort object to sleep at night

 

Parents often ask me if a comfort blanket or toy is useful for helping their baby or toddler to sleep well and generally feel more secure.

The simple answer is yes, for many babies they are very useful indeed.

Comfort blankets and toys are known as "transitional objects" and as the name suggests, can be very useful in helping babies and toddler make the transition from awake to asleep. They also help little ones feel more secure when separating from parents – at the nursery or crèche for example. Because a comforter helps a child to feel safe, calm and happy, its use should not be discouraged, no matter how grubby and worn it looks. If your child has a comfort object it is a healthy sign that they are growing up and learning how to cope with their independence.

At least half of all babies and toddlers have a comforter, and most will choose their own object at around 6 months old and their need for the comforter is at it's greatest between 18 months and 2 years old.

Babies tend to choose items with a soft texture and a familiar smell, such as a pillow case, soft toy or even mummy's nightie! If your child doesn't choose something of their own accord, there is no need to encourage it but if your child is a poor sleeper then it may well be worth a try.

Some parents worry that a comfort object left in the cot all night might be dangerous – especially if their baby sleeps with on his or her face! The fact is that most comfort objects will not pose a danger if taken into a child's cot as a sleep aid, but you should avoid anything with a ribbon or cord on it or any toy with parts that could be chewed or sucked off and choke a child [a teddy's eyes or nose for example.] Small blankets, muslin squares, pillow cases and so on, made from natural fibres can be considered to be safe, as a child can breathe through them. The Gro company sells a range of soft, lovely comforters which are safe to use and easy for babies to self manage.

The big worry of course is that the comforter is becoming a source of trouble – your baby misplacing it in their sleep or worst still, losing it altogether.

It's useful to remember that unlike dummies, comfort objects seldom get lost during the night and need finding and replacing. This is the huge advantage of a comforter over a dummy when it comes to managing babies' sleep and is one of the reasons that I recommend them to parents who are trying to wean their babies off the night time dummy.

If the comforter gets lost or left behind somewhere it can be very distressing indeed for a child. For this reason, it is most important that if you notice that your child is forming an attachment to a particular object, you should try and get hold of another identical one. Alternate their use so that each becomes equally worn and also so that one can be washed whilst the other is being used.

……and don't worry if your child wants to keep his or her comforter into older childhood and beyond. Many a University hall of residence bedroom is graced with its owner's much loved blanky!