Should I Encourage My Baby to Have a ‘Lovie’?
Hazel's unloved lovie
I was just looking through this cute slideshow of “lovies,” and realized I’d never even heard this term (described as “those special soft blankets or stuffed animals that children can grow so attached to”) before giving birth. Which is funny, since I definitely had my own lovie when I was a toddler—a pink satin baby blanket that I rubbed whenever I sucked my thumb. But I have to admit that when Mike and I first received one of those blankies with the heads attached, I opened it and said, “Aww!” then turned to the person who gave it to us and said, “but what exactly is it?”
And she looked sheepish then said, “I have no idea, but I thought it was cute.” Which it totally is—and now I know what to call it. Hazel’s lovie.
The problem is, Hazel, six months old, has not yet paid any attention to it yet—or to any stuffed animals or baby blankets. She goes for the rattles, squeaky things and the teething toys (just like a dog). Should I try to get her to embrace a baby blanket for comfort and to help her fall asleep? Or will giving her a “lovie” turn her into a thumbsucker like me? Let me know what you think.
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I’ve always thought babies/kids having lovies was great maybe because i never had one as a kid who knows. It’s really up to you if you want Hazel to have a lovie or not plus you could even try to get her to have one and she may have no interest some kids just don’t care. Both my son and daughter have lovies and really i did nothing to get them attached i would just lay it in their crib with them when they went to bed at night/nap and soon they became attached. Neither of them suck their thumbs either i think that is just another way some babies/children decide to sooth themselves. There are definitely good and bad things about lovies. Good they always have that security and both of my children go to sleep very easily on their own. It can be cute watching them carry it around to. Bad if you lose the lovie and can’t find it when it’s time for a nap/bed or just in general when they want it. It doesn’t matter if you have a back up of the exact same lovie kids are smart nothing can replace the original plus after a while they get really beat up and that lovie that was once so cute is now pretty grungy looking. My mom always tells me i should have never given my daughter one after i saw how my son was with one but i wouldn’t have it any other way and i like them to feel comfortable when i’m not around and their lovies help.
My almost 1 year old daughter has slept with a lovie (exactly like the one in your picture) since she was about 5 months old. Someone gave it to us when she was born and one day we let her hold it when she was napping. It worked great and she’s used one to help her get to sleep ever since. Our solution to some of the problems you mentioned are to have multiple lovies (we have four-they are different animals/colors, but all the same little blanket with a head) and to only let her have it when it’s time for bed or a nap. So far so good. If your baby likes using it, I would highly recommend it.
my son uses cloth diapers as lovies. they’re great for a number of reasons, but the most important one is that they are interchangeable and replaceable. he nuzzles them up under his face and sweetly rubs his fingers on the edges of them when he’s falling asleep. he calls it his “di” or “di-di.” we used gerber organic cotton ones, which look scratchy and thin in the package, but they plump and soften when you wash and dry.
best reason for lovie: easier transitioning. he is two now and when he holds it, he immediately feels comforted. (also, not a thumbsucker. a binky, but only in the crib.)
Some kids don’t get attached to a toy or lovey until they’re older. My oldest ds didnt latch onto a toy as a comfort item until he was 4, and strangely it was to a toy he’d had since he was 1. I generally let my kids do whatever they will when it comes to loveys. If they don’t want one, you can’t really force one on them.