[Frozendesire]

Today James was talking to a customer. They were discussing kids and the topic of sleep came up. Anyways, I guess they had the same issues as us regarding sleep with one of their kids. She said she introduced a lovey and that helped alot.

I think it would help in our case as well. Dustin sleeps well in bed with me but doesn't sleep well at all by himself in his crib. I wouldn't normally care except I have a tough time sleeping with him in there as he tends to want to nurse ALL night long Thus I'm stuck on my side and I'm a tummy/ball sleeper! He wakes up all scared and screaming and I think it's a huge comfort issue.

She suggested picking an item/toy/blanket etc and nursing with the item between us. Well we did the process of picking one out with his help and I've nursed him a couple times. Seems to be going well, he stops and plays with it and hugs it etc. He also nursed to sleep while hugging it and I put him in his crib with him still clutching it. It's a stuffed giraffe.

I was just wondering if anyone else has done this and if anyone has any tips? Or maybe this could help someone else as well??

Any thoughts?

[Trannyfromtheuk]

I've not nursed with a lovie but Mia did/has gotten attached to a bear called Rodger. She will NOT sleep without him.

I introduced a lovey when we tried to encourage Kirsty to go to sleep independently at around 5months. She accepted her dummy (paci) at this point.

What I did was took a burp cloth/muslin square, and each time Kirsty was due a nap we would put the blankie in her hands. She just kind of accepted it after a while. I purposely chose something that could be easily replaced if lost/damaged.

Now she just adores her blankie. Whenever she goes for a daytime nap, as soon as she gets her dumdum and her blankie, she knows it's naptime. At bedtime she gets the dumdum & blankie again and anytime I check on her through the night, she always has the blankie in her hands. I wanted Kirsty's lovey to be her stuffed giraffe but am glad it's a muslin square, as I said, easy to replace. Her giraffe is always in her cot though.

You could hold it for a while each day (probably holding it between you whilst nursing would work!) as it will transfer your smell onto the giraffe and help make Dustn feel like you are close and he is safe.

[Frozendesire]

I'm glad to hear it worked for Kirsty! I hope this helps us. He is really attached to me lately (well the last few months haha) He will take a bottle no problem from James and MIL but not from me (which is fine, we're almost done with the bottles anyways). I think he's getting into the comfort stage, the familiarity stage sorta thing.

[~*sierra*~]

what a great idea, i never would have thought! i hope it works well for u and the baby

[Chelnae6]

Sweet! hope it works and you get sleep at night

[~*Bethy*~]

ive never heard of this idea - what a great idea!!! can this work with any item?

[Resi]

I never tried it because I know Oliver would not go for it. First off he doesn't like stuffed animals at all. Most of the time he gets scared of them. He isn't big on blankets either. I'm his lovely and I don't think he is willing to take anything else. But I have heard they can work well for someone babies.

[ShannonMVT]

Sounds like a great idea! I want to try that I just haven't found the "right item". I wanted one of those blankies that is sort of a stuffed animal as well but the only ones I can find have a rattle in them and I don't want one with a rattle in it.

[Frozendesire]

I just used a stuffed animal we had here, since then it would have a familiar smell.

He was carrying it around when playing and he found comfort in it when James was comforting him (he's THAT attached to me!). He's sleeping right now with it in his crib.

I actually nurse him and use the giraffe's nose to rub his face and he instantly goes to sleep. Then I leave them cuddling together in his crib.

We'll see how it goes. I'm sure it will take a couple weeks to get his full comfort out of it!

[Mars]

Amara's not big into stuff animals but I'm am sooooooooooooo going to try this. She will sleep in her pack n play or our bed but she doesn't seem to like her crib anymore. My only problem is that she wakes up regardless of where she sleeps. It's not to say that she sleeps better in our bed vs the pack n play but I'll try this with a nice cushy bunny we have at home nor with her mini bunny blanket that she had when she was younger (she used to chew on it lots) and see what happens. She's never really taken to any stuff toys/dolls.

[misfitinmn]

Ben has one like this:
Gund Baby Comfy Cozy Lamb - Gund - Babies "R" Us

He has that in his crib with him every night, though he's not as attached to that as he is to his 2 blankies. He drags his blankies with him everywhere! I didn't really encourage it, it just sort of happened that he made it his "lovey".

I hope you find something that works for you!!

Originally Posted by ~*Bethy*~

ive never heard of this idea - what a great idea!!! can this work with any item?

yup!!

If anyone is scared (as I was!!) of suffocation issues with using a blanket/muslin - I always tie a knot in the middle of Kirsty's muslin so there is no risk.

[Frozendesire]

Bethy, it sure can... but like Fifi said you'll want to pick something that is easily replaced, easily washed, and easily found. I know I picked the giraffe cause it's not small, it's a medium sized stuffy and I think this will make it easier to find. I have two crazy little boys, I'm sure it will get stuffed under the bed, behind the dresser etc etc lots!!! haha.

[ShannonMVT]

I just started last night using a bunny/blanket that Matthew got as a gift. (I had been using it as decoration in his nursery.) I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get a replacement but I looked online and if he gets attached to it, I can order a second one as a backup.

It's soft and lovely, I hope he attaches to it.

[Frozendesire]

Shannon, just watch! We choose cute and cuddly adorable toys and they go after something gross and scruffy hehe.

I hope it works for you. So far he seems to be okay with having a "buddy" to nurse with it