OT kinda: When to have DS give up his blankie?

[chipper10]

DS chews on receiving blankets. He's been doing this since he was about 7 months old. He will be 20 months tomorrow. When should I try to start getting rid of the blankies? He does not have a particular blankie that he loves, he is happy with any receiving blanket.

We are going to Disney in the middle of September and I really don't want to have to worry about bringing a bunch of blankies. But I also don't want to force DS to give them up too soon. He never took a paci, so this is really all he has for a lovey.

When would you start getting rid of the blankies?

 

[marcyinPA]

Um, my DS would kill me if he knew I was sharing this, but he still sleeps with a blankie. He's 13! He doesn't take it with him anywhere (stopped that around the age that sleepovers started...7?) but he does sleep with it at home. My DS9 sleeps with one too.

I wouldn't take it away. He'll let you know when he doesn't need it anymore.

 

[Zeebs]

Another vote for leaving it with him, really apart from having to cart a few blankets on your trip, I am not sure I see any other reasons for stopping it.

It isn't detrimental to developement and if he likes it and gets comfort from it then I would save yourself the stress of removing it and let him have it. Especially as he doesn't seem to be fussy about which one he has.

Kirsten

 

[unionville]

My 8 year old still sleeps with his blankie as well. The blankie and bear always travels with us. He doesn't actually carry it around in public - just for sleeping. Is that an option for you?

 

[chipper10]

Another vote for leaving it with him, really apart from having to cart a few blankets on your trip, I am not sure I see any other reasons for stopping it.

It isn't detrimental to developement and if he likes it and gets comfort from it then I would save yourself the stress of removing it and let him have it. Especially as he doesn't seem to be fussy about which one he has.

Kirsten

I think I'm worried that if I don't have him give it up soon, his future wife will be asking me why he chew on the sheets !!

 

[chipper10]

My 8 year old still sleeps with his blankie as well. The blankie and bear always travels with us. He doesn't actually carry it around in public - just for sleeping. Is that an option for you?

DS doesn't carry his in public. He only uses it when he is sleeping or if he gets really fussy. I know we will need to take it to the parks though in case he get tired or fussy and needs a nap.

 

[marcyinPA]

I think I'm worried that if I don't have him give it up soon, his future wife will be asking me why he chew on the sheets !!

Nah, just as they won't walk down the aisle in diapers, they won't need to bring blankie along on the honeymoon! He'll be fine....just let him decide when he's done with it. I promise you, he WILL decide!!

 

[Zeebs]

I think I'm worried that if I don't have him give it up soon, his future wife will be asking me why he chew on the sheets !!

LOL nah, it will never happen.

A wee story for you, I had a doll when I was little my mother made it for me, it had sheep skin/fleece hair and I use to tickle my nose while I sucked my thumb. Mum had replaced my polly dolly a number of times because it got worn out. Then one day the dog ate it, tore it apart, she decided enough was enough I was 5 I think, and wouldn't make me another one. I was so upset but got over it eventually and stopped sucking my thumb.

Seriously as someone else said he will give it up when he is ready, my view is if he is comforted then hey his wife will need to get use to it.....

Kirsten

Edited to add, seeing as he also only has it when he is sleeping, or when really fussy, I double my suggestion to let him have it.

 

[PEANUT1]

Little kids need their blankies!!! my 4 year old still sleeps with hers. I take our 22 month olds with us everywhere. It is comforting to them. Why take that away?

 

[unionville]

I think I'm worried that if I don't have him give it up soon, his future wife will be asking me why he chew on the sheets !!

My husband has already visioned our son in his college dorm room with that bear snuggled up right beside him!

 

[chipper10]

Thanks everyone!!! You've made me feel alot better about it! DS can keep his blankie until he gets rid of it on his own!

 

[trasor]

Let him keep it! My DD uses cloth diapers for her comfy. She used to take it EVERYWHERE. We went to Disney last year and 2 different moms during our stay commented on their children (now teenagers) using the same thing. They said they still have them but now they just use them for sleeping. My DD just turned four and she started weaning herself off them a few months ago. Now she just wants one when she's sleeping or upset. If you can separate him gently, OK, but don't force it. He'll let it go when he's ready.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

DD15 and DS13 still have their blankies on their beds and use them in times of stress. We never allowed blankies out of the bedroom (hotel rooms count as bedrooms, and planes if they are scared). Their friends know about them and no one has ever made fun of them, probably because the majority of their friends have some type of security in their rooms also. I would try to curb the chewing part though. I used carressing their cheeks with the blankie and this stopped the chewing.

 

[perkinsrose]

If child was 5 or 6 and going to school with it--that might cause social issues, I'd say its time. If it just a sleeping thing--why not let him choose when he gives it up? Its not like a pacifier that may contribute to dental/mouth issues at a certain age. My DD had a blanket (we actually had a few of the same kind/different color) that she liked to sleep with from very young til around age 5 when she seemed to transfer her love to a stuffed dog. Fine by me--the blanket or the dog was typically in her bed. I used to carry the blanket in diaperbag to have to help at naptime if we were out and about.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Another vote here for letting him keep it. My almost 5 year old still uses her blanky to help her sleep. It usually stays in the house, but I will occasionally permit her to take it to daycare for naptime. It stays folded up in her cubby before and after nap.

She's going to be making a switch to a pre-K program at an elementary school in a few weeks. That will be the end of blanky outside of the house, except for trips of course.

 

[minkydog]

Aw, let him keep it. As long as it's not endangering him and he's otherwise developing normally I don't think the blankie is going to be an issue. My DD15 still has hers--she sleeps with hers under her comforter. DS21 still has his old stuffed dog, Max--it's so bare and battered, it's surely going to turn "real" any day now. I figure if all it takes to help a kid deal with the stress of life is a few scraps of material and an old toy, well, that's a good thing, right?

 

[goofyisinphilly]

Aw, let him keep it. As long as it's not endangering him and he's otherwise developing normally I don't think the blankie is going to be an issue. My DD15 still has hers--she sleeps with hers under her comforter. DS21 still has his old stuffed dog, Max--it's so bare and battered, it's surely going to turn "real" any day now. I figure if all it takes to help a kid deal with the stress of life is a few scraps of material and an old toy, well, that's a good thing, right?

Was that a reference to the Velveteen Rabbit?

I am 26 and still have my Mouse. Mouse is a stuffed animal that is...well... a mouse. Not like The Mouse but like a stuffed bear..only a mouse. She wears a dress and apron. She now lives on the dresser but has been to college and everything. She is one smart mouse.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

DS chews on receiving blankets. He's been doing this since he was about 7 months old. He will be 20 months tomorrow. When should I try to start getting rid of the blankies? He does not have a particular blankie that he loves, he is happy with any receiving blanket.

We are going to Disney in the middle of September and I really don't want to have to worry about bringing a bunch of blankies. But I also don't want to force DS to give them up too soon. He never took a paci, so this is really all he has for a lovey.

When would you start getting rid of the blankies?

I wouldn't. Ever. If he wanted to give it up then fine. If not then no big deal.

 

[lclark0621]

I would never take away my son's (5) Teddy. He loves that thing. While we dont carry Teddy out of the house, he does come with us on all of our vacations (but tucked safely into my DS's backpack when we leave the hotel for the day).

Let him keep his blanket! It isn't harming anyone, and it is actually helping him.

DH & I have talked about the day DS will go off to college with Teddy tucked in a trunk. Or maybe give his Teddy to his son one day.

 

[CampbellScot]

my little sister is 23...she still "twittles" the yarn bits on her baby blankie. That thing has been repaired 84,000 times...it's covered in patches and seam repairs.

I think as long as your little one isn't having a massively hard time separating from the blankie when it's time to get up and get moving, I don't think there's a huge problem with him sleeping with it or even chewing on it. Some kids take comfort items to pre school with them. It's perfectly acceptable!