Soft toys in cot - when is it safe????

[LauraGas]

Hello all.

Anyone know when it's safe to put soft toys in the cot? My DS is 6.5months and is waking more and more through the night & evening (which used to be the ok bit). Last night he woke approx every 20 mins from going down at 7 and I finally got him settled at 1.30am when he then slept till 5.30 and woke up giggling . He's really bad at settling himself and it almost seemed last night that he wanted me and a cuddle so I wondered if having a couple of his favourite soft toys in with him would help. Maybe if he wakes and sees them he can cuddle them back to sleep. Am slightly paranoid about choking (first time mum!) and as he seems to put everything in his mouth wondered if this was safe or not. There seems to be so many guidelines about what to do / what not to do that I don't want to do anything I'm not supposed to! Have even resorted to putting a ticking clock in his room tonight as I remembered that the sound of the tick tock used to comfort me as a child! Have changed his feeding routine in the hopes that this might help too.

Why is the sleep bit soooo hard????!!!!!

[Pennies]

My DDs have always had a soft toy in with them- even when they were first born in hospital, tho they were really tiny at first with no loose bits. They also had a couple of cot toys which were firmly attached to the bars as well, which they both played with from a surprisingly early age.

Go for it I'd say.

[tinkerbellie]

i got my daughter a noukie from when she was new born
its like a stuffed head with a little blanket (flannel sized) with tags for them to feel etc
it's brilliant the first day you get it carry it around everywhere with you so it smells like you then when they wake they can cuddle something that reminds of you
mine has been great she loves it and won't sleep without it

[chocolateshoes]

Just like Tinkerbellie DS has had a soft toy thing since birth - it came from JoJoMaman. He equates it with sleep now & if we are travelling & I want him to have a nap I give him his Jojo. We have 3!!!!!

[xmasstocking]

Laura - I was wondering the same myself. DS (5 months) has always had 2 stuffed zoo animals in his cot but I read in a magazine that as a recommendation against cot death, they shouldn't - scared the hell out of me - so good to hear what people think. But the 'blankies' as described in another post say suitable from birth - I am very confused!

[chocolateshoes]

I suppose the blankie thing aren't as 'stuffed' as soft toys. DS used to sleep with his over his face which panicked me a bit at the start but its not heavy - just like having a hankie over your face. By the way, I think JoJoMamanbebe have a 2 for the price of 1 offer on them. Don't think DS wd sleep without his!

[LauraGas]

Chocolate - are the things from JoJo Maman the taggies? I've just been on their website and they look really good. Do you think he's too old to take to something new if he's getting attached to a couple of his stuffed toys? I'd probably rather he has a taggie as it looks safer (being paranoid again!).

Tonight seems to be going better than last night as I've only had to go up once since 6.45 and I put his teddy bear lights on and he went off again. Have heard plenty of stirring but nothing I've had to go up for so far. Am having a celebratory glass of wine - probably premature but hey ho!

Thanks for all you help & tips.
Laura
x

[tinkerbellie]

i wouldn't think he was too old to take to something new, and it's got to be worth a try if it ends up making your life easier.
ds was a really bad sleeper started with colic and after you had to holdhim to get him to sleep, he is 5 now and still comes into our bed some times in themiddle of the night
when i found out i was pregnant with dd, thought thats thats and was really strict about people holding her, no rocking her to sleep etc
and i have to say thank god she is really good most of the time