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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask for help in saving Blankie's life?

113 replies

ItNeedsCleansingByFire · 19/09/2024 15:02

My 23yr old DD has a childhood blanket she still sleeps with and snuggles.

Its name is Blankie (well of course it is Smile). It was originally a white flat cot size classic cellular blanket with a satin ribbon trim. Twenty three years later it is a grey ratty bundle/knot approximately the size of a hand, with a couple of strips dangling off. Like tentacles. (See attached photos for similar type "blankies" as DD's is too embarrassing outing to put a real photo up).

It is shrinking every year and she is worried what will happen when it is too small to snuggle. I have offered to sew it into a pillow/cushion type thing (after donning a full hazmat suit) but as it's a knot rather than flat fabric, it wouldn't really work. We have considered sewing it into the tummy of a toy like a teddy but apparently the blankie needs to be "touchable". So the grey ratty Blankie knot needs to be kept touchable whilst stopping the shrinkage.

We are at a loss. I don't really have any other ideas - well I do, but they involve a flame thrower and DD is resistant to this, but I know MNers will have genius suggestions...

(I would also like to make a Gordion Knot joke at this point but sadly I'm not intelligent enough. So any suggestions on this would also be welcomed Wink)

OP posts:
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6
BreadInCaptivity · 19/09/2024 16:59

Is it possible to play on it's knotted quality?

So actually stuff it and make it into a ball/pompom shape, then make some pom-poms or cut up a similar blanket to make soft balls in similar/contrasting colours and use those to decorate the edges of a new blanket?

The stuffing should help protect its integrity and you can sew all the threads inside to stop further fraying.

Then she has a usable blankie with a special comforting pompom/ball attached she can hold?

Hatty65 · 19/09/2024 16:53

@ItNeedsCleansingByFire I could go first. I quite fancy myself as onmiscient and goddess like - plus I've just retired, so 'ruling all Asia' could be a nice time filler for me. I have Politics as part of my (long ago) degree, so might make a decent Dictator of a Continent. It's just...it sounds quite tiring, and I was looking forward to some lie ins.

DD will probably get over the loss of a smelly old blankie she may well have forgotten all about...

I'll muse on it this evening! 😁

Sparklfairy · 19/09/2024 16:42

usernother · 19/09/2024 16:02

Really? I don't know any adults with that level of attachment to childhood things. It's really odd imo.

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I mean, you're clearly the judgemental type so I doubt any of your friends would admit it to you.

My sister is like this. I'm not sure if she still has hers in her 30s but she has always been highly anxious from childhood and it used to bring her a lot of comfort and calm her well into adulthood. Hers started out as a Puffalump (if anyone remembers those!) and gradually was reduced to just a string of the stuffing!

DragonInAmber · 19/09/2024 16:40

Can you no turn it into a octopus? Get someone to crochet some more tentacles, in corporation the existing bits and using the knot as the face of the octopus, and give it a new back of the head.

Not explain this well but I can picture it. 😁

delusionalspell · 19/09/2024 16:39

ItNeedsCleansingByFire · 19/09/2024 15:06

Oh sorry yes classic MN mistake. She is 282 months old. Just for clarity Wink

😂😂😂👏

Original poster
ItNeedsCleansingByFire · 19/09/2024 16:38

@Glimber don't worry, you didn't (just terrifying Wink)

@Hatty65 Oh now I like this. Maybe you should try this solution first and let me know how it works out for you? It seems only fair, yours is currently unattended after all, and the potential gains...go for it!

DD just mentioned the words "cold turkey". Interesting.

OP posts:
Original poster
ItNeedsCleansingByFire · 19/09/2024 16:29

Furry yet FUBAR!

OP posts:
Exasperateddonut · 19/09/2024 16:27

Im in my 5th decade now and still sleep with a blankie. Do not underestimate the power of childhood trauma. Tried sleeping without it and just can’t. (Not that I’m saying your child has trauma)

Id pop it in a fold over pouch so a hand can slip in and hold blankie but it doesn’t risk damaging further.

Hatty65 · 19/09/2024 16:27

@ItNeedsCleansingByFire

Can I suggest that if you hack it into very small pieces with a sharp knife that means you will be entitled to rule 'all of Asia' and could set yourself up as some sort of counter deity to Kim Jung Un?

In addition, it would solve the problem of Blankie without need for anything other than a sharp implement. No faffing with soapflakes or crafting.

Win win? (I've got a 32year old with a 'blankie' btw. It's lurking in its foulness in one corner of her old bedroom. She moved out years ago, but I'm forbidden to destroy it).

Glimber · 19/09/2024 16:27

DonnyDoris · 19/09/2024 16:22

This could have been said much more kindly........ why don't you try to make it into something like a modern day comforter, where there's a head / toy with a blanket attached?

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Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come over as unkind.

Original poster
ItNeedsCleansingByFire · 19/09/2024 16:25

"In a world where you can buy baby comforters that are basically a soft toy (or even just a disembodied soft toy head) attached to a blanket"

Yep, again this veers into Silence of the Lambs type vibe for me...It sounds more terrifying (dare I say "odd" Wink than unattached Blankie!)

Anyway I have to go talk about extending my own lifespan <just terrified myself involuntarily thinking about my head sewed to a blanket>

OP posts:
GingerPirate · 19/09/2024 16:25

I think it's FUBAR (Fucked up beyond recognition).
Sorry 😁

OhshutupBarry · 19/09/2024 16:24

Don't worry OP my DS (20 in Dec) took Doggie to Uni with him last week, apparently they have never been apart.

usernother · 19/09/2024 16:23

spikeandbuffy · 19/09/2024 16:05

@usernother why odd? I have a teddy I've had since the day I was born, and I'm 40 now
Nothing else I have is that old and it's a piece of my life history
Of course I'm attached to it

I have a teddy that was bought for me on the day I was born and is older than 60. But it's kept as an heirloom, not an emotional crutch.

Tulipvase · 19/09/2024 16:23

If any of the cells are intact (or maybe don’t have to be actually) could you/her crochet around the outside to make it bigger? So the current blankie is in the middle?

DonnyDoris · 19/09/2024 16:22

Glimber · 19/09/2024 16:15

"Sadly there is no way to flatten it as it's gone past that point now, so trying to incorporate it into some form of larger blanket would be too hard."

In a world where you can buy baby comforters that are basically a soft toy (or even just a disembodied soft toy head) attached to a blanket, I can't see how you can't just sew them together. It can't be less flat than a giraffe head surely. If you don't want to, fair enough of course.

This could have been said much more kindly........ why don't you try to make it into something like a modern day comforter, where there's a head / toy with a blanket attached?

Original poster
ItNeedsCleansingByFire · 19/09/2024 16:20

I can assure you DD is extremely empowered, and well yes we may well be odd, but are mature/empowered enough to own it and not give a fuck about being judged as odd Smile And I do have far more important/serious stuff to worry about, which is exactly why this thread is lighthearted for me.

#saveblankie Smile

There has been some good suggestions thank you, we shall investigate.

OP posts:
Glimber · 19/09/2024 16:15

"Sadly there is no way to flatten it as it's gone past that point now, so trying to incorporate it into some form of larger blanket would be too hard."

In a world where you can buy baby comforters that are basically a soft toy (or even just a disembodied soft toy head) attached to a blanket, I can't see how you can't just sew them together. It can't be less flat than a giraffe head surely. If you don't want to, fair enough of course.

bengalcat · 19/09/2024 16:12

mine also in her 20’s still has her now not so pink blanky ….. and as for the various additional needs comments mine has a masters and is studying for a PhD

DaisyChain505 · 19/09/2024 16:10

usernother · 19/09/2024 16:02

Really? I don't know any adults with that level of attachment to childhood things. It's really odd imo.

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Just because you don’t understand or relate doesn’t mean it’s odd.

as a child in a toxic volatile household, snuggling up to my blanket in bed whilst my parents argued or worse was the only thing to soothe me and bring me comfort and that attachment has progressed into my adulthood.

worriedgal · 19/09/2024 16:08

Dd 27 still has her teddy

Dd 25 - hard hearted and slept with nothing

Dd19- just started uni and has blankie with her

My db is 49 and he has his teddy that his 3x dd's fight over when they are ill .

I think it's lovely and they are all happy,well adjusted adults in relationships and thriving

spikeandbuffy · 19/09/2024 16:05

@usernother why odd? I have a teddy I've had since the day I was born, and I'm 40 now
Nothing else I have is that old and it's a piece of my life history
Of course I'm attached to it

DonnyDoris · 19/09/2024 16:02

Im 562 months with no additional needs - I still have my "blankie" and my mum continues to repair him as and when required!!
Replacements are all very well but they don't ever smell or feel the same.....

usernother · 19/09/2024 16:02

ItNeedsCleansingByFire · 19/09/2024 15:16

Fucking hell, I knew I have should have gone for Chat not AIBU - it's a good job this isn't about adult DS's blankies, imagine. Well I have a flamethrower ready if anyone would like to borrow it to use against me or DD Wink

I think it's not uncommon for adults to have attachment to childhood things like blankets/toys/bedding etc. Last time I was in hospital I didn't take my teddy as he is too old to cope with an extended stay away from home, but DH did bring him to visit me Grin and I'm late 40s!

Really? I don't know any adults with that level of attachment to childhood things. It's really odd imo.

aramox1 · 19/09/2024 16:01

Honestly I think your best route is to step back and let her figure it out. Empowering.