Do you agree that the children who have security blankets/comforters grow in to well adjusted adults?

[bramblina]

My mum told me she heard this recently, couldn't remember where. I was quite against ds having one (even though he was given 2 at birth) as I believe they can be a brilliant breeding ground for bacteria and create utter havoc when it's time to live without them. However if you have any opposing advise I would love to hear it!

He's been unwell for a couple of days and has loved snuggling in to his shawl...

About getting rid of it - most kids grow out of them when they don't need it anymore.

Breeding grounds for bacteria - not necessarily. Get a couple of the same things that are washable. They can be swopped and washed regularly (this is what I do with ds).

Also ds's blankie(s) are used for when he is sad, unwell or at sleep times. They don't get that dirty. They're not dragged around in mud or dirt or anything like that.

SOmeone else on here said there child had a wooden spoon - again easily washable.

They don't have to be dirty - a friend of mine had one when she was little that was only washed twice a year, now that is disgusting. Mine was washed at least once a week, ds's every other day.

Dr Tanya was talking about comforters recently - maybe that's where your mum heard it?

HTH

Mine use muslin blankets, love them to bits and we wash them regularly. They only have them at sleep times (cos once dd1 was a toddler they started getting filthy..also seemed to stop her interacting as much, she was happier once we restricted them to sleep times really). Dr Tanya said her daughter still had one in her bedroom, so they must be OK! I think its about having an object of attachment that helps you separate from a parent with less anxiety.

I'm the most well-adjusted member of my family (not that that is saying a lot) and I had pinkyblanket til I was 7 or 8! .
Didn't have a dummy or suck thumb though and never was a great one for teddies etc. Just loved to have my blanket. Still love soft, things with lovely textures.
Didn't set out to giove my son one either but he has an old blue fringed pram blanket which he still has at night. He seems very well-adjusted, normal and confident to me. He won't be dragging it round when he's a teenager so what's the problem?

i still have a comfort blanket. am i well adjusted well dh would say thats debatable oh yes i'm 36

My sister who is not that well adjusted had a comfort blanket. However I must say my mother having had enough of the filthy filthy thing burnt it in front of her. It's probably that that made her so insecure. My mother can be a little harsh at times!!!

I had a "shushie" when I was little, and gave one to both my children (old pram sheets). Ds is still very attached to his, but dd can take hers or leave it really now (they are 7 and 5). We found that it was a great help in getting them to settle on their own, especially sleeping in other people's houses. Ds has to be discouraged from using his except at bedtime, as it seems to encourage him to suck his thumb and his new teeth are a bit crooked. I think that they are a bigger deal for people with a strong sense of touch (all to do with your NLP preferences). Can't see any reason not to go with it if he is showing a preference, but I don't think it's a big deal.

absolutely not

hear hear nOoka, some people are more touchy feely!

No no, children who have security blankets grow up to be small polka-dotted ponies.

Of course they grow up to be reasonably well-adjusted adults, same as the children without security blankets.

Yes you are a small polka-dotted pony?

No, large polka-dot mare.

Both my kids just used my hand as their comfort. Never thought to give them one as I never really had one, they never had a dummy either just their bott bott.

They don't really get attached to a certain toy.

DP had a "nuggie" as his Mum called it - WTF??? Think its quite poncy to be honest for a boy and DP used to drag his nuggie around with him right up until school.

oh fgs! as I've always pointed out to my detractors, would you rather see me shooting up or snuffling on my blanket? there are worse things I could do, yeah.

The great thing about comforters is that they don't use your hand/hair etc. You can put them to bed and go away while they go to sleep on their own. My niece had to play with her mum's finger - drove me mad when I babysat when she wanted to use mine! I think that children either do, or they don't want a comforter. And if they want something, they will choose something they like the feel of (how many toddlers play with their teddy's label, for example) regardless of whether you specifically provide it.

I haven't got my shushie any more (disintegrated long ago!) but I have got my childhood teddy bear back on my pillow (where dh used to sleep). After watching Toy Story I felt bad about him living on the top of the cupboard!

I'm so pleased to hear someone else still has their blanket!

Oooops sorry everyone I posted this twice, the link to the other thread |link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=8&threadid=184750&stamp=060622142610|here's}the link to the other thread

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