Help help lost teddy disaster how to get to sleep.

[Monstersincq]

My DS (2) teddy got left behind at nursery today. He is distraught and desperately crying for it from his bed. Have just finished breaking a habit of me being in there with him to get to sleep as he's been unwell so reluctant to just stay with him. It seems so cruel to just force him to get over it when I'm the one who has encouraged an attachment like this. Please no one tell me off for letting him be so attached to something and yes do have a few others of the same toy but they are brand new and so don't have the same feeling etc. help any advice? Cry it out and learn a valuable lesson we can't always have what we want blah blah? Lie with him till falls asleep and risk getting back into a bad cycle (and yes one night could do this, took two weeks to recover after DH took him into bed one night)? I'm mostly really worried that he is going to wake up through the night missing him. Feeling so sorry for him.

I'd give him one of the replacements & let him cry but pop in for reassurance. You sound reluctant to stay in there with him & I'd feel the same if I were you.

Our system is 2 tigers (ds attachment toy) one lives at nursery, one at home. Both are generally for naps only, unless hes been poorly. It means we can also wash one & use one at the weekend. Both get used & feel the same & forgetful parents don't mess everything up! He knows he has 2 & given the chance he'll wander around with both! Maybe you could get the spares into rotation so you've got a better back up next time.

Good luck for tonight & if all else fails

A suggestion for the future (you said you have a few others of same toy) is to rotate them! I had a lot of Makka Pakkas (spelling!!) in my time. Otherwise I would suggest getting another much loved (slightly loved fluffy) toy and making it real and pretending it's really sad and lonely and wants to get into bed with DS as it needs looking after. Let them have a chat (pretend you are the toy!). Always works here (DS is 7!), though we have never had an attachment to a particular toy for mega long periods. We rotate like mad! Give it a go.

Personally I think I would cuddle him till he slept. Not ideal but defiantly the lesser of two evils. It could do more harm in the long run if he feels abandoned by you and teddy for tonight. Are you getting the teddy back tomorrow?

I would say that teddy has been traumatised and no longer wishes to leave the house. Ever. Ever. Ever.

Send DH to nursery? The cleaners or manager might still be there even if they don't pick up the phone. Worked for us when bunny was lost!

No telling off here!

Tell him toy is on holiday and pretend to phone toy?

It's good you know where the teddy is, though. Speaking from experience!

Rotating is v good advice. I did think to do this a while ago and tried to get it going but just let it slide. He only recently is so attached to the older one, he used to not really care. Must do that starting tomorrow!

Give him something special of yours to look after? A teddy or a cushion from your bed or even a cardigan? Something precious which you love too.

Take off the top you're wearing now and give it to him to cuddle. The familiar smell may help him to settle.

Goodness me this thread has scared the bejesus out of me!! I MUST get another monkey!!

Sorry OP - hope he settles soon.

I did this with dds rabbit. We made up a bedtime story together where she got fairy /magic super powers to 'save' rabbit and rabbit was looking after new toys at nursery.

It meant turning up in fancy dress next day but ach who cares eh ? Can't go out dressed as a fairy when 3 when can you? :)

Thanks so much for all advice! Just as he fell asleep DH arrived home having begged the cleaners to let him in and retrieved the teddy! Thank The Lord. Judging self for not being more like a French parent and saying tch well that is life but nursery isn't that far...new leaf tomorrow!

Yay! I helped!