Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Soft Toys in Bed

34 replies

QueenSconetta · 12/04/2011 21:00

I think you're going to tell me I am mean, but DD (nearly 17 months) has just started wanting to take a soft toy to bed with her.

She never has before and its never been a problem. I REALLY don't want to get into a situation where she won't go to sleep with out x toy and I am paranoid about her bury her face in it and getting suffocated.

DP it to her tonight (was not pleased!) so let it go and said to her that 'once you are asleep I will put Monkey in his own bed', which I have done. I also think tomorrow I will put him out of immediate site (not totally hide him or anything) and see if we can go back to the status quo.

I'm making too much of an issue of this aren't I?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

QueenSconetta · 13/04/2011 20:22

Goodness, some of you make it sound like I make her stand in the corner morning til night with nothing to do and nothing to play with and is a poor little thing who has no one to love! She has myriad soft toys which she plays with happily, in fact if you offer her a choice of who she wants to take out she can't decide so takes everyone!, but has never expressed any interest in taking any to bed until this week!

I agree a bit PFBy, but I hinted that I am aware I was over thinking it with the phrase 'I am making too much of this'.

FWIW she went to bed tonight with no interest in Monkey or anything else apart from a night night kiss.

But yes, I think I will probably let Monkey stay in bed next time he finds his way in there...

OP posts:

ginmakesitallok · 13/04/2011 20:25

There is nothing in the world cuter that going in to check on your 3/4/5 year old before you go to bed and finding them all tucked up with a row of teddies on the pillow beside them (which were NOT there when you said goodnight to them). I always feel sorry for my DDs going to bed on their own when DP and I have each other to snuggle into - the more the merrier I say. (though it is a pain in the arse when they absolutely won't go to bed without a leopard/monkey/hippo you haven't seen in months...)

CPtart · 13/04/2011 20:53

My DS's (6 and 8) STILL take soft toys to bed, I can barely find my youngest amongst the mound of various stuffed animals! They have had them from babies for comfort/reassurance and have been great sleepers - no crying out, getting out of bed or messing about! In fact one of DS(6) first words was "Taz". Also useful to produce when out and about as cues for naptime, ie, in the buggy on holiday.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting Toys

pointythings · 13/04/2011 21:36

My DDs are 8 and 10 and their beds are full of soft toys. They each have 2 or 3 absolute favourites which must come with us on holiday, the rest are interchangeable. They've had cuddles of some kind since about a year. Definitely agree with Monkey staying overnight, every child needs a favourite to love.

Katy1368 · 13/04/2011 23:22

Pretty sure suffocation is'nt an issue as long as said soft toys are appropriate ones e.g. haven't got any small bits that could fall/get bitten off and get choked on. My daughter has a cow that is basically her best friend, in fact she seems to have invented a special language simply for communicating with cow! It's hilarious and so sweet. That cow is precious and I have to make damn sure he never gets lost as she literally sleeps clutching him tightly round the neck. One night our nanny forget to put him in and she woke shouting "cow" - it took me 10 minutes to find him and they were a long 10 minutes believe me! She also has about 10 other toys in bed and quite often has fun piling them up in odd ways before she falls asleep.

I did encourage it as I loved my soft toys when little and even now have doggy, mr fatmouse and mr thin mouse stored at the back of my cupboard, can't bear toget rid of them despite being 40! I think it helps as a comforter at night or if you go somewhere strange. Give it a go!

matana · 14/04/2011 08:42

DS, 5 months, has a rag-tag type comforter in bed with him. He puts it over his eyes in an apparent attempt to block out light so he can get to sleep. First time he did it he slept for his longest ever daytime nap and when i went in and saw it i was scared shitless he'd suffocated himself. When i whipped it away from his eyes they sprung open and he looked at me like i was the wicked witch of the west for disturbing his blissful sleep!

I think they're essential and actually aid sleep apart from anything else. And i agree there is certainly no risk of suffocation in a 17 month old child.

Hulababy · 14/04/2011 08:56

My DD has always had soft toys in bed with her, from being much younger than 17 months. I never saw it as a health and safety type risk. She is 9y now and has over a dozen various soft toys in her bed!

mrsdaz · 14/04/2011 10:15

Best nights sleep ive had since ds2 started taking george the pig to bed ;)

He now has about 10 teddies and blankets but will sleep with any one of them (or all of them) I love listening to him talking away to them and re-arranging them in his cot when we put him to bed (he is 19 months). Certain ones are not allowed out of the cot though so they dont get lost.

uklouisab · 14/04/2011 15:09

DD rotates her soft toys that are in the vicinity of her bed at night...some nights there is only 1 or 2 and other nights I wonder how on earth she finds room for herself in bed! Suffocation worries havent been an issue at all for me although there are times when she does want one specific toy and i've agreed in order to minimise upset. There will be far bigger battles ahead as she grows and the bedtime toy one is one I choose to give into ;)
That said, it might come back to bite me on the bum when shes 18 and off to uni/work with her fave soft toy still attached!! lol

Flip

1 2