Snuggly or smothering hazard?

[lovemygirl]

Dd has started taking a liking to a nounou toy (puppetlike velvety thing!). I think it may be nice for her to have a snuggly as she starts nursery next week but daren't let her have it to sleep with for fear of choking/getting smothered. She is 5mths old. Am I being over cautious? Do I just want her to have a snuggly?!!Would be great to hear your thoughts! TIA

My dd has had a small blankie in bed with her from around that age. Hers is the size of a handkerchief. I swear by the thing. She loves it and it really helps her settle for bed. I don't see any problem with it as long as it's quite small. It's not like a big blanket that she might get entangled in is it? If it's a comfort let her have it, especially as she starts nursery and will like something familiar with her in a strange environment.

hmmmm..... DD about a week ago, took to pulling the muslin over her face before going to sleep, ( shes 14 wks)she seems to gain a lot of comfort from it, obviously i am concerned about smothering etc ( although the muslin is light and airiated) but i wait till shes drifted off then i pull it away from her. I think its a nice thing and offers reassurance in times of need!

my ds takes his muslim(raggy)every where&in his cot he puts it on his face too,he is a year old though

my dd has had her little white teddy from mothercare with her in bed from around the same age. her cot was in our room til 11 months though and she spent part of the night in our bed til that age too so we were able to keep an eye on her. i'd be careful but don't be too worried.

also read in a mag last week that new research says that apparently kids who have a comfort item when little like a teddy or blankie are more confidant and more socially interactive in later years so it can't be all bad!

DS was given a tigger 'blankie' before he was born but, like JF's LO, he's far more interested in a muslin (Sorry Scoobytwo but had to LOL at 'muslim' - that's what DH calls it and can't understand where he's going wrong!) At 8 months he now can't sleep until he has the blankie under one arm and the muslin across his face! doesn't seem to be a problem.

think once they can roll over it's not so much of a hazard - the problem is v young babies who could get stuck face down in a cuddly (as it were) and not have the muscle tone to push it, or themselves, away.

oopps just realised id put muslim lol at least my ds calls it raggy

I reckon its because the muslin is used every day for everything to do with LO's ie, feeding, mopping up sick, throwing over your shoulder etc etc. i had thought about making a raggy type doll out of one, but then i think it loses its 'meaning' so to speak!
I would love DD to get into having a fav toy, i have a really cute and ultra soft toy ( guessing its the same as lovemygirls, puppetlike velvety thing) but babies have their own minds, at least she hasnt taken to cuddling an old sock!!!!

DON'T ALLOW THEM TO BE ATTACHED TO SOMETHING HARD TO WASH AND MAKE SURE YOU BUY A SPARE (OR THREE).

Ahem.

I speak from experience...

dd had two similar - one a rag doll's head with a 2 layered gingham and brushed cotton skirt and another a \link{http://www.kaethekrusepuppe.de/en/index.php?seite=spielzeug_detail2.php&start=16&catI=&cat=22&toyid=175&gruppe=baby\teddy} to which she is obsessively attached. She had both from birth, but the "skirts" were all cotton fabric, and while she might put one on her face I'd just move it off once she was asleep. Whatever you do, don't allow her to chew it to pieces as the odd bits can be consumed or stuffed in orifices ie. up nose ! dd is 4 now and have had to do maintenance on Teddy, involving getting a supply of fabric from Germany ! We do have a spare but it is sadly not as well loved.

Thanks for your responses! She has now changed allegiance to an old towelling bib! Much easier to replace and I can tie it on to cot bars so it doesn't end up all over her face!