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

How to wean from comfort blanket - ds age 3

48 replies

sharond101 · 20/08/2015 22:17

DS has a knitted shawl, well part of it, he has had since birth that goes to bed with him and comes out when he feels ill or very tired. It is grubby and been repaired so many times it barely resembles what it did. I have tried to explain that shawls are for little boys, that he cannot start nursery until he stops using it, that his baby sister might like it and that the shawl fairy could come and take it away in return for a great present. All of these he has refused and is insistent he will not go to sleep without it. I have hidden it every night this week hoping he will forget about it and every night just after his door has closed he shouts through asking where is his shawl. How have others gotten rid of comforters successfully. He is 3.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

DPotter · 20/08/2015 22:58

my DD lost her cuggly last week on holiday - she was devastated - and she's 15yr. What is your reasoning for taking away his shawl ? Even if he wants to take it to Nursery, so what ? They have seen worse than a threadbare shawl. By the way - he is a little boy. If he was 23 and wanted to take it to work, well then I would raise an eyebrow, but really let him and his shawl be

Helenluvsrob · 20/08/2015 23:00

Aww don't take it away. Maybe suggest it stays in bed/ bedroom for fear of loss though.

Rainuntilseptember15 · 20/08/2015 23:00

My 8 year old stopped wanting his with him at 4, but he's still kept it and it appears in his bed now and then.
I would think starting nursery is a time when he might need a bit of comfort on hand

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

3 year olds Families General parenting

Junosmum · 20/08/2015 23:05

I'm 31 and ted still has pride of place on my marital bed!

Charis1 · 20/08/2015 23:06

It is his security. As with any form of security the more you take it away, the more he will need it.

How could you possibly begrudge a little child getting so much comfort from something so harmless. Even an older child.

If only adults could still get so much from something so simple - what a much happier world we would like in.

Smurfingreat · 20/08/2015 23:18

Why do you think he shouldn't have it?

Many people have had or still have a comfort object. I adored mine as a child and will forever appreciate the effort my parents went to to keep my beloved cuddly dog safe (for both our benefits!).

He is only small, please leave his shawl alone, it's not hurting anyone.

Writerwannabe83 · 21/08/2015 08:58

Poor little boy

I still had my comforter when I was about 10.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 21/08/2015 11:07

I didn't take my teddy to university, and spent the first three weeks sleeping with a rolled up hoodie until I went home and brought him back with me! And I was far from unusual in having one.

He's only little, and if it's only for bedtime I don't see a problem. If it's very grubby can't you give it a gentle hand wash?

AtSea1979 · 21/08/2015 11:13

OP in the kindest possible way, three is too young to take it away. It's not the same as a dummy. I got rid of DC's comfort blankets as soon as possible as I was worried we'd lose them, they were grubby etc. Both gave them up the summer between reception and being 'a big boy/girl' going in to year 1. Used blanket fairy and had no problems.

ToTheStarsMorag · 21/08/2015 11:52

If it was a teddy would you feel differently about it?

IMO it's a constant thing in life, so much changes when they are small that they need things that remain the same.

Or you could just throw it on the fire! that's what my Grandfather did with my fathers comfort blanket when he was about 5 , that's just how things were then, thankfully times have changed now.

3littlefrogs · 21/08/2015 11:55

Another one asking why on earth you want to get rid of it?
He is only 3.
Starting nursery is a massive stress for a small child. Why would you want to make it even harder for him and stress him out completely unnecessarily?

Poor child.

NoMontagues · 21/08/2015 11:56

I had my nonie until I was 12. Not in public obviously!

It "disappeared" when I was that age.

< gives side-eye to "D"M >

KLou1105 · 21/08/2015 15:44

I don't know why you would want to wean your child from their comforter, my 16mo dd has a comfort bunny and she only has it at nap times, bedtimes and if she's feeling upset or poorly. Unless your dc carries his shawl around with him all the time I can't see why you would want to get rid of it

HippyChickMama · 21/08/2015 15:55

Agree that there's no need to take it away. Ds is 8 and still sleeps with his scruffy, falling to pieces teddy. If he's not well or upset he'll bring it downstairs, otherwise it lives on his bed. A couple of times I've told him off for something and then found him talking to his teddy about it. I know he's not the only one in his class either, I'd say the majority of his school mates still have a comforter.

bigTillyMint · 21/08/2015 15:58

My DS refused to get rid of his "cloffy" till 2 weeks after he turned 12 and his voice broke! He hadn't taken it out 8n public since he was about 8.

What's wrong with a comforter? Better than a dummy or a thumb!

tbtc20 · 21/08/2015 16:04

My great lump of a 16 yo still has his blannie and cuddly dog. They don't go out of his bedroom ie not on camps or residential trips. No issue.

My 6 yo has a beautiful knitted blanket my late mum made him. He sleeps with it at home but can do w/o it elsewhere. Again, no issue.

tbtc20 · 21/08/2015 16:06

Oh and I actively encouraged their use when small so that they would settle in new environments (holiday cottages etc) more easily.

scarletforya · 28/08/2015 21:55

Don't understand why you would get rid of it!

waterrat · 29/08/2015 20:36

. My 3.5 yr old sleeps with his bunny I can't imagine taking it away !

motherinferior · 29/08/2015 20:46

Please give it back!

At three DD2 had a very intense emotional bond with a comfort quilt - fortunately a v light weight one - called NightNight. At times of stress she would announce she wanted to "go home to NightNight" (who was at least a twin so could be washed). She kind of loosened this bond and now NN has retired to a box...though she is now v attached to Beanie (a corduroy elephant) and her sister to DuckDuck (who is, er, a duck but also furry). Just for sleeping. DD1 is 14 and DD2 is 12. They are both quite functional bright girls.

KaraokeQueenOfTheNorth · 29/08/2015 20:53

My 7yr old son still has a blankie, he takes it on holiday and everything. He only has it to sleep. I don't see a problem.

In fact I have a teddy I sleep with when DH is away...

junebirthdaygirl · 29/08/2015 20:54

I travelled half way around the world with my friend and her blankie. Know someone who took his to boarding school. Leave him off.

Fairylea · 29/08/2015 20:59

My dd had a comfort blanket and even now aged 12 she sleeps with it under her pillow. Don't take it away!

My dds dad and grandparents used to try and make her give it up so many times when she stayed with them and it really made her very upset. When she came home I'd just let her have it again (me and her dad split up when she was under a year old). To this day she's still angry with her dad about it.

Explain he can't have it at nursery but it will be at home waiting for him. There is absolutely no reason any child needs to give up a comfort blanket.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread