Lost comforter / rejecting new one - advice needed!

[summerlovingvibes]

My DD2.5 has had a comforter since birth, and we've always had a spare and swapped them around every few days/week to wash them. No issues. A few weeks ago one finally got lost.

I ordered 2 new ones as the shop still sells
exactly the same. When they arrived, they are obviously both new, fluffy, perfect.
DD noticed straight away & refused them
/ crying for her old one. We swapped one at night in the hopes she'd not notice - of course she did!

Help! How do I rough up these newbies? Am going to wash them 10x over etc (as in just keep sticking them in with the washing every time), and am going to start
hiding them in her bed so they get smelly in the night, but any other suggestions would be great. I am obviously now very aware the final remaining original needs to not get lost ... (thanks DH after 2.5yrs!)

To be honest, think you should just ride it out. Sorry little one but you’re old one got lost so we bought you a new one. You don’t want to use it? Ok, what would you like to cuddle instead? Nothing? Ok then. Obviously in a kinder way but basically this.

You could also take her to a shop to pick herself a new version.

I agree with pp, you'll never make them convincing enough so just don't try. Let her keep the old one til it gets lost it broken then just say "oh well".

was following this hoping to get tips as my daughter has a comforter and we only ever had one - when I did buy a spare it is in tip top condition & since the other one has been hugged to death for the last 3 years I don’t think I stand a chance getting the other one anything like it. It’s head is about 5 times the size since it’s not been washed so much 😂 plus her OG one has crunchy bits where I burnt it with a hairdryer once haha. I spend at least 5 mins a day panicking we’ve lost it 🤦🏻‍♀️ I’ve wrote my telephone number on the tag (since it’s totally faded now) just in case it gets lost outside, have to redo that after every wash

It always amazes me how new born babies are capable of asking their parents to get them a ‘comforter’ ! Babies really don’t need one, introducing one can be a recipe for disaster as these posts show. In fact, surely safe sleeping guidelines say they shouldn’t have anything in their crib.
new parents, do yourself a favour, don’t give your babies comforters.

@Soontobe60 agree. Mine is a bit older than op's and has never had one

Sometimes comforters just happen though. At around eighteen months my daughter started getting really attached to a teddy that was just one of many in the toy chest. Now she takes it everywhere and the one time it got lost (temporarily thankfully) she was very upset.

It's pretty normal for kids to get attached to a particular toy 🤷

They obviously don't ask for them. But often naturally occur.

My babies have 'needed' comforters, something to clutch into in the car or buggy when I couldn't hold them, or feed them to calm them. Maybe not newborns but from when they could hold a soft toy! My 1 year old carries his jelly cat doggy around everywhere we go. It's not a bad thing, it's comfort and familiarity and it calms him and keeps him happy. What's not to like?!?

I think you're doing the right thing OP, getting it 'used' even if she won't accept it yet. Washing it regularly, Keeping it in her bed and generally roughing it up is all you can do. Does she still have one that she likes?

DDSs comforter brings me as much joy as it brings her 😂 it makes parenting so easy! Crying? Comforter! Can't sleep? Comforter! Vaccines? Comforter! She's currently got covid and snuggling that blanket in the tightest little grip.
My DS never had a comfort item like that - not for lack of trying on my part! Or rather, he did, but it was me - yes - lovely, made me feel special, loved etc. also I never got any sleep and felt really resentful of DH who could never settle DS until he was almost 2...
Comforters are convenient, but they also seem to be down to the nature of the child. Why deny a child a comforter when they seem to know they need it? My DD has had a favourite blanket since she was about 8 weeks old. If she ever stops sleeping with it I think I'll keep it under my own pillow as it's become a symbol to me now of these precious baby days...
It's normal for some objects to take on a special value that others can't see - this is something that happens in many different countries and cultures. It's not even only humans that do it, quite often dogs and cats will have favourite toys. What a blessing to be able to take comfort from something that fits in your pocket! Just don't lose it 😂😬

Lots of children have some kind of comfort item, not necessarily a blanket or toy but if not that probably a dummy or bottles. I do think though OP that your daughter is old enough to start to leave the comforter behind and it's probably best just to accept that one is gone and the other will follow suit at some stage.

I would suggest that the original comforter only stays in the bed. If she wants to take one out and about then it has to be one of the new ones. Let your DD sleep with these in the bed so they start smelling the same as the other one.

She's probably a bit old for the switching trick so you might have to accept that there's only one now and just be careful of it (after all you managed not to lose once for 2.5 years). My DD used to sit in front of the washing machine and watch her comforter going round when it needed a wash.