When to introduce comforter

[Tabitha1983]

When did everyone introduce comforter? I'm trying to start some sort of semi-self settling with my 3.5month old...currently breast feeds to sleep mostly but will nod off with a dummy too sometimes so I'm encouraging this. I have bought a comforter to try and get him to 'attach too' for comfort but then thought about the risks of it being loose in crib etc and have changed my mind 😕 Too young yet anyway?? When to start? X

Trying to remember, I think DS had his comforter in his cot from about 4 or 5 months. His is so light, I can breathe through it, so not worried. And he definitely relies on it a lot now for self settling, although it did take him a while to get that.

I'd say it's in the 9-12 months range that they really 'attach to' a comforter.

SIDS recommendations say no toys or anything in the cot until 6 months old. So I would not consider using a comforter toy before then. You could use a muslin square as a comforter though, many do. Use it as a dribble cloth / cover up / general snuggle thing while breastfeeding to create an association with feeding. But not something that is safe left in the cot with an under 6 month old.

I started putting a collection of comforter toys in the cot when baby moved to their own room. I didn't move my children to their own room until they were sleeping through (because I didn't fancy getting out of bed in the night), so that was about 9 months old (12 months with my youngest).

Within a few months the ones who had a comforter had 'chosen' theirs, so we took the other toys out and used that one consistantly.

I should add that two of my children simply weren't interested in anything other than the dummy. Some like comforters, some don't.

We tried to introduce a comforter to my ds from 5 months but he wasn't interested. When he hit 10 months we tried him with a teddy which he now loves to snuggle up with at bedtime. It was a Kaloo one from Jojo Mamanbebe and is a mouse. We went and bought an identical one and it was lucky we did as this one has already been sicked on.
So my advice is when they find something they like, get 2!

if your DS does take to a certain comfort object, go and buy multiples immediately.

If you lose it. All hell will break loose. And you will be glad you have backup.

I speak from experience. We now have 4 of the same mothercare bear. They have since been discontinued and are selling for £27 on eBay (they were £5 in the shop)

Cross post Mya

Haha thanks folks so I need to buy 2 then! It's just the usual jellycat comforter...never thought about letting him pick!...what if it's not a nice 1?! 😜 Sounds like I need to wait a while anyway....he's still in woombie so obviously can't hold it yet anyway...might start to use it when feeding and in sling /buggy etc for him to snuggle to and see how we get on x

My advise is pretty much same as above - DS wasn't interested when first introduced his toy (a jellycat too! So sooooooft!!) but around 10/11 months he started pulling it to him when we'd put him in his cot.

Hadn't crossed my mind to get another one! Even though I temporarily (ha - did my parents buy more than one?!) lost mine as a child.
My DS jellycat comforter is quite small, but he does like to drape it over his face which used to panic me. Now he's older/bigger I can clearly see there's no danger to him.
Will go and look for another one ("spare")