What can my 15 month old safely hug and hold onto whilst asleep?

[SleepDeprived6]

I co sleep and my 15 month old wakes up several times in the night and either wants to hold onto me, my pyjama top or the pillow. My pyjama top is really big and thick so if I give him that I worry about him smothering himself with it, the pillow he tends to bury his face into so not overly safe either. I’ve tried little comforters and he will not take to them. Just plays with them or throws them. I think if I could find something sofa for him to hold onto when he wakes up after sleep cycles, both of our sleep would be so much better. Any suggestions?

A teddy? I really wouldn't worry. SIDS risks for things in bed applies to infants (under 12 months).
Toddlers can have blankets, pillows, duvet etc. Just not anything with long cords like a pretty too just incase it gets wrapped around their neck. But I wouldn't worry about the pillow.

I've forgotten the name of it but we had a wonderful bunny that could have a dummy clipped to each limb. We called it dummybun imaginatively. I will try to Google the brand name.

Sleepytot Bunny Comforter and Soother Holder, Baby Sleep Aid Attachable in Grey www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003P49OEQ/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_g_EAE1P3FZMKTD5JZF2HJ7?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Some children need work to introduce a comforter. Tuck it between you when you’re feeding him, snuggle it up to him when he’s asleep, after a while he’ll take to it more. It’s not a natural instinct for all children to want a teddy initially

When my child was about 9 months I was desperate for something to give her as a comforter that would be safe. I ended up tying a knot in the centre of one of those small muslin squares and giving her that. Knew it would be safe if it covered her face and it's incredibly short to cause any risk. Shes now 20 months and wont sleep without them. And because it's just a muslin square I have loads so just wash then with her bedding and replace

Just to add - I introduced the muslin squares when I was still breastfeeding. I initially slept with them to help them smell like me and then used to hand them to her when feeding to give a comforting association. Only took a few days to a week. It might be harder to establish a comforter with an older child

We have muslins that we use, and also a little bunny comforter from monoch which is lovely. My mum also makes taggy blankets with little ribbons around the edge which my eldest still sleeps with now at 6!

Jellycat do lovely soft toys. My Dcs (12 and 10) still sleep with theirs!

A 15 month old will not smother themselves in their sleep. They can roll, lift themselves, sit up and stand up.
Their body will not allow them to just smother. It will wake them enough so they roll over or wake.

Waking several times in the night is quite unusual for a 15 month old. Are you waking him/her by moving about etc? Could be cot time?

@Glassofshloer Is it really? I’ve read threads about ages babies/children sleep through the night uninterrupted and I very regularly see that people have said it wasn’t until age 3 and sometimes older.

I don’t believe I’m waking him although I often move him when he is face down in the pillow which I’m sure doesn’t help. The several wakes tends to be more him waking and reaching out for me/my top/the pillow.

Cot time would be great but I think highly unlikely until he has found a new comforter or learnt how to sleep without reaching out for me

There does always seem to be the odd poster on here with a child that wakes 4 times a night until they’re 8 (lol) but in my experience, this is quite rare and most little ones are sleeping through (or waking up just the once) by 1-ish.

If he sleeps in a cot he might not wake to reach out for you if you see what I mean. Can you shove a cot right up next to your bed so you can reach through & hold hands, sing to him etc?

I really don’t think co sleeping is great unless in very extreme circumstances, it acts as a short term sticking plaster but ends up making sleep worse in the long run.

A nice squishy Teddy? As pp said, put it between you. Or, just a pillow . A 15 month old is fine with a pillow. Ds2 used to sleep horizontally so he could cuddle the pillow at that age.