How exactly do you introduce a comforter?

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

I want to get DD into using a muslin for a sleep-time comforter (bit worried she's getting dummy addiction!!) and wondered exactly how to go about it.

Advice and experiences would be greatly appreciated! Thanks...

from my experience you can't! DS decided if/when/what he wanted as his comforter! (He did eventually chose the teddy that i'd bought him after our 20wk scan but only when I stopped trying to encourage him to chose it!)

You need to get your smell on it, that's what gives the comfort. Stuff one in your bra or sleep with it a couple of nights. Muslin is a good idea as they are easily replaceable. To avoid any smothering risk with muslins tie a knot in the middle.

That said Miamla is right, they will probably choose their own comforter - often the saddest mankiest toy there is

Ha! I'm hoping she won't choose a particular toy because of the problems with losing it/washing it etc. in the future!!

The muslins I have are quite big - should I cut them down, do you think?

I just have a muslin with me all the time, they go everywhere with baby. From my shoulder, to the bouncy chair to the car seat to the pram to bed. DS3 (10 weeks)already needs his 'muzzy' to snuggle in to or won't settle at his bed time feed. I change it every 24hrs unless it gets sicked on etc.
This seems to have worked with all 3 DC.

I have some massive ones which I used to swaddle him in which are a bit big for everyday use but imagine if we get a hot summer will come into there own as a light blankets. The rest are 50cm square, where super useful as nappies in the early days. I don't tie a knot in them just now but remember doing it with other DC so they could be used as teethers.

All the muslins i have cut before have frayed at the edges so you would have to hem them if you were cutting big ones down.

I find you can never have enough muslins and still use some we had for DS1 (9 yo) as fab face cloths, great exfoliating action without being harsh. So if you think the ones you have are to big i would just buy some smaller ones.

We were discussing muslins as comforters on the 'Challenging 3 month olds' thread.

We were wondering whether they worked as a sleep cue since they get used so much during awake times as well e.g. for mopping up sick etc. raindroprhyme, I take it you've not had this issue? Can anyone else comment on this?

I think it is more a reassuring 'i can smell mummy' thing rather than a straight forward sleep cue.
IMO 3 month olds don't get the whole sleeping cues, bedtime routine things.
After 3 DC i have come to the opinion that these things are much more important to mums, they keep us sane and as a someone on my postnatal thread said give you a re start button. I don't think the routine matters to baby till much nearer 6 months. But obviously all the work you put into it in the months before help establish those connections for the baby.

My DS1 and DS2 eventually only needed the muslins when tired but this was post 9mth old stranger awareness phase.

I will pop over to the 'challenging 3 month olds' thread later tonight. Although DS3 is a joyous baby to have around, DS2 was a nightmare so i may be able to impart some tips on how to stay sane.

Great; thanks, raindroprhyme. I think we're all trying to start working on anything now which might help at some point even if it's not for a while - but as you say, it's mostly about keeping us sane!

I think it's true that they just take one thing and start to love it... but here's some useful info on baby comforters

just keep the muslin by DD all the time as raindrop rhyme says - next to them in babychair, pram and cot and they soon start nuzzling into it.

I tied a muslin square to my DS1's cot when he had a cold (with kavol on it) not realising I was giving him a comforter he'd keep for the next four years! So you could try just tying it to the cot bars like I did. It worked for him. How old is your DD? I have a DS3 who is 5 months and uses a dummy and would love for him to use a muslin square instead like his brother did but I can't remember how old DS1 was when he had this lucky cold.