Can we talk about introducing loveys again? xposted in LWAB

[starling&diesel]

I also posted this in LWAB, but as DD is one, maybe toddler-mama insight would be more appropriate?

I know there have been threads about loveys before, pros, cons, how-to, etc.
But can we talk about it again?

DD is one year old and I have been her lovey up until now, or my boobs have, to be more specific. I'd like to give her a transitional object for when I go to work. Hopefully it would develop into something that would help her to fall asleep when I am not with her. She nurses down for naps and bedtime, but that might change as I'm going on medication that will affect my already low supply.

So, for you mamas who have successfully introduced loveys for your little ones, a few questions:

1. How did you choose the lovey, or did your child choose it?
2. Did you do anything to encourage the use of the lovey?
3. Any tips?

I have tried having a lovey between us while nursing, and at night (we co-sleep). I've tried teddies, blankets, small blankies, various stuffies, etc. I just tried another one while she nursed down for her nap today, and she was throwing it aside and caressing my boob, even while she slept. Am I doing something wrong?

[shanniesue2]

I think we have the same child.

I'll be watching this thread

[ellairiesmom]

My boobs & I were DDs lovey until Nov or so, when I couldn't take the pain of nursing during pregnancy any longer. I was also hunting for info on trying to get her to love a blankie, doll or stuffed animal...then around the holidays, my Mom got a new kitten & also gave DD a stuffed one that looked like the real kitten. That was our 1st big step-totally unplanned & since it was from Grammy-it really "took".

Then, my brother & sis in law stayed over for NYE with the kids (3y & 18 mos) & she saw their "b's"...& wanted one. Not sure what made her notice them this time around-she was actually sick over that weekend so maybe that made her more open to the idea of it or something? I had just washed a bunch of blankets preparing for the new baby & showed her some & she picked one & calls it her "b" now.

The other day, she picked another blanket up too & has been carrying that around here & there...and my other sis in law had given the baby a teddy bear which DD1 immediately took to (probably because it was supposed to be a gift for her new baby sister) so we let her have it & now she is sleeping with that bear, kitten & both b's.

It tooks us from when she turned 2 in Sept till now to accomplish:
1) sleeping in her own room & bed;
2) sleeping through the night;
3) weaning-which I wasn't really ready for but by the end of the pregnancy, just couldn't take the nipple pain so it happened;
4) having lovey's;

I never thought any of those things would happen but here we are...I think the timing was right & that was why she took to them. I don't really have a suggestion for "how" to get them to want a lovey-but I think the timing thing is the key maybe?

[tbone_kneegrabber]

ds has finally decided he is kind of interested in loveys. I stick it between he and i when i nurse him at night and just keep moving his hand to it, if he touches me with his hand I move his hand and put it pack on the toy (right now its a "little bear" a panda bear AND a sock goblin). If he gets annoyed, I just tell him that his stroking etc is annoying, hurts, or makes me feel frustrated.

"I feel frustrated when you touch me like that, touch this instead"

repeat

repeat

repeat

repeat

[slgt]

We weren't able to "force" a lovey on DD. I tried a few times, but she showed zero interest. I kept a few different things around that would be appropriate, and around maybe 18 months she suddenly insisted on sleeping with this little floppy bear (from Under the Nile). She had to have "roar" for about 3 months. then she found a little doll, and that became her sleep necessity. Lately, select books are her loveys.

So keep in mind it may not be a key object, but rather the idea of a lovey, of objects as comfort, that might make a difference?

[starling&diesel]

Originally Posted by tbone_kneegrabber

ds has finally decided he is kind of interested in loveys. I stick it between he and i when i nurse him at night and just keep moving his hand to it, if he touches me with his hand I move his hand and put it pack on the toy (right now its a "little bear" a panda bear AND a sock goblin). If he gets annoyed, I just tell him that his stroking etc is annoying, hurts, or makes me feel frustrated.

"I feel frustrated when you touch me like that, touch this instead"

repeat

repeat

repeat

repeat

How old is your little one?

[starling&diesel]

Thanks for the replies ... I think I'll do as sigt said and just have them available and see what happens. I like your approach, kneegrabber, but DD is too young to get it at this point. That's why I'm curious about how old your little one is. If she's still lovin' up my boobies by the time I can reason with her, then I will be saying that a lot!