Is it safe to have a lovey in the crib?

[freckledgirl]

My LO is 5 months old, and I'm thinking about introducing a lovey. Someone gave us one that's a little blanket with a bear head on top -- you've seen them, I'm sure. Is it safe to let him have that while he's sleeping? Or should I get a normal stuffed animal? I can't remember how old my niece was when she did this, but she used to gather all her toys up in her crib and put them on top of her face before she went to sleep. It makes me worry about my LO somehow suffocating on the blanket/bear lovey. What do you think?

[odoole]

I think we have the same bear. Honestly, I think 5 mo is still a little young for that. But you could still work on introducing it by giving it while your LO is nursing or napping and you can be there to intervene if it gets on his face.

Here is what I do for blankets and stuffed animals with my 7.5 mo:

Stick it on your face to see how breathable the material is.

Stick it on your LO's face while they're sleeping to see how they respond. Does he notice? and Is he capable of getting it off on his own (even if he's tangled up in it?)

[Novus]

I was super paranoid about anything being in DS' crib before about 6 months...and he still doesn't have a lovey, although that's more because he doesn't seem to have any desire for one. He does have a (thin, breathable) blanket and has for about 4 months now (he's 10 mos old). I agree with the PP about putting the blanket part of the lovey on your face to see how well it breathes.

If you're planning to introduce a regular stuffed animal instead, one thing I read was to make sure it doesn't have the bead or button eyes because those can be choking hazards. I never even thought about that before! GL with whatever you decide.

[freckledgirl]

Thanks for the suggestions! That particular lovey is out at least. I put it on my face and definitely could not breathe through it!! He's not really interested in having one yet, but I've been reading "The No Cry Sleep Solution" (poor DS doesn't sleep or nap well anymore) and it's one of the suggestions. I'm going to hold off for now unless I happen to find something I think is safe.

[birthangeldoula]

We introduced a lovey around 6 months. We had one of those with the animal head attached to a blankie. We ended up taking the blankie and putting a hair tie very tightly around the very bottom of the blankie part to keep it from spreading out so it can't go across DD's face. She's now a year old and still sleeps with her lovey and hugs it still with the hair tie around the bottom.