When is it okay to let baby sleep with a blanket?

[Hannah'sMommy]

My DD is 7.5 months old, and it seems like she prefers to be pretty warm or bundled up when sleeping. She does sleep in her crib in her own room too. At night, we put her in a long sleeve onesie, long sleeve fleecy pajamas, and a sleepsack. We also make sure the house is around 70 degrees at night. I'm not sure how much more I can bundle her up, and I'm wondering if I can start wrapping a blanket around her at night (not leaving it loose on top of her)? She's been crawling/cruising for a while now and call pull herself up to standing. She also sleeps on her stomach at night.

Last night she was up for an hour and a half from 3-4:30am, and every time we got her to sleep and put her back in her crib, she'd wake right up and stand holding on to the crib rails. Finally, out of desperation (and knowing I'd be up soon), I wrapped a blanket around her from her shoulders down, and she settled down and went right to sleep. She doesn't move around a ton when she's sleeping, and she also sleeps like this with a blanket wrapped around her for naps.

So, would it be okay for me to wrap her with a blanket at night? If not, what is the recommended age for when we can start using blankets?

[tzs]

i had to take a SIDS class and the "official age" was 6 months.

sounds like she's tough enough to handle it.

[Blueone]

My son has always slept with a blanket covering him waist down. I didn't know it was a problem. When he was younger we'd swaddle. He's been fine with it, along with sleeping next to us and on his tummy.

[MommyMad]

Seems like your LO prefers it that way and can handle it.

My LO was swaddled up until the 3 month mark. After that point, we've been using a blanket because he prefers it that way. Since he's still in the bassinet, what I do is tuck the blanket underneath his arms and under the bassinet mattress. This way, I can be assured that the blanket won't make it to his face.

[Kmama2]

Just recently its warmed up to the point where I feel ds might be hot in his onesie, footed pj's and sleep sack.... so I ditched the sleep sack and now I wrap him in a crocheted ( sp?) blanket. He is almost 6 months but I have been doing it since 5 months. I purposely picked a crocheted blanket because it has those holes in it so I don't think he could sufficate himself if he tried lol... He does play with it and eats it and pulls it over his face. I think your lo woud be fine but if you are worried maybe get a hand made blanket with the holes in it.

[Michigan Mama]

Originally Posted by Kmama2

Just recently its warmed up to the point where I feel ds might be hot in his onesie, footed pj's and sleep sack.... so I ditched the sleep sack and now I wrap him in a crocheted ( sp?) blanket. He is almost 6 months but I have been doing it since 5 months. I purposely picked a crocheted blanket because it has those holes in it so I don't think he could sufficate himself if he tried lol... He does play with it and eats it and pulls it over his face. I think your lo woud be fine but if you are worried maybe get a hand made blanket with the holes in it.

I somehow have always felt better with "holey" blankets, too... lol!

[nola79]

I feel like it's ok when they can move around well by themselves and have good control over their bodies. I worry about blankets only when they can't hold their head up/sit up/roll over.

[Hannah'sMommy]

Thanks for helping me out! We have a ton of baby blankets, some all cotton, and come crocheted, so those would be good to use. I pretty much felt okay with wrapping her in a blanket, but needed a little reassurance She sleeps in her own room, so I can't check on her all night. Of course, when she does wake up these days, she's pulling herself up and standing there waiting for us to get her.

[sunnygir1]

I've always put blankets on my babies, but we co-sleep, so I check them often during the night and move anything away from their face. I'm fairly relaxed about these things.

I don't think suffocation is an issue at your baby's age, as she could clearly move herself and/or the blanket if necessary. The only concern might be the lower oxygen from the re-breathing thing they think might be a factor in SIDS.

[phathui5]

If you use a blanket, the recommendation is that you tuck it under the end of the mattress, not leave it loose.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by sunnygir1

I've always put blankets on my babies, but we co-sleep, so I check them often during the night and move anything away from their face. I'm fairly relaxed about these things.
.

This is me. No one told me not to give DS a blanket at birth so...I did. He would push/pull it away from his face at a month old. I just never "left him to sleep" you know? I was always where I could check on him frequently (more often than not he napped in the same room that I was using)