Want to stop dd from using my hand as blankie

[Neera]

Dd has used my hand as her blankie for sleep time almost since 18 mo, since we have been co-sleeping. She is now 3 yrs and 4 mo and shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. I have tried to get her to stop by letting her hold a toy instead, tried to talk her out of it and used cio but, she'll cry a little and forget the rules and start pulling my hand again. She doesn't seem to get it that it's my hand and not something disconnected from me and I need to turn or stretch at times. There's no way I could turn and give her my other hand. It always has to be the right hand. Or if we have changed sides, which we do rarely then it's the other hand, the one closest to her.

Anyone else experience this? Any idea when this will stop? I do like holding her hand or cuddling to sleep but, when I need to move, I feel trapped.

[Oriole]

I have no advice, but I wanted to say that even in my teens I would ask my sister to give me her hand when I was falling asleep.

Our beds were positioned at an angle so that our heads were next to each other. I didn't need it, but I loved having that. And when I was little, and my bed was a foot away from my parents', I still remember asking my mom for her hand.

It's a weird thing, human touch, that is, I think we really really really need it. I don't know how to help your daughter overcome it, but I think it's wonderful you care about her take on things.

[Neera]

Thanks Oriole. I know it's more like an obsession with dd but and I don't know how to make her less needy but, it still feels good to know that it's not anything weird. She is an extremely clingy child as well. She loves to be held or be touched almost all the time.