When did you give DC a blanket to sleep with?

[infocrazy]

DS is 5 months old and I don't give him a blanket to sleep with. His DCP keeps asking me to bring one in for him (probably since he isn't much for napping) but I still think it is too early. Every other kid there had one though, and 2 are only 3 months.

I was telling a coworker today and she couldn't BELIEVE that I haven't given him a blanket yet, either.

His hands do tend to get pretty icy but if we do cover him up while we are awake he pulls them out anyway...

Am I just being first time mother paranoid?

Thanks,
Jen

[bunnisa]

I wouldn't do it at that age, with the SIDS risk and all. I'd wait until a year.

Bethany
mom to one and one on the way!
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"And children are always a good thing, devoutly to be wished for and fiercely to be fought for."
-J. Torres

[katerinasmom]

You are not being paranoid at all. My daughter is 19 months old and I still don't give her a blanket to sleep with for warmth. I use the sleep sacks to keep her warm in the winter.
I know that my MIL, who watches her during the day, gives her a pillow and puts a blanket on her when she naps. While I don't like it, she naps in her packnplay in the middle of the living room where my MIL can always see her so I do not protest too much. If she sleeps over my MIL's house, she sleeps in a full size crib and my MIL does put her in a sleep sack instead of a blanket and does not give her a pillow for overnight sleeping.

[Momof3Labs]

We used a blanket from pretty much the beginning with DS, but it was a loosely crocheted blanket with lots of holes (hard to imagine him suffocating with it). That's the only type I'd use with a younger babe, personally.

[DebbieJ]

We didn't give our ds a blanket until he was about a year old. Even now, he doesn't always use it.

My sister recently had a scare with her 5 mo dd. They had a blanket on her when they put her down. They heard her fussing and fussing and fussing and were getting frustrated that she wouldn't sleep. When they finally went up to tend to her, they found that she was all tangled in the blanket. No more blanket for her!

If it's a warmth issue, you can get a Halo Sleepsack.

~ deb
DS born at home 12/03
2 year check up: 25 lbs with clothes on and 35 inches!
BFARed for 20 months and 6 days
(Breastfeeding After Reduction is possible! www.bfar.org)

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[jadamom]

We swaddled DD in a blanket until she started to flip over. Then no blanket until she moved to a toddler bed at age 2. Paranoid? Maybe, but do what you're comfortable with.

[kdeunc]

I am surprised that your dcp would encourage a blanket. My DS is a child who absoultely had to have a blanket to sleep. With much anxiety I used a crocheted blanket from early on. He started child care at 8months and they refused to give him one because it was against their SIDS policy. I don't know if it was a center policy or a state (NC) one. If you don't feel comfortable about the blanket then tell them no.

[mudder17]

Kaya moves around way too much to use a blanket on her. So I just keep her in a sleep sack and long sleeves and she's just fine. I'm guessing she won't have a blanket until at least when she's in the bed (which I'm projecting will be after she turns 3).

And no, you're not being a first time paranoid mother. Even if it wasn't a smothering hazard for a young infant, with them moving around so much, chances are, the blanket won't do any good anyway. I think most kids don't keep a blanket on until age 3, I think it was that I read?

Eileen

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[mudder17]

Sorry!

Eileen

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Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[o_mom]

DS1 didn't get one until he was 2. We used sleepsacks for the first 18 mos, then it was summer, so we just had him in cotton footed pjs. This fall, I made a fleece blanket for his crib, but he rarely is under it when I check.

[daniele_ut]

We gave DS a very lightweight Gerber thermal weave blanket when he was about 9 months old, but he never used it to cuddle with and it never stayed on him, so we kept using a sleep sack. He is now quite attached to a blanket I made for him before he was born, so he sleeps with that in his crib, but he still uses a sleep sack because it is never actually covering him. He mostly plays with the crocheted edging.

Our DCP asked for a blanket as well when we brought DS, but he was 10 months old then. I am pretty sure she would have asked for one when he was younger. She tends to be old school and I end up giving her new info.

[emilys_mom]

I never use a blanket at home (DD is 7 mos.) but they have used one at DC since she was 3 mos. I think it's just like PP said- they are all in the same room together the whole time, and I am usually in the other room while she is napping. We did get a sleep sack, and use that occasionally, but I am going to wait until she's a year at a minimum to give her a blanket.

[SeekerMage]

we used blankets from the beginning with Lil'bit. Mostly for swaddling, but also for covering her up with. We too used a crochet blanket because of the holes, and because it was made for her. She is now over two and inseperable from her binkies. I thought that I read somewhere that as long as they are rolling over and semi mobile that a blanket was ok. But I could be wrong. I guess Im not the paranoid about somethings. Basically do what you feel is right. If anything get one of those little lovey blankets so he has something to cuddle and play with but isnt big enough to toally cover him. good luck with your decision.

[AngelaS]

Mine have slept with blanket since birth.

[JustMe]

DD did not have a blanket until she turned 2. I did use sleep sacks with her.

Robyn

[newnana]

Well, apparently we are out of the norm. Our DD still likes to be swaddled. Kinda hard to do since she's 7 months old (in 12 month clothes). Once she started rolling I worried a little, but the funny thing is she never comes out of it. Even now as she's up on her knees looking like a little convict with her hands on her crib rails and her face pressed against them, her swaddle is tight. We've been lucky to not have to worry about this.

When her DCP stopped swaddling her, she stopped napping. Entirely. No good. Finally, they asked if we still swaddled her at home. they couldn't believe it when we said yes. Heck, if it gets her to sleep, we'll do it.

Then again, she doesn't use a blanket as a lovey. She's not attached to any particular blanket or toy. As with anything, mom knows best. I'd trust your gut.

Michelle