How to Choose a Lovey

E. has been fighting sleep recently, so I thought it might be time to introduce a lovey. We went shopping today and this is what she chose. I usually prefer gender neutral and realistic looking toys…but what can I do?

Lovies are great to have, because they help form positive sleep associations. At nighttime, a lovey is much easier to find than a pacifier (and it also won’t affect baby’s teeth in a negative way).

Here are some tips on how to choose a lovey:

• let your child choose it. It can also be an old soft toy that the baby/child seems to like;
• make sure you are able to find another toy that’s the same, in case something happens with the original one. You can have two from the beginning, for when one of them is in the wash;
• before giving it to the baby, sleep with it for a night or two, to give it your scent. This will help your baby create a special bond with the toy. It might help if you place it in between you and the baby while breastfeeding;
• keep the lovey only for sleeping, to form that association. If the baby has it throughout the day, she might be tempted to play with it during nap time as well. Link it to the idea of sleep by using it only then and by including it in your bedtime routine;
• choose a small toy, so it’s easier to carry it with you when you travel;
• make sure it’s safe – no buttons or anything that could be a choking hazard;
• don’t choose a toy that makes noise, because it might wake the baby up at night;
• try to choose a toy that’s machine washable, to make your life easier.

Did I miss anything? Does your child have a lovey? How did you choose it?