Your toddler, after 12-months-old, can sleep with a stuffed animal or doll if she does not have any respiratory allergies. In fact sometimes this is recommended.
Babies as young as a few days old can begin to handle and explore small, soft stuffed animals with their hands and mouths. However, they won't really be able to responsibly look after a stuffed animal until about the age of 18 months or 2 years.
After your baby's first birthday, the risk of SIDS drops dramatically. Still, many experts suggest that parents wait until at least their child's second birthday before introducing soft materials, such as stuffed animals, into their child's sleep space.
Also, security items like "lovies" (a small soft blanket or stuffed animal) are OK and can provide a lot of comfort. But don't put any extra-large soft toys or stuffed animals in the crib. Watch out for items with ties or strings that could wind up around your toddler's neck.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping all soft objects, including stuffed animals, blankets, and crib bumpers, out of the area where your baby sleeps until they are at least 12 months old.
By 5-year-old most kids will no longer need a comfort object like a plushie or blanket everywhere they go. But they may still sleep with that object for much longer. Many kids will stop sleeping with their plushies by 10-year-old.
A cherished lovey (think: a cozy blankie or a soft teddy bear) can give little kids much-needed comfort, confidence, and security. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) even attests that every child “needs” a comfort object in their early years for emotional support.
The good news: Blankets, pillows and stuffed animals no longer pose the risk that they did when your child was a baby. Now, it's fine for your toddler to sleep with a thin blanket and maybe a small pillow — but make sure the pillow isn't big enough for him to use as a makeshift step stool to climb out of his crib.
What Should a Toddler Wear To Bed? When choosing pajamas for your toddler, opt for soft, breathable, chemical-free fabrics such as cotton. Avoid fleece and other synthetic fabrics that don't breathe as well. If it's cold, you can add socks, a onesie, or use footed pajamas.
Putting a 2-Year-Old to Sleep Safely
They may fall or get stuck if they are able to climb out of their crib, and should be moved to a toddler bed or bed with a side-rail. Help your child feel good about sleeping in a new bed by telling them it's their “big kid” bed.
General guidelines suggest waiting until a baby is around 12 months old before introducing stuffed animals to their sleep routine. There are several factors that can help determine the right time to introduce stuffed animals to a baby's sleep environment.
If you're wondering how old a toddler is, experts usually consider toddler age to start when your baby/infant turns 1 year of age. The toddler age range is usually from 1 year to 3 years of age.
According to Margaret Van Ackeren, licensed therapist, “In most instances, adults sleep with childhood stuffed animals because it brings them a sense of security and reduces negative feelings, such as loneliness and anxiety.” That sense of security is important when things are in flux, helping us navigate change more ...
Babies should sleep alone in their own crib, play yard or bassinet on a firm, flat mattress with a taut sheet. Keep their sleep surface clutter-free, with no blankets, pillows, crib bumpers, stuffed animals or other objects. Place your baby on their back for every sleep.
Thirty minutes to an hour before bedtime, start a calming ritual that may include giving a bath and reading a story or two. Put your baby in her crib awake. If your child is routinely rocked to sleep at bedtime, what happens when she wakes up alone at 3 a.m.?
Approximately one-third of toddlers transition to a bed between the ages of 18 months and 2 years old, and another third transition between ages 2 and 2.5. In general, most toddlers make the move from a crib to a bed between the age of 18 months and 3 years old.
A Word From Verywell
Your baby should sleep without a pillow until they are at least 2 years old. Even then, the pillow they use should be small and firm. 2 There is no rush to introduce a pillow, either. Consider waiting until you move your child to a toddler bed or even longer.
Many toddlers are early risers, getting up between 6 and 7 a.m. Whenever they awake is fine, as long as they're getting enough sleep and their rising time fits into the family schedule.
The recommended age for using a pillow is now 2 years old. Before then, there's a danger of suffocation due to the extra material in the bed. Your child's own development will be a large factor in determining when they can use a pillow.
In child development language, these kinds of toys, stuffies, and blankets are called “transitional objects.” The attachment is often formed between the ages of 4 and 12 months, and dependence on them usually peaks in the second year of life and then wanes, though the attachment can last for years.
Combining whimsy with a soothing, almost therapeutic effect, stuffed animals are not just for kids. They beat back anxiety, hasten sleep, and make the world a little more tolerable for grown-ups who maintain menageries of the creatures in their beds. “It adds a little emotional texture to life,” said Max Genecov, a Ph.
It's totally normal to sleep with a stuffed animal from your childhood. Experts say it can provide a sense of comfort and security and help soothe stress.
Stuffed animals are a source for comfort at any age
No matter what age you are, sometimes you need something to cuddle with after a hard day. A stuffed animal can be a great source of comfort because it never talks back, doesn't give bad advice, and is always willing to lend an ear.
Besides, by 5 years of age, most kids will no longer need a comfort object everywhere they go. Though they may still sleep with that object for much longer. Many children completely stop sleeping with their favorite attachment object by the time they're ten years old. So, you don't have to worry much about that!