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Comfort blankets
My two-year-old son is wedded to his comfort blanket. If it gets lost there's a major scene and he won't go to sleep without it. I have to get it washed and dried quickly, if at all, and it's only a matter of time before it disintegrates. Why do some children get hooked on a comforter and how and when can I get him detached?
It is normal for children your son's age and older to have a comfort object or teddy that is crucial to their well-being. Feel fortunate that your son will actually let you wash it.
Your son's comfort blanket is very important to him so he will be distressed if it goes missing. Try to imagine something that is of great emotional value to you and how you would feel if it were mislaid. Comfort objects are useful because they enable children to reassure themselves. The blanket does not take the place of a loving parent, but it is something very special to a child. It may mean that they can feel safer in an unfamiliar situation or, for instance, settle themselves back to sleep when they wake in the dark and not therefore call out and wake their parents.
Don't try to detach your son from his blanket; there is no need and he will be so upset. In time, he will need it less or feel able to leave it safely at home, rather than say take it to nursery with him.
Why not chat to other iVillagers about comfort blankets on the Sleep and Toilet Training message board. Take a look at some of the LIVE discussions happening now on the board:
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