AT WHAT AGE CAN YOUR BABY SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL?

Now that your baby loves his or her comforter, you may be wondering what  the safety rules are for sleeping  with a child this age. Most first-time parents worry about letting their baby sleep with stuffed animals in their crib! Letting a baby keep their stuffed animal next to them while they sleep can be a risky move.

However, as your baby grows and gets older, having stuffed toys for your child is  a great way to comfort them  and help them sleep better.

These days, it is becoming more and more common for parents to buy stuffed animals to help their baby sleep. However, the question still arises:  at what age can my baby sleep with a stuffed animal?  It is well known that young children, especially babies, do not sleep very well. This can upset them. Fortunately, having a stuffed baby around to comfort them can help ease their distress. Here is what you need to know to ensure your little one sleeps safely.

1) Why let a Baby Sleep with a Stuffed Animal?

Sleeping with  a stuffed animal can help your baby sleep better . However, this is only relevant when your baby is old enough to have a stuffed animal to sleep with.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is  a very real risk for babies  who have a stuffed animal in their crib while they sleep. In fact, the rate of SIDS is said to have doubled since the turn of the century!

As a result, young babies should not be given sleep toys because of the risks associated with them.  Only older babies  should be given safe bed toys to help them relax. But when will they reach that age?

2) When can babies sleep with their comfort blanket?

A- When Babies can walk

Nowadays, most people seem to think that the ideal age to  give a baby their first teddy bear  or soft toy to sleep with  is when they can move around on their own ?‍♀️ . The logic behind this is that a baby who can roll over or, ideally, sit up on their own, will not be at such a high risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

Most babies will reach this milestone around the age of one, so don't let your baby sleep with soft objects until he or she is at  least 12 months old . According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, pillow-like toys, blankets, comforters, crib bumpers, and other bedding items increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and death by suffocation or strangulation.

While it may seem unlikely, it is possible for a doll or stuffed animal to cover your baby's face and suffocate him or her. And sadly, these tragedies are on the rise: In 2010, more than  600 infants died  because they were accidentally suffocated or strangled in bed, and the rate has more than doubled since 2000.

The actual number could be  even higher  because stuffed toys and bedding may also play a role in some of the more than 2,000 SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) deaths each year.  

B- Keep your baby's crib as small as possible

The safest solution is to  not clutter your baby's bed , especially with stuffed toys and accessories.

After your baby's first birthday, the risk of SIDS decreases significantly. The likelihood of suffocation also decreases because most 12-month-olds are able to roll over, sit up, and move objects away from their face. 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.

So your baby can bring a special toy or blanket to bed to comfort him, but it's safer to keep his crib relatively empty ✨, so don't give  your child a pillow  until he has moved from the crib to the bed.

Bottom line:  Once your baby can move around on their own , you might consider getting them a stuffed animal. But if they can't, you shouldn't give them a toy to sleep with. You could be putting them at risk for SIDS by giving them stuffed animals or down pillows when they're too young!

3) What to do once your baby can sleep with his stuffed animal?

When your child is a toddler (between 1 and 3 years old), they are no longer at risk for SIDS and many of the rules about baby sleep safety no longer apply. That said, there are still some important things to consider to  ensure your child's safety ✅ while sleeping  :

• Your child should start moving to a new bed when they are old enough. You should start moving  to a toddler bed  or twin bed with a side rail when your child is  about 120cm tall  or when the height of the side rail is less than three-quarters of their height. Ideally, you should make the transition when they are as close to  3 years old as possible . Most children move to a cot between 18 months and 3 1/2 years old, although younger children may not be ready for a big bed. If they seem happy in their crib and don't often try to climb out, it's perfectly safe for your child to continue sleeping in it until they are 120cm tall. At that point, it's time to move them to a bed.

• Create  a safe sleep space . Make sure your child’s bed is away from anything with ties or strings, like blind pulls, curtains, or electrical cords; and watch out for things your child could pull into bed, like picture frames, mobiles, or other hazards ❌. The good news: Blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals aren’t the hazards they were when your child was a baby. Today, it’s okay for your child to sleep with a thin blanket and a small pillow, but make sure the pillow isn’t big enough for them to use as a makeshift step stool to climb out of their crib. And it’s always a good idea to stay away from large stuffed animals or soft toys. 

• Take steps to protect crib climbers.  Toddlers love to move around  and explore, which may mean trying to climb out of their cribs ?‍♂️. If your child is still in their crib, set their mattress to the lowest setting possible to make it harder for them to climb out. And avoid putting things in the crib that your child could step on to help them climb out, like stuffed toys or bumpers. Even with these precautions, your child may still be able to climb out of their crib. If this is the case, and they do it frequently, it’s probably time to move them to a toddler bed or twin bed with a side rail.

• Let your child  sleep in a position that is comfortable for him? After his first birthday, you should no longer put your child to sleep on his back. He is old enough to sleep safely on his back, stomach or side - so let him stick to whichever position he chooses.

4) Choose a stuffed animal for your baby to sleep with

A stuffed animal may help your child sleep better. However, to be safe, parents should  choose an appropriate toy  that their child can cuddle while sleeping once your child is old enough to have a stuffed animal in their crib (after the age of one).

Next, you need to choose one with its safety in mind. When buying a stuffed toy for your child, it is important to choose  a small and soft stuffed toy?  for bedtime. As your child grows, large stuffed toys could be used as a step stool to help them get out of their crib. Ouch!

In addition, it is easy to choose  a safe plush toy  for your child. To do this, you just need to take into account a few simple factors such as the size of the plush toy, its composition?, that it does not have buttons, ribbons, hard eyes and other removable parts…

To make sure you don't give your little one a stuffed animal that could be dangerous, we recommend that you consult the ultimate guide to choosing a stuffed animal that is safe for your baby . 

You can also find  safe soft toys and comforters  ☑ for your child in our store (as long as you don't let them sleep with them before they have passed their first 12 months).

And, as your baby grows, sleep becomes more secure and the guidelines begin to relax. So,  rest easy  ! You've more than earned it ?.