When can a baby use a blanket?

[sullytwinboys]

Hi everyone,

Some questions for you more experienced moms.

When did you start using blankets? My boys will be six months at the end of August. So going into the fall they'll be seven months or so. Could I start using an afgan (with plenty of holes) by this winter?

I use those fleece pjs aka blanket sleepers, but I was curious when its "ok" for them to use blankets?

I have been so paranoid about SIDs I've never used blankets with the boys they sleep in those fleece bags last winter.

Thanks for your help!

[blessedX2]

Mine have used them since about 4 months. I read that when they are old enough to take it off of thier face :confused: ....everyone is different

[oneplusII]

Mine still don't and they are 7 months old. I may be a bit paranoid though!!!!:)

[CKT74]

I will probably sound like an awful mother but mine have always used blankets. I usually cover them up to right at the top of their diaper. Mine really don't move around a whole lot when they sleep so I don't worry too much about it. During the day sometimes I will put them down to nap without a blanket but at night I am so afraid they are going to get cold that i put the blanket over theie legs. They sometimes kick it off. It is so hot and humid down here that those fleece things just would be so hot and miserable. I still put them in the sleep and play things that have footies and long sleeves so that when they kick off their blanket they don't get their little legs cold.

I have never had a problem with the blankets. They don't grab at them and pull them to their face so I don't really worry about it.

Mine are 8 mos now. BTW

[Jenka]

Crystal, we might have to share a jail cell because of this!
Mine have been using blankets once we stopped swaddling them which was pretty much right away. I cover them up to their armpits and put their hands on top of it. Ben sleeps like a log, and kicks the blankie off when he is awake, and Anne does wiggle a little, but she never managed to pull the blanket over her head.

[expecting2]

Well you might want to make some room for me in that jail cell too cause I also use blankets and my girls are 7 wks. They don't stay in the blankets when I swaddle them, within minutes they are completely uncovered so I use a recieving blanket or a crocheted (?sp) blanket w/ holes in it to keep them warm. It is too hot to put them in a blanket sleeper and too cold (w/ the air on) to not use a blanket. So, I usually put them in a thin sleeper or one of those dress looking sleepers that are open at the bottom..forgive me, I can't think of what they are called! =)

[Momma to 3 Wonderful Boys]

Dylan never kept a blanket on so we always used a blanket sleeper. He really doesn't get too cold at night anyway, but I JUST started giving him a blanket and he's 21 months old, lol. I know mine was paranoia! :)

[Heather+2]

My two not only use blankets, they each like a recieving type blanket in their hands to suck on and go to sleep. I often find that they have put it on their face. They seem to know how to leave space to breathe out one side already.
LOCK ME UP--If it gives me some time alone and a good night sleep, it might not be so bad.:D

[IsaGab]

I just started giving mine blankets about a month ago (when they turned 6 months). I was always paranoid and kept them in those fleece sleepers. Still, I check on them a couple times through the night. Although the blanket is thin, they both roll around A LOT and I never know what position I'll find them in. But they can roll both ways and can sit up and get on their knees holding the crib side so I figure at this point they're just about as mobile as they need to be for a blanket.

I think you should go with what you're comfortable doing.

[sullytwinboys]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your posts.

So hopefully by the time winter hits here in NE I'll feel comfortable giving them a blanket.

Ps: I won't tell anyone your little secrets. If that's the worst of what you do as a mom, your kids are truly blessed!

[NutMeg]

Mine have had blankets since day one with no problems!!!!

[tssecord]

Mine have always used blankets. I just made sure to use afghans after they started moving around more.

[Steph]

I'm glad you asked that question. I'm really paranoid about blankets and they are almost 8 months old. I get this mental picture of them becoming tangled up in their blanket and their cries muffled so I can't hear them... so mine are still using wearable blankets. When I'm not worried about them suffocating, then I worry about them being cold when they lose their blanket from moving around so much at night. They have almost outgrown their Halo wearable blankets (the largest size they come in), so either I'm going to start with blankets soon or I considered having my Aunt make them longer somehow. It makes me feel better knowing that so many people are using regular blankets with no problems.

Steph

[mommycolleen]

Mine have always had a blanket, and my daughter will not go to sleep without it, lol. I know that the heavy weight quilts that come with most crib bedding sets are way too heavy for them if they were to get under them, but the kind you mentioned are fine, because they have holes in them. Mine use cable knit chenille blankets (from Target) and they aren't too heavy at all, and have holes. Sarah has always had her blanket near her face, and that is how she falls asleep. I always pull it back down, but she is fine with it by her face, since it is so lightweight.

Oh, my twins (Tyler and Sarah) will be 10 mos. tomorrow , the 7'th. Btw, I also have three older kiddos, and they all used blankets too.

Good luck !

[EJSJ]

Mine have always used blankets, as soon as we stopped swaddling them, no problems. I don't use heavy comfortors, though. Now that they are almost 2 years old, I need to know...

WHEN CAN THEY START USING A PILLOW?

[sullytwinboys]

Good question!

Hey, where in MA are you from? I live in Central MA.

[IsaGab]

Does anyone put anything other than a blanket in their cribs? I'm tempted to put some kind of stuffed animal so that they can cuddle but it took me 6 months to give them a blanket so you can tell I'm paranoid!

[Heather+2]

We started pillows when they moved out of the crib. For my older girls that was when they were three.
We probably let them have stuffies when they were old enough to throw them out of the crib.

[EJSJ]

Oh my goodness, my twins have all kind of things in their crib. They have had a couple of small stuffed animals since they were 6-12 months. Then we added books, one each night, which they themselves exchange for a new book each evening as part of the going to bed routine (it's really cute, and they "read" them!).

Recently for some reason they have wanted to take these huge stuffed elephants to bed...