Blankies & Lovies

[Unregistered]

Do you allow them at your daycare? Do you allow them to be carried around 24/7? My policy states no toys from home with the exception of ONE special item if needed for naps. For years this was never a problem - an occassional stuffed animal or blanket came in for nap time use.

Well, I don't know what it is lately but 3 of my 5 kids all have blankies that they carry around ALL.THE.TIME. I have been trying to wean them off of them - they are big dirty disgusting germ magnets that I do not want in my daycare all winter. Out of the 3 kids, one does well without it, will just ask for it at nap time, the two others are a bit younger, one is doing ok without it most of the time, but will get whiney for it once in a while. The third is my real problem - only here a few days a week (which I hate doing in the first place but I have spots to fill) and is ATTACHED to that blankie. Can not pry it out of his hands AT ALL. Does everything one handed, won't paint if it means putting the blanket down, won't eat lunch w/o it in one hand, etc. Will scream if I even suggest we put it down next to us so we can do something fun.

Two of these kids are VERY coddled/babied at home - parents encourage them carrying these germ magnets around and think its so cute. One has a sibling who still has to bring their blankie in their backpack to school. I just don't get that type of parenting - I see it more and more lately, but regardless, I am not doing it here.

Do you allow kids to have them? Do you have a policy on it? How do you tell parents they can't walk around with these things all the time? Would a daycare center allow it? Do I even have a chance of weaning a kid off of it when they are only here 2-3 days a week?

[bice99]

Not allowed! They each bring a blanket/washable lovely their first day. They stay here, with the napping stuff. I launder them. I used to let one DCG bring her stuffy and blanket. Then she got a new one and it was huge. I finally told mom that aside from her worrying about it all day (even when it had to stay in her cubby) it could be bringing in germs and I couldn't expose everyone to that. So they bought her a small one to leave here and her big one (and blanket) stayed in her carseat waiting at mom's work all day. Worked fine after the first day.

[Meeko]

All parents bring a blanket on day one. It stays here and I launder it every Friday or more if needed.

It comes out right before nap and goes away right after.

I have it in my handbook that other blankies from home are not allowed. A dragged blanket is a tripping hazard to me and the other kids and is very unsanitary.

[cheerfuldom]

I no longer allow any blankets or lovies at all. If parents bring them, they stay in the bag all day. We wean cold turkey. No pacies after 18 months old no matter what the parents are doing at home. I try to wean closer to 12 months though. Items from home are a constant headache and I just don't allow anything anymore. I've never had a kid that really needed these anyway. It just contributes to more whining, babyness, terriotorial behavior/hoarding. My own kids are on the same "lovey" rules too.

I don't tell parents that kids have to be weaned....I just do it myself at daycare and after a few days, they are over it and we all move on, problem solved.

[daycare]

one blanket that stays here. As pp said its a tripping hazard, plus they start using it for all sorts of things. Snot rag, drool rag, you name it.......

I do allow for a special sleeping doll or animal, but they must stay in their cubby until nap time...and go right back in the cubby when nap time is over..

[BigMama]

I have one that has a blankie and one that has a blankie and a stuffed lamb. (I don't allow any other toys from home). They keep them in their backpacks and only bring them out for nap or if they need a cuddle because of a booboo or missing Mommy, but I don't allow them to carry them around all day. When they are comforted they go back in the bag, no problems.

[MyAngels]

I don't have any rules against them bringing these things, but for the most part I just put it up at the beginning of the day and most kids don't even ask about it, even for nap. I guess they're just too busy.

I used to allow them to be dragged around at will, until I had a little girl who started bringing in a twin size comforter . Needless to say, my approach changed at that point.

[kidkair]

I do cold turkey on the blankets too. As soon as parent leaves the blanket is put away until nap and I prefer to keep the blankets and not have them go back and forth but that doesn't work for my drop-ins.

[mismatchedsocks]

They can bring something to sleep with like blanket or favorite stuffed animal, BUT it must stay in cubby until nap time. AND it has to be something soft and that they dont "play" with at nap time.

I provide all the blankets, sheets etc. I have no kids right now who bring anything, thank goodness!

Not allowed to walk around with though, no need for that!

[MarinaVanessa]

It doesn't bother me unless it becomes an issue. If it interferes with daily play for example or the child constantly leaves it on the floor etc then I have the child put it in their cubby. I have a 4yo that still carries her blankie. It's tattered and shredded and she leaves it on the floor and the other kids trip on it. Now I only let her use it for nap time but usually she even forgets to take it out before she lays down for nap so it ends up staying all day in her cubby mostly.

[SilverSabre25]

I had a boy last year who came back from his Christmas break so attached to his blanket that he literally could not function without it.

I learned from him: NO LOVIES!

I don't mind it coming in if it's just every once in awhile, if it's something that is easily left on the nap cot for naptime (or even better) right by the door until pick-up time, but then I only let a blanket or *maybe* stuffed animal. No draggin them around, no sharing fights over them, nothing.

For Christmas I'm making each of my dcks a fleece blanket that will stay here for naps and then go with them when they move on from my program.

[Sunchimes]

I have one little one that will come in with a doll (lately a Santa doll) and her mom will tell me that it was in the car and she wouldn't give it up. I just smile and put it in her backpack and no one gives it another thought. But, from this thread, I've learned that should the issue come up again, I shouldn't allow it.

Someone mentioned pacifiers. My kids use them at home, but here, they only use them at naptime. I keep a couple here in their baskets. At naptime, I lift them up and tell them to pick one, then we go straight to the pnp. After nap is over, I lift them out of the pnp and go straight to the baskets where they carefully put it back. Never a problem. I don't think they are having it this easy at home though.

[SunflowerMama]

All parents bring a blanket on day one. It stays here and I launder it every Friday or more if needed.

It comes out right before nap and goes away right after.

I have it in my handbook that other blankies from home are not allowed. A dragged blanket is a tripping hazard to me and the other kids and is very unsanitary.

I do the same thing.

[Cat Herder]

I supply each child a personal use blanket and pillow... for naptime use only. Everyone has their own pattern/color.

Nothing from home is allowed other than child, diapers, formula/breastmilk and appropriate clothing for outside conditions.

I do have "Boo-Boo Bunnies", "Sleep Sheep" and "Snuggle Bears" for times when they need a cuddle/comfort item.

[Heidi]

same here-lovies (whatever they are) for nap time only. Most kids fuss at first, but it's a great tool for getting them to go to nap, anyway.

If 3/5 are all doing this, it's going to be a rough week next week, but by the end, they will catch on!