Security Blankets

[Oneluckymom]

My 20 month old DCG has been bringing in a small security blanket...mom has encouraged this off and on for about 8 months now. However, I didn't think much of it until recently when I really noticed DCG ATTACHED to it. She has to have it in her high chair and carry it all over or she cries.

Why do parents WANT this for their child???? Evidently she must have it CONSTANTLY at home. Yesterday she forgot it here and requested that I leave it outside for her to pick up...that they could not be without it.

How do I approach this tactfully without being rude.:confused:

[lflick]

I HAD one of these too... at least it was one of the issues... anyways I informed mom that he is not allowed to have these unless it is naptime. She was less than welcoming of the idea and said well if it works... well he did cry all dang day... with or without it... I am talking a little one AND a big one.... he got food all over them, dirt from outside (they were NOT washed daily either), boogers, drool... so sanitary anyways... it was not only unsanitary at best it was turning into a danger... and by danger I mean he would drag the larger one and turn over all the rugs... then he would trip on them or the blanket. I was not going to have him getting a bump and having to explain that.... Anyways, I would just tell mom items from home are not allowed and if they are transitioning away from a security object DCK will be allowed to have this item ONLY at naptime.

[Scout]

I had one that smelled so bad of urine it gagged me! I sent mom a text saying "did you know that dkb's blankie smells like pee? When I asked him he said I know, I peed on it last night!, Would you like me to wash it?" I did. I couldn't stand it. It smelled that bad. And I could tell it hadn't been washed in a while by how white the lines were after!::

[Josiegirl]

I'm not sure how to get away from this either. Or if I even should. I'm too much of a push-over for security objects I guess. I have a 5 yo boy who still brings a blanket and ****s his thumb. BUT lately he's been swinging it around and whacking people with it so it constantly gets put up. My 2.5 yo screams bloody murder if she sees hers and I don't let her have it. Most of the time these items have been non-issues so I've allowed it. But just recently I'm beginning to see it as an ongoing increasing problem. And now I have a 1 yo who loves her blankie too. I usually just sneak it away as soon as I can and put it in her pack n play for naptime.

[mrsnj]

Blankies lovies and pacis are only for bed. Now a newbie I will allow it for a few days to transition but then start putting away little by little. And I might allow it for comfort if they are stressed like if they got hurt. But usually it gets put away. Besides being unclean I don't want the responsibility of having to hunt through toys and outside and everywhere for it cause we have no clue where it went!

[coolconfidentme]

Blankies lovies and pacis are only for bed. Now a newbie I will allow it for a few days to transition but then start putting away little by little. And I might allow it for comfort if they are stressed like if they got hurt. But usually it gets put away. Besides being unclean I don't want the responsibility of having to hunt through toys and outside and everywhere for it cause we have no clue where it went!

I have 4 kids with them & only let them sleep with it too.

One boy is 5 years old & his dad also carries him in/out everyday like the 6 months old child. I suspect he is totally different here than at home, .

[Heidi]

Blankies lovies and pacis are only for bed. Now a newbie I will allow it for a few days to transition but then start putting away little by little. And I might allow it for comfort if they are stressed like if they got hurt. But usually it gets put away. Besides being unclean I don't want the responsibility of having to hunt through toys and outside and everywhere for it cause we have no clue where it went!

same policy here. Exception on pacifiers until they are crawling or thereabouts.

[Crazy8]

I only allow them for nap time AND I make parents supply one to be left here. I am not going to worry about getting it back in their bag every day and have them calling me frantic at 8pm that they think they left it here (and then find it in the car or wherever).

I have seen many parents over the years who pretty much force it on their child to have that special object, no clue why!!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I don't allow any lovies, security blankets, stuffed animals, etc. here. My illness rate went drastically down when I began supplying blankets and cot sheets for naptime and all of their personal belongings were left at home (except for show and tell on Fridays).

You might consider implementing that rule.

[mamac]

My 20 month old DCG has been bringing in a small security blanket...mom has encouraged this off and on for about 8 months now. However, I didn't think much of it until recently when I really noticed DCG ATTACHED to it. She has to have it in her high chair and carry it all over or she cries.

Why do parents WANT this for their child???? Evidently she must have it CONSTANTLY at home. Yesterday she forgot it here and requested that I leave it outside for her to pick up...that they could not be without it.

How do I approach this tactfully without being rude.:confused:

I'll be the one to admit that I was/am one of those parents that allowed my kids to have their blankets all day--- if they wanted them. For me, I knew it was a source of comfort for them and it did what the name implied. It gave them the security that they needed. I honestly don't see anything wrong with it. My kids are now 3 1/2 and almost 6 and they still go to sleep with them and bring them out every morning. They are both past the point of dragging them around the house all day but then there are days where they want to take them for a trip to the store. I have never discouraged it nor have I restricted their access to it. They know that that will always be a constant in their lives for as long as they need it. To me, it seems to give them that little bit of reassurance that everything is okay with the world. Neither of them is clingy and they are both very outgoing so I see no harm in allowing them to continue having their blanket when they want it. The blankets have also come in handy as an instant sleep aid on long trips when we want them to nap. As soon as they have it in their hands, they almost immediately fall asleep.

I will also say that I was fortunate enough to have been able to stay home with them when they were very young so they didn't have to have them taken away at dc. I do understand the need to limit access to blankets in a dc setting. When I open my dc in Sept, my handbook states that blankets will only be allowed during naptime, although if a child is longing for their blanket I will most likely allow it as long as it doesn't interfere with our daily activities.

And on a side note- I still remember taking my blanket everywhere with me as a child and having my mom patch up the holes and tattered edges. I still have it stored away with all my childhood belongings.

[coolconfidentme]

I only allow them for nap time AND I make parents supply one to be left here. I am not going to worry about getting it back in their bag every day and have them calling me frantic at 8pm that they think they left it here (and then find it in the car or wherever).

I have seen many parents over the years who pretty much force it on their child to have that special object, no clue why!!

I had a parent text me at 11pm on a Friday night wanting me to go back to my daycare & get the blankie. I was already outta town for the evening. She asked if I could there go the next day. NO!!!!! (I don't live there btw)

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I'll be the one to admit that I was/am one of those parents that allowed my kids to have their blankets all day--- if they wanted them. For me, I knew it was a source of comfort for them and it did what the name implied. It gave them the security that they needed. I honestly don't see anything wrong with it. My kids are now 3 1/2 and almost 6 and they still go to sleep with them and bring them out every morning. They are both past the point of dragging them around the house all day but then there are days where they want to take them for a trip to the store. I have never discouraged it nor have I restricted their access to it. They know that that will always be a constant in their lives for as long as they need it. To me, it seems to give them that little bit of reassurance that everything is okay with the world. Neither of them is clingy and they are both very outgoing so I see no harm in allowing them to continue having their blanket when they want it. The blankets have also come in handy as an instant sleep aid on long trips when we want them to nap. As soon as they have it in their hands, they almost immediately fall asleep.

I will also say that I was fortunate enough to have been able to stay home with them when they were very young so they didn't have to have them taken away at dc. I do understand the need to limit access to blankets in a dc setting. When I open my dc in Sept, my handbook states that blankets will only be allowed during naptime, although if a child is longing for their blanket I will most likely allow it as long as it doesn't interfere with our daily activities.

And on a side note- I still remember taking my blanket everywhere with me as a child and having my mom patch up the holes and tattered edges. I still have it stored away with all my childhood belongings.

My issue with them is from a health standpoint. The few children that were bringing them had filthy blankets and I watched and waited to see when they would be washed for 2 months. I watched the food particles and spots accumulate. They never were despite them going to daycare, the store, home, etc. with the children. I began washing them once a week (and all of those food particles and spots disappeared), but with all of the places these blankets were being dragged they really needed it every other day or so in order for them to not be a health hazard. For my business, it was easier to make an across the board decision to eliminate personal items and say WE would provide them. The children do just fine without their lovies here, despite many parents insisting that they NEEDED them (ages 2-5).

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I had a parent text me at 11pm on a Friday night wanting me to go back to my daycare & get the blankie. I was already outta town for the evening. She asked if I could there go the next day. NO!!!!! (I don't live there btw)

Oh, and this is an issue as well. I had a 4-year-old ALMOST leave their blanket here and the Dad said, "Phew! Had we left this here we would have been knocking on your door at 9PM!" Um, and I would not have been answering it. :confused:

[Meeko]

I go over blankie rules at interview. Each child must bring a nap blanket upon enrollment. It STAYS at the daycare. I wash them every Friday. Otherwise, I know I will be getting blankets brought back and forth from filthy homes and go forever without being washed.

I do not allow blankies to be dragged around all day. It's a tripping hazard to me and the other children. Blankets stay in cubbies until nap time.

If their child can't possibly survive without dragging it around all day...they aren't right for my daycare.

[cheerfuldom]

I know I am two faced about this subject....I dont allow daycare kids to have blankies out all day. Parents can send one blanket here that is brought out for nap time only. But I allow my 2 year old to carry a small thin one around with her when she wants. She doesnt drag it, she wears it like a scarf. She does not **** or chew on it. My 3 year old will also carry a blanket around on occasion but most of the time she uses it to play with....wrap up baby dolls and such. My daycare kids have access to blankets or fabrics for play only as well.

Like someone else said, its a liability when a daycare kid does it. If my kid gets hurt, thats different. I am weaning the 2 year old off it but even when she has it, its rarely in the way and she doesnt seem to use it like the other kids do. Shes doesnt scream for it, hit people, is not territorial of it. Those are the same reasons I have taken it away from daycare kids before. I had to wean off a daycare girl that spent ALL day, literally every waking second looking for or sitting alone with a blanket and paci. She would not play or participate. I did wean her off to nap times only and it was like a different child.