Security Blankets

[MarinaVanessa]

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.

This is one reason why I don't allow them to be carried around during certain times of the day. I personally don't feel like it's my place to tell a parent what to do in their own home (unless they ask for advice) but what I can do is limit the number of "lovies" (blankets, stuffed animals, pacifiers) that a child can have at daycare and which times it's appropriate to be used.

I limit it to ONE item and then I don't talk about it at all to the parents unless it still becomes an issue (needs to be washed etc). I don't allow the child to take the "lovie" outside unless it's a pacifier and if the parent provides me with a tether to prevent it from falling on the floor and getting dirty or lost. I also don't allow them during mealtimes. Both are for sanity reasons.

If a child comes to daycare with a blanket or stuffed animal and it gets dirty here or arrives dirty from home then I do let the parent know that I can't allow the child to keep the dirty "lovie". I warn them that if the child cries for it then the child will need to be picked up.

After a couple of weeks I find that a child will get used to this and often their "lovie" gets set down near them somewhere while they play and will sometimes get left there when the child moves on to another activity or toy. I pick up the "lovie" and put it in the child's cubby and the child usually just forgets about the item (out of sight, out of mind). This happens a lot during meal times also. We put the "lovie" in the child's cubby for "safe keeping" and after the snack or meal the child has forgotten about it. At least this is how I've weened kids off of it. I do have a DCG that constantly carries her teddy bear around at home everywhere but here at daycare she immediately puts it in her cubby and only takes it out during nap (sometimes) and when she goes home. At home she can't live without it.