young child with lovey

Is Your Toddler Attached to a Lovey, Security Object, or Blanket?

young child with loveyIs your child attached to a certain stuffed animal, lovey, or a blanket?  Do they love to carry it around every where they go?  Most toddlers go through a phase where they are attached to a a stuffed animal, lovey, or blanket.  They want to take their security object with them everywhere that they go.  When my son was born he was given several of those new “lovey’s”, they are a stuffed animal that is attached to a blanket.  If you have seen them, they are adorable and they come in a wide variety of animals or characters.

Disclosure:  This post is for informational purposes only.  The opinions reflected in this post are my own and are based upon my own experiences.

If your child is attached to a lovey, you probably already know how hard it is to pry their favorite lovey from them in order to wash it or they have a meltdown every time they leave it at home.  A toddler will often latch onto a favorite object such as a lovey or a blanket because it gives them a sense of security and they also may use it for comfort.  As your toddler begins exploring the world around them, it is easy for the to take their security object with them.  Sometimes toddlers are fearful of new surroundings and experiences that comes along with exploring the world around them.  Also, toddlers often go through phases of separation anxiety their security object gives them a sense of security and provides comfort when they feel afraid.

How Long Can I Expect My Child to Be Attached to a Lovey?

I know that my son is pretty attached to his lovey some days and other times he doesn’t really miss it.  If your child is super attached to their lovey, don’t worry it is just a phase and most kids will willing give up their lovey sometime between ages of 2 to 5 years old.  However, if they are feeling stressed out or in a new environment, they may revert to their fond attachment to their lovey.  This phase should be short lived and their security object should be tossed aside once things return to normal.  A child that is overly attached to his or her lovey should be watched closely, especially, if your child no longer or doesn’t want to interact with others or refuses to play with toys, talk to your child’s doctor immediately to figure out what is going on with your child.

Continue Reading: Will my Child Ever Give up Their Lovey?

Comments

10 responses to “Is Your Toddler Attached to a Lovey, Security Object, or Blanket?”

  1. DelSheree Avatar

    I thought it was odd that my kids never got attached to a lovey. It seems like so many kids do, and it really can be a comfort to them, but I guess it was nice not to have to try to take it away later. I can imagine how difficult that would be! This was a great article for parents whose kiddos are attached to loveys. Thanks for sharing!

    1. Christy Avatar

      My oldest got attached to her thumb, I thought I would never get her to stop sucking her thumb. She was probably 8 or 9 before she finally stopped.

  2. Rebel Sweetheart Avatar

    My son has an Ernie plushie that he loves so much. It’s become so dingy and stinky (he refuses to have it cleaned, my goodness!) that I wanted to get rid of it so bad! I hid it somewhere in the house a few months ago, and surprisingly my son didn’t go ballistic when he realized that his Ernie is gone.

    1. Christy Avatar

      I am thankful that my son isn’t overly attached to Tigger. He loved taking him to daycare there for a few weeks and of course he got pretty dirty.

  3. Lexie Lane Avatar

    Awww… my son can’t sleep without his “special blankie.” He doesn’t really have a toy or lovey he carries around but he does have to bring his cars with him wherever we go. Perhaps that’s his security toy?

    1. Christy Avatar

      Yes, his cars are probably have some type of emotional security object and he has something to keep him occupied on his outings.

  4. Elizabeth Avatar

    We have a Bunny and a Bear from Angel Dear that go everywhere with my daughter and son! I don’t think we could live without them!

    1. Christy Avatar

      Thank you for sharing your child’s favorite lovey. I know that my son loves his and is pretty attached.

  5. Courtney~Mommy LaDy Club Avatar

    We had to chase down BeeBee(stuffed animal) lost at SeaWorld one day, because we would have never made it home without that thing with us!;) Then, there was Minky to keep track of as well at all times! Those times are actually funny to look back on now.

    1. Christy Avatar

      I am glad that you can laugh at the situation now Courtney. We left Tigger at daycare today thankfully my son isn’t too worried about him.