Sleeping and blankets

Caren - posted on 12/28/2009

My DS is almost two and a half and I still don't use blankets. I'm really worried about suffocation and SIDS so I am sticking with a sleep sack. I use one with footholes so he can move around but still be safe and sound in a sleep sack. The way I see it...if I can keep blankets out of his crib and still keep him warm then I'm gonna do it for as long as possible. I think the sleep sacks that we use are Halo...I haven't been able to find another brand that has the footholes for older ones. Good luck!

Tennille - posted on 12/18/2009

i have used blankets on my son since birth but i have a sids monitor that alarms if the baby stops breathing so i felt a bit more at eaze. he didnt like the sleeping bag idea he would scream with it on. in saying that the blanket is always off wen i get him out in the morning.

Claire - posted on 12/08/2009

I used a blanket with my son from birth and it hasnt done any harm. as long as the baby's legs touch the bottom of the cot and the blanket just comes under their arm pits u should b fine.

Jane - posted on 12/08/2009

We have used blankets from day 1. Our lil man was born just before Winter and it was quite cold. We used a sleeping bag but then placed a light blanket over him and we have never had a drama. He has always been a big kicker, so now that its summer here, the blanket is forever getting kicked off anyhow!!

Renee - posted on 12/08/2009

i have always used blankets i never got told i shouldn't and if i didn't i felt bad because i thought i get cold without one so then my baby will too...

Tracy - posted on 12/06/2009

We used blankets on my son since birth...we swaddled him for the first few months and then he just wanted to sleep with his blankets. He was always very good at kicking the blankets if they got on his face, so we didn't worry. We tried the sleep blankets, but they did not work for my son. He liked to stretch and kick and they seemed to restrict him to much. He is 16 months now and still loves to sleep with his blankets. I think it all depends on the child. Good luck!

Kristin - posted on 12/05/2009

There is a product out there called a Halo sleep sack. it is like a fleece blanket the has armholes that you zip from the bottom up. Keeps them warm and tangle free and it is easy to change them when needed.

Michelle - posted on 12/04/2009

I never used blankets in the crib with my son. I put him in the Halo brand sleep sacks until he moved into his big boy bed. I highly recommend the sleep sacks. I got away with one in each size for him, but with my daughter I have 2 (his old ones and a new one) so I don't have to rush the laundry before nap or bedtime.

Natalie - posted on 12/04/2009

We use a sleep sack but I gave her a "blankie" at six months.

Sharyn - posted on 12/04/2009

i've used blankets on my baby since day one, and i've never had any suffocation or anything like that issues with her ....

Sarah - posted on 12/04/2009

Thank you ladies!!!! :-)

Natasha - posted on 12/04/2009

To be honest i think its pretty silly how they say not to give your infant a blanket, think of how long people have been swaddeling their babies to sleep? i tried not giving payton a blanket once and doing the layering thing i told you about, well when she woke up she was so cold! her little hands were purple. just check on your baby often.

Natasha - posted on 12/04/2009

i have let my little girl have a blanket since birth, never had any problems with it. just make sure its not too heavy. babies have poor blood circulation so they get colder faster, if you feel uncomfortable with putting a blankep with your baby you can try layering baby clothes, one method that works is a onsie, socks and a "baby sleeping bag" they are typically made out of fleece and zip up. there are no individual leg holes but there are sleeves.



good luck!

Sabine - posted on 12/04/2009

Hi Sarah,
the halo sacs go over their pajamas. It's like a fitted sleeping bag - the head and the arms are not covered. Actually, we still use a similar sleeping sac for our 2.5 year old son. He doesn't mind it as he can open up the zipper himself and he can even easily walk around in the sleeping sac.
For us it's wonderful as we know his face was never covered by a blanket (of course since he is older, we don't worry about that anymore) and he stays warm the whole night through.
Hope that helps.

Sarah - posted on 12/04/2009

Thank you everyone for all your help....

Archana - posted on 12/04/2009

They dont advise blankets for babies b'coz of risk of SIDS. Babies are at risk of SIDS untill they are one year old. So if u want to be safe u can start using blankets after 1 yr. But I used blanket for my baby once she started sitting up on her own, that way she could always kick it off if she finds it suffocating. I hope this helps.

Sarah - posted on 12/04/2009

Do these halo sacks go over their pajama's or does it take the place of their pajamas?

Alison - posted on 12/04/2009

Swaddling is ideal for the first 3 months, after that we mostly used the sleep sac for the first year-ish. I did use blankets on occasion at every stage though. I'm not convinced about the whole suffocation thing.

Misty - posted on 12/04/2009

Try the halo sacks, they have different sizes & just zip on & are reasonably priced; they are great! no need to worry, peace of mind to you = more restful sleep for you as well & having a baby that doesn't suffocate is priceless.

Amy - posted on 12/04/2009

we didn't use blankets until our son was at least 9 months. We would double layer the sleepers so he'd be warm enough. He moves around in his sleep too much, and when he was too young he would just freak out if a blanket covered his face. I think once he started standing, he got better with the blankets. I would say, try giving him a blanket when your baby's not in the crib and see how they deal with it, see if they can pull it off if they need to, etc. Also, stick to the small blankets when there in the crib, We still use just baby blankets with our 19 month old son in his toddler bed. When it's really cold lately I've been just giving him two blankets. Although I know for a fact that by the time he falls asleep that the blankets aren't on him, as he plays before he actually gets into bed.

Jodelle - posted on 12/04/2009

I think every child is different. Since the concern is suffocation, can your baby sit up on his/her own, or have the motor skills to remove a blanket off of face? I had my daughter in the sleeper bag pajama's for as long as possible before putting a blanket in her crib.