advice for sleeping with blankets...?

Katherine - posted on 11/25/2010

my little girl has always a blanket from being born, but as she got older she would just kick off her blanket, my friend said about baby sleeping bags, they are the best things every for either summer or winter.

Natisha - posted on 11/22/2010

I have made a couple of items that i could not buy in the shops - my little boy always kicked off his blankets so I made a fitted blanket which is extra wide so you can tuck it in and it is fitted at the bottom of the cot so he cannot pull up over his head - also make snap sheets - similar item to the fitted blanket but you can adjust the height of the sheet as it is snapped to the bottom sheet.

Nikki - posted on 11/21/2010

@alice, i didnt really think of that. so i have this knit blanket my grandmother made for my daughter and i have been using that and it has the holes in it. and she seems to be doing okay with it. shes starting to scoot herself around on the floor and such, shes almost sitting up, shes been rolling over both ways for almost 2 months now. but that deff helped thanks!

Sarah - posted on 11/18/2010

My LO sleeps in a Halo Sleepsack. I love them! Keeps him warm all night because he can't kick it off or roll it off, and there's no worry of ending up covering his face.

Alice - posted on 11/18/2010

Nikki,
Wow, your pedi said they don't understand that they need to breathe? Was your little one a premie? I know my aunt had premie twins and one couldn't move away from blankets, bumpers, etc, but the other would move his face away to keep from being smothered. Normally, babies know that they need to breathe as it's an instinct in all creatures.
But, you know your little one better than anyone else does. If she can't move herself (roll over, pull blankets away/on) then she probably shouldn't have a heavy blanket. Most light ones are breathable (put your nose against it and try to breathe, if you don't have trouble, then your baby shouldn't). I can't offer much more. Just remember that you live with your baby so you know what is best for her - try snuggly warm sleepers or sleeper blankets if you think loose blankets are a danger.
:) Hope this helps :)

Bridget - posted on 11/17/2010

Hi Nikki, what about baby sleeping bags? I started putting my 5 month old in a sleeping bag because of the same reasons you have - I was so paranoid about the blanket issue so this was a great alternative. You can get different sleeping bags for Summer and Winter and obviously you dress your bub accordingly. Even now at 17 months my lil man has a sleeping bag and it keeps him so warm during Winter. It helps him to not be able to climb out of his cot too!!

Nikki - posted on 11/17/2010

yeah see i had asked my pediatrician and she said no because they dont understand they need to breathe, she curls herself up in a ball and snuggles up to the bumper in her crib with her face touching the bumper which also made me nervous. i have tried light blankets but she just pulls them right to her face and buries her face in it. i may just have to wait until shes a little bit older before i put a blanket on her...

Alice - posted on 11/17/2010

I agree with Amy that this is a personal decision.

My oldest never wanted blankets, while my 2nd would snuggle with one but never covered her face with it, she just liked to hold it. My 3rd kicks everything off but sleeps on a stuffed animal like it's a pillow (poor thing is now so floppy it looks like a blanket lol!).
My 4th, though is now 10m. She was the only one born when it was cold. She started pulling her fuzzy little blanket over her head from day one... seriously! The midwife had laid her in the cradle and she grabbed the end of the blanket and pulled it over her head with just her elbow sticking out like a straw! At first it concerned me, but the fact that she kept poking her face out of it or leaving enough room via an armhole or something for air to get to her, (and the fact that even if I took her blanket away she pulled her tight sleepers up over her face!) I have been letting her cover herself up. She still does it and carries around a "snugglie blanket" (it's soft and furry but the big fibers help air get through so it's warm yet breathable).
My midwife told me that a baby naturally knows that they must breathe, so anything attempting to choke or suffocate them they will fight. As long as they are able to fight it, however, so each mom must prudently weigh the risks for each baby as each one is different. Some babies don't have the strength to uncover themselves (especially if the blanket is heavy) and in that case, probably the best this to do would be to swaddle so they can't accidently cover themselves (as long as they can't yet roll over).
I'd suggest you ask your midwife or pediatrician, someone who knows your baby and her strengths like you do. :)

Cyndy - posted on 11/16/2010

blanket sleepers with feet. they are thick and warm and if they dont have a blanket they still stay warm.

Amy - posted on 11/16/2010

I definitely think this is a personal decision that you need to make. If you're not comfortable with it you're going to spend the entire night checking on her. My daughter got into the habit at a month old of falling asleep with her blankie while in her bouncy seat. She pulled it right up under her nose, it's an afghan that my mom made for her and the holes on it are pretty big. It ended up being the only way she would sleep at night and still has to sleep with a blanket at 8 months. With my son who is now 4, I wouldn't let him sleep with a blanket until he was a year!
If you are concerned your little one is cold at night you could always do a long sleeved onsie with the fleece pajamas.