Gifting has never been easier
Perfect if you're short on time or are unable to deliver your gift yourself. Enter your message and select when to send it.
How to Introduce a Lovey to Your Baby
Back to Baby Sleep
There aren't many things cuter than a baby snuggled up with their little lovey. Whether it was a gift from a loved one or something you bought on maternity leave, full of all the hopes and dreams of the little life to come, choosing the right lovey for your baby needs to be practical as well as precious. This guide covers what a lovey is, when, why and how to use one, all in line with the American Academy of Pediatrics' safe sleep advice. So let's snuggle in and get cozy with loveys!
The short answer
A baby lovey is a small, soft toy or blanket that helps your baby feel safe and settled, especially when you're apart. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends keeping your baby's crib clear of soft objects, including loveys and stuffed animals, until they're at least 12 months old. Before then, you can still use a lovey during cuddles and wind-down time while you're with your baby, then put it away before they go down to sleep.
What Is a Baby Lovey?
A lovey is a small, soft object your baby forms a special bond with. It might be a little stuffed animal, a small security blanket or a soft toy with a blanket body. You'll also hear them called comfort objects, security blankets or "blankies".
Experts call them transitional objects, because they help little ones feel connected to you when you're not right there, like at bedtime, at daycare or with a new sitter. A lovey can't replace you (nothing can), but it can be a familiar little friend that says "everything's OK" when your toddler wakes in the night.
When Can My Baby Sleep With a Lovey?
The AAP recommends a bare crib for at least the first 12 months: a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet, with no loveys, stuffed animals, pillows, blankets or bumpers. Soft objects increase the risk of suffocation and SIDS.
So for the first year, loveys are for cuddles, not the crib. Many babies start to form attachments to a comfort object somewhere around 8 to 12 months, so it can be a lovely time to start building the bond during the day.
Under 12 months? Keep the crib bare
A firm, flat mattress, a fitted sheet and your baby on their back in a wearable blanket or sleep sack. That's all they need. Read our safe sleep guide.
How to Choose a Safer Lovey
Not all loveys are created equal. When you're choosing one for your toddler's crib (from 12 months), look for one that checks these boxes:
Safer lovey checklist
From 12 months, look for a lovey that is:
- Small and light, not large or pillow-like
- No long fabric, ribbons or floppy unstuffed ears or legs that could cover your little one's face
- No loose parts, beads, buttons or strings
- Age-appropriate and made for babies and toddlers
- Easy to wash (it's going to get loved, drooled on and dragged around)
How to Introduce a Lovey
Babies choose their loveys as much as we do, so think of this as an invitation rather than a rule. Here's a gentle way to start:
- Pick one and stick with it. Consistency helps your baby build the bond.
- Make it smell like you. Keep it close to you for a day or two, tucked in your top or next to your pillow, so it carries your familiar scent.
- Bring it into cuddle time. Before 12 months, have it with you during feeds, stories and cuddles, then put it away before your baby goes into the crib.
- Make it part of the wind-down routine. Same order, every night: bath, sleepwear, book, cuddle with the lovey. It becomes a cue that sleep is coming.
- From 12 months, offer it at bedtime once your little one is settled, and keep an eye on how they use it in the crib.
And if your baby isn't interested? That's completely normal. Some babies never bond with a lovey, and that's just fine too.
Everyday Lovey Tips
- Buy two (seriously). A spare saves the day when one goes missing, and rotating them means they both smell and feel the same.
- Wash it regularly. Swap between the two so one is always clean and ready.
- Take it on the road. A familiar lovey can help at daycare, Grandma's house or on vacation.
- Keep the crib clear of everything else. Even once a lovey is in, skip pillows, bumpers, heavy blankets and large stuffed animals.
- Watch for climbers. If your toddler starts using a lovey or toy to climb, it's time to take it out.
Other Ways to Help Your Baby Feel Secure at Sleep Time
A lovey is just one way to help your little one feel safe at sleep time, and for the first year, it stays out of the crib. In the meantime, these all help:
- A consistent wind-down routine. Same steps, same order, every night. Predictability is comforting all by itself.
- Room sharing. The AAP recommends your baby sleeps in your room, in their own crib or bassinet, for at least the first 6 months.
- A familiar sleep cue. Zipping into the same sleep bag or Swaddle Up™ every sleep becomes a signal that it's time to rest.
- You. Your voice, your smell and your cuddles are your baby's favorite comfort of all.
Comfort, the safer way
FAQs About Baby Loveys
What age can a baby sleep with a lovey?
The AAP recommends keeping the crib clear of soft objects, including loveys, until your baby is at least 12 months old.
Can I give my newborn a lovey?
You can use one during supervised cuddles, feeds and wind-down time. Just put it away before your baby goes into the crib.
What makes a lovey safer for sleep?
From 12 months, choose one that's small and light, with no long fabric, floppy unstuffed limbs or loose parts, and that's made for babies and toddlers.
How do I get my baby to bond with a lovey?
Keep it close to you so it smells familiar, use the same one every time, and include it in cuddles and your wind-down routine.
Should I buy two loveys?
Yes. A spare means no meltdowns when one goes missing, and rotating them keeps them both clean and equally loved.
What if my baby won't take a lovey?
That's completely normal. Some babies never bond with one, and they settle just as well with a consistent routine and your comfort.
Key Takeaway
A lovey can be a lovely little sleep buddy, but timing matters. Keep the crib bare for the first 12 months, and let a lovey join cuddles and wind-down time so it's familiar and loved. From 12 months, choose a small, safer option and keep an eye on how your little one uses it. And if your baby isn't interested? That's OK too.
Looking for more help with settling? Explore the Love to Dream baby sleep blog.