The comfort object is your child's favorite item, but it's especially the one they never want to part with! This little teddy bear will help your baby cope with your absence, particularly when they have to start kindergarten. So, be careful when choosing the comfort object, as you must ensure it is safe and matches your little one's personality. In the article below, you will discover the best tips for selecting this very important little item!
Specialists consider comfort objects to be "transition objects," meaning they help your child separate from you, their parents. Indeed, your child must compensate for your absence, for example, when going to daycare: having a comfort object allows them to feel more at ease and less panicked during your absence. This small cloth or cute teddy bear will be adopted by your child between four months and one year of age, then abandoned about five years later. It is therefore crucial to carefully choose the plush toy that will share your life and your child's life during these few years, and above all, not to lose it!
You will hardly be able to impose your chosen plush toy on your child, as it is primarily they who will choose the one they like! However, you have the option to surround them with a few comfort objects, hoping they will choose among them! But, to choose the ideal comfort object, it is important to follow a few rules.
You must ensure to choose a comfort object suitable for babies—certain plush toys do have accessories that could be dangerous for little ones. Therefore, select plush toys intended for children under 36 months, ensuring they are not harmful to your child.
Next, make sure to buy only plush toys that meet NF standards: this standard is a safety guarantee. It is also recommended to pay attention to the size of the plush toy: favor larger comfort objects, as toys that are too small could be easily lost and may not please your child. But do not choose a comfort object that is too bulky either: your baby might not be able to grasp it and feel cramped in their crib. Also, ensure the plush toy is relatively simple, meaning it does not make noise or emit light. Such comfort objects can indeed be the source of many inconveniences: your child might not be able to fall asleep, or even end up getting tired of it. Finally, it is absolutely necessary to buy a washable plush toy, as it will need to be cleaned in a few months!
Regarding the material and color of the comfort object, there are no preset rules! Each parent and child has their own tastes, so let your creativity and imagination speak when choosing fun plush toys. However, even after making your purchase, you must continue to follow certain rules...
It is advisable to have a backup comfort object. This plush toy can be used to soothe your child's cries if theirs is lost. So buy two of the same model: they must be exactly identical so your baby doesn't realize the trick! Additionally, this will allow you to easily wash your child's comfort object. Indeed, your baby will not feel alone and neglected when their plush toy takes a little spin in the washing machine!
However, to avoid all these inconveniences, it's better not to lose your child's favorite comfort object. To do this, you can simply attach the plush toy to your baby's clothes using a specific clothespin. These items are easily found in many baby stores and are very inexpensive: so don't hesitate to get one to prevent your baby's cries! You can also write your phone number on the label of your child's comfort object, increasing your chances of finding it in case it gets lost.