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When To Let Your Babies Sleep With Stuffed Animals

Published on Jun 8, 2023.

Most first-time parents will be concerned about allowing their infants to sleep with plush animals in their cribs. Allowing a baby to sleep with stuffed animals at their side might be dangerous if you let it happen too early. On the other hand, adding toys to cribs is a terrific method to calm the baby and help them sleep well as they grow older. As such, crib toys that help newborns sleep are becoming increasingly popular for parents to purchase for their children. However, the question still remains: When is it alright to let your babies sleep with stuffed animals?

Why Allow a Baby to Sleep with Stuffed Animals?

Sleeping with a plush animal can aid your baby's sleep as it can help to alleviate some anxiety. However, this is only important when your infant is old enough to sleep with a stuffed animal. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is a very real concern for newborns who sleep with a plush toy in their cots. Indeed, the rate of SIDS is estimated to have doubled since 2000! As a result of the hazards involved, young newborns should not be given toys to sleep with. Only older babies should be provided with safe crib toys to aid in their relaxation.

When to Allow a Baby to Sleep with Stuffed Animals?

For at least the first 12 months, it is recommended that parents keep their newborns' cribs free of anything that might obstruct their breathing. Examples of such objects include stuffed animals, comforters, quilts, cushions, and blankets. Suffocation and SIDS, the primary cause of mortality in newborns aged one month to one year, become more likely with the presence of such objects. Plush animals, blankets, and other fluffy objects can also accumulate dust, causing nasal congestion and breathing difficulties in your infant.
The risk of SIDS decreases considerably after your baby's first birthday. Nonetheless, many experts advise parents to wait until their kid is at least two years old before adding soft objects, such as stuffed animals, into their child's sleeping environment. If you do choose to put a stuffed animal on your child's bed, make sure it doesn't have any hard eyes, ribbons, buttons, or other removable pieces.

Suitable Stuffed Animals for Babies

There are several factors to consider when it comes to selecting suitable stuffed animals for your baby's crib. Choosing the proper plush animal does not have to be difficult! The size is the most crucial consideration when selecting a stuffed animal. Due to the risk of asphyxia, giant stuffed animal beds are not suited for newborns and toddlers. Toys that are too large might easily fall on your infant and suffocate them. Instead, choose a smaller toy that will not put your infant at risk of asphyxia.

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