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Home › Articles › Development › Bye Bye Blankie?

Bye Bye Blankie?

Ease Your Child's Blankie Blues

By CJ Johnson

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Seefeldt has a few suggestions for making a lost blankie less of a heart break. "Figure out what was the most comforting part of the child's blanket and replace it accordingly," she says. "Some children respond to the satin binding, others enjoy the fuzziness or certain color. Seek a blanket with exact characteristics. If a matching blanket can't be found, a similar object may suffice."

Children see the world as a magical place. "Introducing the idea of a blankie fairy who replaced their blanket is a reasonable solution," Seefeldt says. "Young children are unable to comprehend abstractness and could easily believe a magical fairy helped them through a sad time."

Seefeldt also advises when parents choose a particular blanket to present to the child, they should buy duplicates. "That way if one blanket is lost they have an immediate replacement and no lapse in comfort," Seefeldt says. "It also makes it easier for the parents on wash day."

Bobbi Dempsey of Pennsylvania learned the value of her child's love object the hard way. Her 3-year-old son, Nickie, adored his teddy bear blanket. It had a calendar pattern and a different teddy for each month. One day at preschool it was lost. Nicky was distraught and refused to leave school without his blankie. "I had to force him to leave with the promise that his teachers would call immediately if the blanket was found," says Dempsey. The blanket never materialized.

After searching the malls for a new blanket, his mother was unable to find a suitable replacement. A few nights later his grandmother helped him through his loss. "Nicky was sleeping over at his grandmother's house and was still traumatized by the incident," she says. "He really liked Grandma's new comforter, so she took pity on him and offered it to him even though she'd only had it a few days." The grandmother's solution worked. Nickie is 9 years old today and the comforter is tattered and worn, but he still loves it.


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