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When I was pregnant with my first child I received the best advice ever from a Mom of 2. Be careful in what you select as the first teddy or blanket you buy for your child.
Every little one needs a special teddy to bond with to help them over developmental stages where these kinds of items are useful.
5 Tips for Selecting that First Teddy or Blanket
Make sure the item is durable
My 5 year old has a rainbow blanket and bunny teddy that he has had since a baby. These items have been dragged from one Continent to another. 5 Years of daily use can be tough.
Make sure it is washable!
The blanket is very special to him and he has issues with me even washing it. Seeing it hanging up on the line to dry is even worse. I have had to explain numerous times about a dirty blanket and it will smell and feel very nice when he gets into bed that night. Wash items as early as you can in the day to make sure that promises are kept and blankets are returned by bedtime.
You will want to make sure the teddy has no electric components to get fried in the washing machine. Sure you could hand wash those types. But sometimes scrubbing vomit off a teddy is just where I draw the line.
You might want to purchase a backup!
My 5 year old also has a bunny teddy that is unique in its yellow and blue coloring. This poor thing is falling apart currently and I have spent many months on the look out for a duplicate. I finely found one on ebay in Australia. Luckily we have some family there and they were able to forward me the package here in Ecuador.
Check the sewing!
My 2 year old has a taglet type teddy that come with her little blanket as a set. I have had to learn how to do a seamless stitch to fix that poor teddy and stop her from pulling all the stuffing out. At age 2 this half teddy blanket is very soothing to her.
Consider size!
Your little one is going to want to drag that teddy or blanket around sometimes. You certainly do not want a teddy the size of your child to lug around as well.
And Yes, you may picture me holding the hand of my 3 year old with a blanket in his other hand walking around on the sidewalks of the city. Because this happened just last month, when he refused to leave it in the car… lol
Take a look at these other Baby’s Firsts resources for your baby’s first year.
Ultimate Guide to Baby Milestones and Firsts ~ Lemon Lime Adventures
Baby’s First Keepsakes
- Baby’s First Shoes – What You Need To Know ~ Pink Oatmeal
Baby’s First Big Moments
- Baby’s First Meeting of Siblings ~ Makeovers & Motherhood
- Baby’s First Bath ~ Let the Journey Begin
- Baby’s First Outing ~ Bambini Travel
- Baby’s First Road Trip ~ Peace but Not Quiet
Capturing Baby’s First Moments
- Make a DIY Baby Book to Record Baby’s Firsts (free printable) ~ Bare Feet on the Dashboard
- Baby Book with Printable Onesie Iron-Ons ~ Mama Miss
Baby’s First Milestones
- Designing Your Home for Baby’s First Words ~ Trust Me, I’m a Mom
- Potty Training at Eleven Months ~ Conceiving Piper
Take a look at the entire collection for The Ultimate guide to baby’s first year! Also check out the Pinterest board for this event. And Enter for a chance to win 1 of 8 fabulous prizes!
My Ebook The Colic Solution by a Mom, for a Mom is 70% off for the duration of this event. Click here to apply the code:ULTIMATEBABY. (that’s only $1!)
Betsy @ BPhotoArt says
Those are some great suggestions. My son has a handmade lion that he loves, but isn’t overly attached to 😉 — most of the time it stays in bed. I remember a friend telling me she bought her kid’s tiger in triplicate, so she could have two at home and one at daycare if necessary. Then the kid discovered the secret, and wanted to have all three …. oops!
So glad to be participating in this series 🙂
Capturing Baby Milestones on Camera