The Blanket Dilemma

So my question is...at what age is it OK for Eliza to sleep with a blanket?

I am one of those mom's who took the no loose blankets thing very seriously. I am very afraid of SIDS. Attending the funeral of a baby who died of SIDS was one of the worst experiences in my life. You can really never be too safe. However, Eliza does sleep in our bed with blankets but we keep them away from her. Although some believe co-sleeping is dangerous I do believe it is safe if done correctly- but that is a whole different blog post. Now I am wondering when it is OK for Eliza to sleep in her crib with a blanket. She does sometimes nap in her crib and I am thinking if she had a lovey or a blanket it might make her enjoy her crib a little more. Just like if I could have a mid afternoon lovey glass of wine- I might feel better.

I did a little digging and pretty much came up with the same answer-NO blankets in the crib until 12 months of age.

According to Parenting.com

Transitional objects like a teddy bear or blankie help make bedtime less lonely for babies. The AAP doesn't recommend that babies sleep with loveys in the crib until they're 1, so remove them after she's asleep. But if your baby rolls over regularly (usually at around 5 months old), she's capable of moving away from a suffocation hazard, so there's less risk of SIDS. A small, crib-size blanket is also fine for a baby 6 months and older, who can push it off or crawl from under it.

So for two more months no blankets for Eliza at night. During the day I watch her on the video monitor so I am guessing it is OK. I would love for her to have a lovey that didn't involve pulling my hair. When Pete brings her in the bed at night she immediately comforts herself by yanking my hair out of my head. It does wonders for her -but for me- not so much. I try giving her all different types of blankets hoping she will fall madly in love and become sleepy and relaxed at the site of her new found lovey. It hasn't happened yet but I will sure let you all know if it does.

Now where did I put that darn wine opener?

Hope you all have a fab weekend!

Getting Cozy with the CozyWedge

Everyone knows I am a lot little neurotic. So, the Classic Pooh bumpers I bought for Eliza's crib have been laying on the floor of her closet since the day I brought them home. I might have put them on to take a picture at some point-but she was never in the crib with those bumpers. Having bumpers in a crib increases chances of suffocation and rebreathing. The following health organizations advise against having bumpers in the crib: American Academy of Pediatrics, Health Canada, National Center for Health and Safety in Child Care, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the First Candle/National SIDS Alliance. I just felt I did not want to do anything that could increase her risk of SIDS. So the crib has looked very drab and empty for the past 8 months. Then I discovered the CozyWedge- a safer alternative to traditional bumpers. Now that Eliza is more mobile and can move if her airway is blocked, I feel more comfortable adding a bumper to the crib. When I stumbled upon the CozyWedge I knew it was the right choice for me.

What makes this bumper so unique?
CozyWedge is a wedge shaped bumper made with baby-safe foam- think pool noodle meets crib bumper. This baby safe foam does not create a pocket around your baby's mouth and nose like a traditional bumper might. As a result the CozyWedge is a safer, very chic, alternative. The shock-absorbing foam is totally nonabsorbent, CFC-free and odorless. The slipcovers are completely washable and are made from 100% cotton. The solid colors, like my pink, are made of 100% organic cotton. WOO HOO!

I was very excited when my wedge arrived in the mail. I set to put it together straight away. Although it was very easy to put together, my husband ended up finishing the job because I put some of the foam pieces in upside down. Watching Eliza and putting the bumper together proved to be more than my mommy brain could handle. ;) But I promise you that it really is very simple to put together.

How has it been working?

I decided I wanted a crib bumper for several reasons: E is always getting her arms and legs caught in between the bars , she repeatedly smacks her head on the rails, and her Binky flies out during the night leaving her binkyless. I have been using the bumper for a little over a week and here are my findings. The bumper has definitely helped keep her limbs inside of the crib. I am very grateful for this because it is no fun going in there to unwedge my daughter. However, she is still bumping her head because she usually falls to the side from a kneeling position and hits higher than the bumper reaches. However, her binky now stay in the crib! This results in mommy not having to strain herself by reaching her arm under the crib in the morning to retrieve said binky. So even though she is still cracking herself in the noggin now and again, the bumper is working out really well. In the words of Meatloaf- 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

Here are some pics of the Cozy Wedge in action!

Isn't it cute?

Checking out her Cozy Wedge!

One satisfied customer!

I would absolutely recommend this bumper to expecting moms or new moms or any mom for that matter. It would also make a great shower gift. I truly feel much safer using this bumper. I know many moms want to be safe but also like the aesthetic of a bumper. Especially those first time mommies who spend the entire second half of their pregnancy designing and decorating the perfect room. I believe this product provides a nice middle ground. While perusing their FAQ's I found this nifty nugget of information. CozyWedge will send you any two swatches for free to see if the wedge will match your nursery. How cool is that?The bumpers come in 13 different styles so you have a lot to choose from. Check out their website to learn more about this great new product!