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When can babies sleep with a blanket?

When can a toddler ditch the sleep sacks and safely start using blankets?

When can babies sleep with a blanket?

PHOTO VIA @MAKELMG ON INSTAGRAM

Like many new parents, my husband and I worried about sudden infant death syndrome when our daughter, Milli,  was a newborn. We followed what the AAP recommends about not using blankets for babies or keeping stuffies in the crib—they can become suffocation and entanglement hazards—and swaddled instead. 

We never used pillows, crib bumpers or other soft objects either. But as soon as she could Houdini her arms out of the swaddle (I think this was around the two-month mark, though exact dates are fuzzy given the sleep deprivation), we moved on to a baby sleep sack—an increasingly popular option when traditional blankets are considered no-nos.

The recommendation not to use loose blankets or any soft items in the crib is really only for the first 12 months of life, says sleep medicine physician Joanna MacLean, who is also a pediatric respirologist and the medical director of the Stollery Children’s Hospital sleep lab in Edmonton.

When can babies sleep with a blanket?

After the first year, blankets, when used in a safe way, pose less risk than when your baby is younger. This means one of the many adorable baby blankets we received as shower gifts would now be a good choice for our toddler daughter, while a queen-sized down duvet would not.

“Make sure it’s a small blanket, and not something that can get wrapped around the baby’s neck,” recommends MacLean, who gets asked the when are blankets for babies safe? question all the time.

As babies grow into toddlers, they may also get more attached to comfort objects or stuffed animals. After the age of 12 months, having a favorite stuffie in the crib is also less risky, says MacLean.

“Choose an appropriate size, like a small stuffie that doesn’t have little parts that can come off.” Don’t overload the crib—you’ll end up having to pack an entire zoo of beloved stuffies whenever your child is sleeping away from home. Plus, too many things increases the risk of SIDS as well as the risk of suffocation.

Can toddlers sleep with blankets?

While it’s safe to use a blanket to tuck in a toddler, it can be tricky to get a one- or two-year-old to actually stay under that blanket. “Little people roll around a lot in their cribs,” says MacLean. “Most won’t actually keep a blanket on.”

Emma Climie, mom to 22-month-old Zachary, says sleep sacks remain the best option to keep her squirmy boy warm at night.

“He rolls around his entire crib, almost doing laps. We need something that stays on.” Climie and her husband hope to transition Zachary to a toddler bed, with blankets, before baby number arrives. They have started using a light blanket over him, in addition to the sleep sack. “Now he doesn’t seem to move as much, because he likes having the blanket on him,” Climie says.

Pam Edwards, a sleep consultant in Grande Prairie, who has two kids of her own, is a big proponent of using sleep sacks beyond 12 months. Her three-year-old son, Arlo, still wears one.

“Most kids don’t learn how to pull the blankets onto themselves until they’re three or four,” Edwards says. “A sleep sack prevents you from having to go back in multiple times each night to tuck them back in.” As a bonus, sleep sacks can also restrict mobility just enough to discourage toddlers from climbing out of their cribs, she says.

Now that I know using blankets in our toddler’s crib is expert-approved, I’m tempted to make the switch—my daughter’s toes are nearing the end of her newest sleep sack, and I shudder at shelling out $50 for a new one. Actually, let’s make that $100: We always need an extra one for the inevitable late-night diaper explosion. (There are cheaper versions, but after two broken zippers—one while my daughter was trapped inside the sack—I’ll pay a bit more for better quality.)

However, the old “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” adage is important to consider, too. These pricey sleep sacks are working well for us, and no parent wants to mess with a successful bedtime routine. Whatever helps Rosalind sleep soundly results in more shut-eye for my husband and me, so perhaps it’s money well spent.

Label decoding

Most sleep sacks—also sold as bunting bags or wearable blankets—come in zero- to six- or six- to 18-month sizes. Look for a seasonally appropriate fabric: Some have a “tog” number on the tag, which indicates the warmth. A 1.0 tog is a spring and fall weight (for room temperatures of 20 to 23C), and a 2.5 tog is for winter (or room temperatures of 16 to 20C).

These are generally considered to be safe for baby's crib.

The best blankets for toddlers

If your little one is at least a year old and you feel like adding a blanket to your toddler mattress, it should be fine. Just talk to your doctor first to double-check that your little one is ready. Here are some of our favorites.

Best overall

Comfy Cubs Cotton Muslin Blanket

comfy cubs toddler blanket, when can babies sleep with a blanket Merchant

Soft, lightweight cotton muslin material makes this blanket a winning choice for toddlers. It's affordable, machine washable and promises a safer sleep environment because it's neither bulky nor heavy. Plus, it's soft to the touch and makes a great winter piece to drape over your rotating car seats and strollers.

Best budget

Fuzzy Velour Toddler Blanket

best toddler blankets, when can babies sleep with a blanket Merchant

Soft, velvety material and an affordable price point (under $20) secured our best budget-friendly toddler blanket pick. We love that it comes in a variety of fun colors and classic neutrals. It's so cozy and snuggly that they'll want to drag this one to the sofa, bring it on vacations and snuggle it like a toy.

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Best weighted

3-Pound Printed Toddler Blanket

dinosaur toddler blanket, when can babies sleep with a blanket? Merchant

Finding the best weighted blankets for kids can be tough, which is why this dinosaur-printed dream is such an excellent choice. It weighs just three pounds—ideal for toddlers ready for weighted sleep options—and machine washes with ease.

Best organic

Burt's Bees Organic Toddler and Baby Blanket

burts bees toddler blanket, when can babies sleep with a blanket? Merchant

If you prefer organic materials, this 100% cotton outer baby blanket from Burt's Bees is just the ticket. It's available in a variety of soft neutrals and trendy pastels to suit every little kid and nursery room decor. Double-layered fabric promises to keep the baby warm while a thinner profile ensures safe sleep.

Best minky

Boritar Minky Baby and Toddler Blanket

boritar minky blanket, when can babies sleep with a blanket? Merchant

Soft, minky materials make some of the best toddler blankets. This one comes in a range of fun colors and prints, costs less than $20 and can be thrown in your best washer and dryer without worry.

This article contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

This article was originally published on Aug 29, 2019

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