Do “Lovies” Help Kids Stress or Anxiety?

My whole life I had a “lovie,” a security blanket I named Blankee.

Seriously. My. WHOLE. Life.

I had 2 of the original Blankee from birth (they were crib blankets) and then in later years when those literally disintegrated, I adopted a new blanket that I know is still hanging around the house somewhere. (I took it on my honeymoon, when I was 31).

Me (right) with Blankee around my neck circa 1990 or 1991 with my friends Wendy and Nicole

Blankee had this lovely fringe that I twirled…and twirled…and twirled…and twirled. Unconsciously.

I didn’t even realize I was doing it most of the time. Just ask my college roommate Nicole who witnessed this habit on many occasions as we hung out and chatted in our room.

I now believe (understanding more about mental health) that my Blankee and the act of twirling was a bit of an OCD habit and a giant comfort for my then undiagnosed anxiety. In later years I even took Blankee to therapy sessions that I knew would be particularly difficult.

My kids really don’t have set lovies (unless you count my husband and me.) My son has had a few things that he “needed” to sleep with for a few months here and there, like a stuffed monkey he named Budden and a stuffed Thomas the Train. But eventually they get forgotten, at least for a while unless he discovers them again. My daughter hasn’t really attached herself to anything for too long. Except maybe me and nursing.

And I really wish they would have lovies. I feel like its important and even helpful to comfort and calm during stressful times. That was my experience any way.

The other day I asked on Facebook if many of your kids have lovies. Here are some of the responses.

Jessica: I had a blanket as a child and I believe that it brought me tons of security in my life and comfort. For my daughter I ♥’d the idea of her having the same feeling so I actually gave her a blanket at a young age and now she loves her’s too. I think it’s a heathy habit.

Tiffany: I took (mine) on my honeymoon! It now resides under my bed in a bin. Both my kids naturally gravitated toward things. It wasn’t what I pushed on them but am glad they have it. (My daughter) finds great comfort in BooBoo and her lovie at school. She is having a tough time transitioning back to school from summer, they help.

Julie: I never did and the boys never did either

Robin: I had a blankie but (my son) never really took to anything. And we tried! Boy did we try.

Alyssa: Both my kids have them. They each just gravitated toward these particular lovies when they were about six months old. I think (my son’s) hats are a form of lovie/security blanket too…he wears them almost constantly, and I do think that during new experiences/transitions they have a comforting effect.

Sarah: My daughter sleeps with her bunny and blankie, both of which she chose. She doesn’t really take them everywhere she goes, but she needs them at night/naptime. Security objects are important for children.

Elizabeth: I never did and my son’s is either me or my husband.

Jennifer: Both my girls have loveys, but I was also their lovey while nursing.

Stephanie: I never encouraged (their lovie), they just gravitated to it.

Not all kids have lovies obviously, but I personally feel like having a lovie CAN be a wonderful thing, especially for the stressed or anxious child. As both Tiffany and Alyssa mentioned, during difficult transitions like going to school, lovies can have a comforting effect. Blankee certainly was for me.

What is your experience with lovies? Do your kids have them? Did you?