The J-man never had a "lovey" or any specific toy or blanket or anything that he was totally attached to. We even tried to get him attached to different things to help him with transitions, but he would have nothing to do with it. So I've never directly experienced a child's attachment to a lovey before.
When the babies were born, one of Seth's coworkers gave us the cutest little baby blankies with these little stuffed animals on them. A blue elephant for Sam, and pink bunnies for the girls. They were an Avon product, which Seth knew because his coworker is an Avon Rep, and has been for years. They were adorable, but I didn't think much of them other than the fact that they were cute. After all, we received a lot of cute little things like that when the babies were born, and you never know which things your kids will become attached to later, do you? There's this adorable little dog that Sam was given that I've been trying to get him attached to, because it's so cute, but no dice.
As it happens, now, a year later, Sam will not put that elephant down. He carries it everywhere. He will not let go of it for anything. I loves that blankie. The girls like their bunnies just fine, but they aren't attached to them in nearly the same way, they just like them the same way they like any of the other lovey-type toys they have. But Sam – he loves that blankie. He won't go to sleep without it. He wakes up looking for it. He walks around with it. He holds it close. He wants it whereever he is.
Well, you know this has left me petrified that he will lose it. Or wear it out (it's rather disgusting right now and I can't wrestle it away from him to wash it). And I just am so worried that he will accept no substitute! (Truthfully, he'll take the bunnies as substitutes perfectly fine, but he DOES prefer the elephant)
So I started searching Avon's website, and while I do like Avon a lot, I have to say, their search engine on their site sucks and their categories of products aren't so helpful. But! Miraculously! I found the blankies! They are called Rock-A-Bye Baby Blankies:
You can not imagine my glee upon finally finding these blankies! Because, boy are we going to need a couple extra elephants! (We're good on bunnies, but elephants? I don't know, would it be overreacting to buy a dozen?)
I've already sent off an email to Seth's coworker asking if we can order a couple extra elephants from her, and letting her know exactly how in love with it Sam is. Otherwise, I'll happily order them directly from Avon's website. Because although a parent can never predict which of the myriad of gifts we receive will become THE toy that our children get so attached to, we certainly can stock up once the attachment happens!
And now for your Lovey 101:
Don't make the same mistake that many parents make and just keep a brand new back-up lovey in the closet for when the inevitable happens. As soon as I receive my back up loveys, I'm going to give one to Sam and wash the old one. Then when it comes time to wash the one he's got, I'll give him the other new one, and wash the one that he'd had. Then I'll start evenly rotating them in and out so that they are all equally good and worn – because otherwise, he will come to favor one over the others, and THAT completely defeats the purpose!
ChezPerky 
What do you think he would do if you gave him all of them at once? Think he would pass out of excitment? 🙂
First of all, Sam is such a gorgeous little boy… but you already know that! 😉
Had to laugh reading your entry as I just wrote one yesterday about Adam’s attachment to Doggy (see my blog if you’re interested). We have several back-up Doggies, and they are all loved, but, believe me, the original is always favored. Somehow Adam just KNOWS…
oh my, what a handsome boy!!
I love that picture. This cracks me up because one of my boys has an attachment to a lion that we bought at World Market a few months ago. Once we realized how much all three of them liked it at first, we tried to buy another one just to prevent fights – SOLD OUT. Now that William is attached to the thing, I’m terrified he is going to lose it since I can’t find a replacement anywhere. It is the craziest thing watching William with that lion!
Just thought I would share that my son has his “Lambie” that he has had since he was born (I slept with it before he got here so it would smell like Mommy) and he is still obsessed with it. He will be three in January. And, like you, I have a total of 10 Lambies. And each week they get rotated in and out of the drawer. Smart woman for thinking ahead of time and god bless the intenet for allowing us to find the mysterious lovies… 🙂
My oldest son had a lovey, but it certainly wasn’t anything soft and cuddly, and you definitely couldn’t toss it into the washer. He would not go to sleep without a….Hot Wheels baby blue Mercedes Benz! We had about 20 of them in strategic places all around the house and car.
First of all, Sam is gorgeous. Wow. And such a big boy!
Thanks for the smile you put on my face with this post. It’s so sweet to think about the things that babies become attached to.
I’ve got a blue bear lovey if you want an extra-extra back-up… I’ll be happy to send it along to you!
First of all, Sam is gorgeous. Wow. And such a big boy!
Thanks for the smile you put on my face with this post. It’s so sweet to think about the things that babies become attached to.
I’ve got a blue bear lovey if you want an extra-extra back-up… I’ll be happy to send it along to you!
I can relate. My son has a lovey that is a blue and white stuffed dog. We have had since before he was born but not until about 6 months ago has he become so attatched to it. I actually play a game with our son to just wash it. I tell him it needs a bath to become clean just like when he takes a bath. He listens for th washer and dryer to kick off and runs back there telling me to get dog. Good luck, our lovey has no kneck because it held by the neck and therfore all the stuffin is been diplaced.
Karen, I have those same blankets! They were gifts and I wondered where they got them. I have one of each (elephant, bunny, duckie). Although none of my babies are attached to any in particular, they happily each sleep with one. The only problem is that the music part stopped working a few monhts ago because I put them in too hot a setting in the dryer. But the babies don’t seem to care so I guess I’m over it!
Its great to know that I can buy replacements. 🙂
I am LOVING that picture of Sam!!! HANDSOME!
Oh my stars he is so stinkin’ cute!!!
We have that same issue with Gracie and I now have three of her lovies in rotation. Lizzy has the same one and cuddles with hers, but I can’t put hers in rotation because Gracie sucks on her lovies’ paws and they are SO gross. They aren’t sold anymore (made for Toys-r-us in Canada for crying-out-loud) and I live in fear that someday they’ll be too disgusting to use and we won’t have them anymore. Ugh.
You’ve been tagged on a meme at my blog
http://trilcat.blogspot.com/2008/11/7-things-about-me.html
We have the same issue…unfortunately its with a handmade taggie blankie that a girlfriend gave us. My mom made a substitute which is very similar, but not the same thing. He likes the substitute, but not as much. It will do in a pinch. Now he’s starting to want to carry BOTH of them at the same time! Agh!!!
My grandma is about to try and make a lovey for PB. I guess we’ll see what happens. If he likes it, at least she can easily whip up a few more.
Bea
sam is adorable.
and i love your forethought to stock up on the elephants while you still can. 🙂
oh yes, Danny has a similar type of dog that he is very attached to. Callie has a bunny, but she’s not as into it. She has a different little blankie that she likes a lot. A couple months ago I purchased backups of both the blankies and the dog and bunny and I rotate through them every time we wash their bedding, so that they are all getting equally worn. I’ve actually recently considered buying a third set.
and very cute pic of sam!