Some of the cutest baby shower gifts are crib-related, including sheet sets, comforters, hand-stitched quilts and knitted afghans. And since you have these blankets and other sleep accessories waiting in the wings, you may be itching to finally put them to use in your Baby sleep.
But adding a blanket or other soft bedding too soon, whether at night or naptime, can be a danger, so the safest move is to wait until your little one is old enough to handle the blanket transition. Here's more about blanket risks as well as when you can try one and how to keep your baby warm until you do.
Is it safe for babies to sleep with blankets?
When can I introduce a blanket?
There is no official age that's been deemed 100 percent safe to use a blanket, quilt or comforter, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), but most medical experts feel that soft bedding poses little danger in the crib to healthy babies after 12 months of age and ideally when they're 18 months or older.
So it's better to hold off on covering your baby with a blanket at night or during her naps until she’s at least 18 months old since she could still become tangled in it when she's younger. After 18 months, a thin blanket and a small,
Keep in mind that soft bedding is still a no-go even if you plan to place your baby on top of the blanket, rather than under it, since it could still become wrapped around her as she moves in her sleep or gets stuck in the crib corners at night.
How do I keep my baby warm without a blanket?
It’s perfectly okay for a baby to sleep without a blanket, so if yours is under 12 to 18 months, you can keep your sweetie cozy by dressing her in a sleep sack or a wearable blanket sleeper. These one-piece outfits come with snaps, a zipper or an elasticized gather at the bottom and are made to cover your little one’s body, but not her head.
Keep in mind, however, that if your house or your baby’s room runs very warm, she may not need this extra layer.