Every parent knows what it’s like to lose the lovey. Your child is upset for some reason and the only thing that will help them is the stinky, tattered, faded cuddle you can’t find.
In the medical field we call them security objects. Your child probably has a different name for his or her special cuddle or lovey. In the below video, Cincinnati Children’s patient Emma calls hers Norman.
Whatever its name is, the attachment and bond a child feels with the item is real and can even have health benefits. These benefits are especially apparent when a child is forced to deal with a traumatic situation, like the loss of a loved one, or a major medical procedure.
Why kids Have a Lovey:
We don’t know why kids gravitate to the particular special objects that they do, but we typically see these strong attachments start to form as children approach one year of age.
This is likely because it’s also the time in a child’s development when they begin to realize they are separate from their primary caregiver. Holding on to the objects are a way for children to feel comforted even when they’re separated from mom or dad.
Help for Separation Anxiety:
It can be frustrating when it seems like your child’s happiness is determined by whether or not they have their special item. But these soft objects are something we encourage when they need help self-soothing, when they feel alone, or their loved one can’t be present.
For older kids the object might not be a typical item like a soft blanket or stuffed animal, but rather a small rock they can keep in their pocket or a picture. Really the item can be whatever they feel comfortable with, as long as it helps to remind them of the loved one they’re missing.
Used During Medical Procedures:
The lack of control that comes with a medical procedure is what causes much of the anxiety kids feel when they come to a hospital. In most cases, they’re having something done that they really have no say in, which can be scary.
Having a comfort object during a medical procedure can be very valuable for children whose parents are usually not allowed to be with them in the operating room. In fact, having that special item with them can give a child as much comfort as if their mom or dad were in the room with them.
Part of the coping strategy in a high stress situation, like a hospital stay, is to find ways to give kids back some of the control they feel like they’ve lost. By holding on to their security item, the child feels like they have some control over the situation because they’re bringing something familiar in a situation of unknowns.
When They Should Go:
Interest in a special cuddle item for most kids will naturally fade out as they approach 5 or 6 years old. This typically happens because your child will see other kids at school without a security object and realize they don’t need to have one all the time.
Even after your child decides to let go of his or her lovey in public, you can still expect them to have a favorite stuffed animal or security object at home. Having that item is common for kids, even at older ages, who still feel comfort with them in private. There is no problem with this as long as the attachment isn’t impacting their functioning.
I find that it works best if parents let the process of getting rid of the cuddle play out naturally. Your child will decide when he or she is ready to let go completely or limit when they have it.
You don’t want to make your child feel bad about themselves by telling them they’ll be made fun of if they keep the item as they get older. They will learn from social cues when it is time to give up the item that meant so much to them early in life.
