It’s 2am. Your baby has been sick, their favourite comforter needs to go straight into the wash, and suddenly you have a much bigger problem.
They want that bunny. Not another bunny. That bunny.
Anyone whose child has become attached to a particular comforter, blanket or soft toy will understand.
There is, however, a surprisingly simple trick experienced parents often discover too late:
Don't buy one favourite comforter. Buy two and rotate them from the beginning.
Why do babies become so attached to one particular thing?
There's actually a name for it: a transitional object.
The term was introduced by British paediatrician and psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott in the 1950s. As the Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute explains, a beloved blanket or teddy can help bridge the transition between dependence on a caregiver and growing independence.
And children can become wonderfully specific about their chosen object.
It's not simply “a bunny”. It's the particular softness of their bunny, the familiar smell, the floppy ear they've rubbed hundreds of times and the little corner they always hold.
The American Academy of Paediatrics notes that children often choose a special comfort object between around eight and twelve months, and that its familiarity and scent can become part of what makes it reassuring.
That's why replacing a beloved comforter isn't always as simple as buying another one.
The mistake many parents make
You buy a second identical comforter. Clever.
Then you put it safely in the cupboard.
A year later, Bunny No. 1 disappears somewhere between daycare and home. You triumphantly produce pristine Bunny No. 2...
…and your toddler looks at you as though you've handed them a complete stranger.
The problem isn't necessarily that the replacement looks different to us.
It feels different to them.
The original has been cuddled, washed, carried around, chewed and loved. The backup is still fluffy, firm and new.
This isn't just parent folklore. The American Academy of Paediatrics actually recommends finding a duplicate early and rotating the two, because a child may reject a replacement that feels too new and unfamiliar. Lovevery's guide to lost loveys also explains why even an apparently identical replacement doesn't always fool a devoted toddler.
Which brings us to the useful bit.
The two lovey trick
If your baby begins showing a preference for a particular comforter, buy an identical second one while you can still find it.
Then don't save it.
Rotate the two.
Use one for a few days, then swap. Wash them both regularly. Take one in the pram while the other stays home. Over time they'll soften, fade and age at roughly the same rate.
Your baby becomes familiar with both rather than forming an exclusive relationship with one.
And if one eventually disappears?
You haven't suddenly introduced a brand new replacement at the worst possible moment.
Even better: consider three
For children who become particularly attached to their comforter, three can be surprisingly practical:
One in use
One in the wash
One ready to go
It's particularly handy once daycare, grandparents' houses and family holidays enter the picture.
Another useful tip: if you've found the one, don't wait several years to buy the duplicate. Children's ranges change, colours are discontinued and even an updated version of the same toy may feel noticeably different to a child.
What about washing?
Don't be afraid to wash a beloved comforter regularly.
Milk, saliva, food and everything else a baby encounters during the day eventually ends up on it.
Follow the manufacturer's care instructions and use a gentle, fragrance free detergent if your baby has sensitive skin. For example, our Maud N Lil washing and care instructions recommend machine washing our organic cotton toys and comforters at 30°C to 40°C and allowing them to dry naturally away from direct hot sun.
Having two in rotation also means you can wash one without suddenly removing your child's favourite comfort object for the day.
And don't worry about keeping them looking pristine.
A slightly faded, beautifully soft comforter is often exactly what makes it so loved.
An important note about safe sleep
A comforter can be introduced for supervised cuddles and play before it belongs in a child's sleep space.
Current safe sleep recommendations advise keeping soft toys, loose blankets, pillows and other soft objects out of an infant's sleep space. Always follow the safe sleep advice appropriate to your baby's age.
Interestingly, you can still allow your baby to become familiar with a comforter during cuddles and supervised awake time. The American Academy of Paediatrics' guide to transitional objects is a useful starting point for understanding when and why children begin forming these attachments.
Does the material matter?
It's worth thinking about, particularly because comforters aren't treated like ordinary toys.
They get held against cheeks, sucked, chewed, dragged around and washed repeatedly.
Rather than assuming something labelled “natural” or “eco” is automatically better, look at what the product is actually made from and whether its textiles have recognised independent certification.
Standards such as GOTS for organic textiles and OEKO TEX® STANDARD 100 can give parents useful information beyond what's written in the marketing copy.
If you're interested in the difference between materials, we've explained this in more detail in our guide to why we use organic cotton for baby comforters.
At Maud N Lil, our comforters are made using certified organic cotton materials and are designed to be washable and used, not kept looking perfect on a nursery shelf.
And yes, our organic cotton baby comforter range includes matching styles, because the spare comforter lesson is one we'd rather parents discover before 2am.
The takeaway
If your baby starts falling in love with one particular bunny, bear, blanket or comforter, there's no need to discourage it.
In fact, organisations such as the American Academy of Paediatrics recognise that these transitional objects can be a normal and helpful part of early childhood.
Just quietly buy its twin.
Rotate them, wash them and let them grow old together.
Your future 2am self may be extremely grateful.