Understanding Comfort Objects

Comfort objects is a term development experts use to describe teddy bears, blankets and other "lovies" that, along with mom and dad, may serve as an anchor in a young child's world. Of course, not all experts use the exact same terminology here; others prefer the term "transitional object" or "security object." But whatever you call them, we're all talking about the same thing: inanimate objects to which a child forms an exceptionally strong attachment.

Although most parents recognize that bonding with a comfort object is a sign of healthy emotional development, they may worry that their child's dependence on a teddy bear or other object may discourage him from becoming more independent. Actually, quite the opposite is true. Allowing your child to turn to his comfort object for reassurance whenever he needs it actually encourages great independence. After all, it's a whole lot easier to go to sleep by yourself if you've got your best friend (a.k.a. "Bunny") tucked under your arm.

Just one quick word of warning with regard to comfort objects: If your child needs a special stuffed animal or blanket in order to get to sleep at night, you may want to confine that object to your home. After all, if your child becomes distraught waiting for his special blanket to make it through the washer and dryer every now and again, imagine how much worse it would be if that blanket were to be lost forever.

By the way, you needn't worry that your child will want to take his prized bunny off to university with him or insist that it accompany him down the aisle on his wedding day. The vast majority of children outgrow their dependence on comfort objects long before they start school. So don't feel a need to take matters into your own hands by following the advice of well-meaning but misguided relatives who recommend that you "accidentally" drop Bunny over Niagara Falls or otherwise lose your child's comfort objects. Not only will you be prolonging his dependence on his beloved Bunny, but you could end up ringing up some rather hefty child therapy bills to boot!