Published by Actually Sleeping · Reviewed by Dr. Samantha Abrahamson, PharmD · Review policy · Updated 2026-11-10

When can my baby sleep with a blanket, pillow or stuffed animal?

Not before 12 months. The AAP says to keep blankets, pillows, stuffed toys and bumpers out of your baby’s sleep space for the first year. Its parent site notes that research hasn’t shown exactly when these items become completely safe, but most experts agree they pose little risk to healthy babies after 12 months. After that, start small: one small lovey, then a light blanket.

The first year: nothing but a fitted sheet

For babies up to 1 year, the AAP’s parent site says there should be no blankets, pillows, stuffed toys or bumper pads in the bed. Soft objects and loose bedding can increase the risk of entrapment, suffocation or strangulation. The CPSC’s shorthand is “Bare is Best”: nothing but a fitted sheet.

A sleep sack keeps your baby warm in place of a blanket. Dressing your baby in layers is safer than using blankets.

After 12 months

The AAP’s parent site is honest about the evidence: research has not shown when it is 100% safe to have these objects in the crib. It adds that most experts agree they pose little risk to healthy babies after 12 months. If your child was born early or has a medical condition, ask your pediatrician what applies to them.

Choosing a lovey after 12 months

Small and simple. A small soft toy or a small cloth without long ribbons, strings, buttons or loose parts.
One, not a pile. A crib full of toys is something to climb on.

Many parents ask about a lovey or blanket hoping it will help their child sleep. The safety rules come first; the sleep problem behind the question is the part Actually Sleeping fixes.

Pacifier holders and plush pacifiers

The NIH Safe to Sleep campaign says not to attach a pacifier to clothing, stuffed toys, blankets or other items. That includes pacifiers sewn into plush animals, at least in the first year. After 12 months, if you use one, treat it like any other soft toy and keep it small.

Blankets for toddlers

Many toddlers kick blankets off, so a sleep sack often keeps working well into the second and third year. When you introduce a blanket, start with a thin, small one tucked no higher than the chest.

Pillows

The AAP’s safe-sleep guidance is written for the first year and doesn’t set an age for pillows. Toddlers don’t need one, and many families wait until the move to a bed. When you add one, choose a small, flat toddler pillow, not an adult pillow.

A quick guide

Age	Blanket	Stuffed animal or lovey	Pillow
0–12 months	No; use a sleep sack	No	No
12 months and up	A thin, small one if you like	One small one	Not needed; small and flat if used
In a toddler bed	Yes	Yes	Many families add one here

When a lovey is meant to fix sleep

Parents often ask about a lovey or blanket because their baby is not sleeping: waking at night, crying at bedtime, needing a parent to settle. The hope is that a comfort object will stand in for the parent. Before 12 months it cannot safely go in the crib at all. After 12 months it can comfort some toddlers, but it rarely changes a child who needs to be fed, rocked or held back to sleep several times a night.

That waking is the fixable part, and it is what Actually Sleeping does. Dr. Sam writes a plan for your child, whatever their age, inside the safe-sleep rules for their age, with bootcamp-style coaching before the first night and daily 1:1 check-ins. Parents of toddlers describe the change in reviews from families of children 12 months and older. Related: separation anxiety at bedtime and toddler bedtime stalling.

If you were hoping a lovey would finally fix bedtime, book a free consultation with Actually Sleeping.

Want this fixed for your baby?

Actually Sleeping is 1:1 coaching: a sleep plan written for your baby by Dr. Sam, bootcamp-style coaching before the first night, and daily check-ins until it is working. 700+ families coached, 129 video reviews, and a written guarantee: 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days, or a full refund.

Book your free consultation → See what families say

Frequently asked

Can my 10 month old sleep with a small lovey?

The AAP advises keeping stuffed toys and soft objects out of the sleep space for the first year. Wait until 12 months. Until then, the lovey can be part of awake cuddle time and stay out of the crib.

Is a muslin or breathable blanket okay before 12 months?

No. The AAP says no blankets in your baby’s sleep space for the first year. A sleep sack does the same job without loose fabric that can cover your baby’s face.

When can my toddler use a pillow?

There is no official age in the AAP’s safe-sleep guidance, which covers the first year. Toddlers don’t need a pillow. Many families add a small, flat one when moving to a bed.