Given that I was attached to my own lovey when I was a baby, it seemed completely natural and logical for me to provide them for my own children. I intuitively knew it was the right thing to do; I just didn’t know why.
Once I got pregnant, I fell into the typical obsessive frenzy over what would be best for my unborn child. (I like to believe this is typical of most first-time mothers, but I can’t be sure. Considering the possibility that I may have been more obsessive than other first-time moms might force me to come to terms with my compulsions, and who wants to do that?) During said obsessive frenzy, I read a slew of parenting books. Possibly all of them. That’s normal, right? What I found was that the experts tend to disagree about most things: attachment parenting vs. the Ferber method, co-sleeping vs. putting them in their own crib, adhering to a rigid feeding schedule vs. feeding on demand, pacifier or no pacifier; the list is endless! And it’s enough for any hormonal woman to go crazy, or at least it was for me.
What I’ve found, however, is that most of the experts agree when it comes to loveys. On the topic of transitional objects, which is what a lovey is, I have found that over and over again, experts see the value of a lovey. So from time to time, I’ll share for you here what I’ve found in my readings.
Here’s an excerpt from “Your Baby’s First Year,” by Steven P. Shelov, M.D., M.S., F.A.A.P. (Copyright 1998 by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Bantam Books, Bantam Edition June 1998).

“Security Objects such as blankets are part of the emotional support system every child needs in his early years…When he’s tired, it will help him get to sleep. When he’s separated from you, it will reassure him. When he’s frightened or upset, it will comfort him. When he’s in a strange place, it will help him feel at home. These special comforts are called “transitional objects,” because they help children make the emotional transition from dependence to independence… a transitional object can be so helpful that you may want to help him choose one and build it in to his nighttime ritual.”