How to Get Rid of a Blankie 
To help your baby sleep snugly, you gave him a comfortable blankie. It works fine, and your darling adores it. He brings it around wherever he goes, when he's napping, playing outside or when he's cuddling up next to you in the sofa. It's like the blanket has become a part of him, and they're inseparable.A few years had passed, the blanket has become worn, but your darling still carries it with him. It still looks cute, but you're starting to worry. When he goes to kindergarten, will he still have it with him? What about high school? Maybe he'll still sleep with it when he goes off to college! That's embarrassing.Having a blankie habit during the first few years of your child's life is adorable and common, but when you notice it's starting to become a dependency rather than a source of comfort, it's time you for you to take some action and ease it out of his grip. This might not be as easy as it sounds but there are some tactics that might be helpful for you.Here are some effective ways to get your baby to let go of his precious blankie.Be Harsh And FirmThis is the most common method parents use when trying to get rid of their baby's blanket dilemma. As soon as you notice the habit's gotten out of control, you must forcefully take the blanket. You can do it when he's distracted or not looking. Once you get it, hide or dispose of it. Take it away where you're sure your kid won't find.Sooner or later, your child will notice. Be prepared for squealing, whining and many objections. He'll throw tantrums and start whining. It's heartbreaking, but you must stay firm. When he asks where his blankie is, don't say anything. You might need to endure this for a few days or so, but when he gets tired of screaming and crying, your child will learn to make do without the blanket.Even if it's easy and effective, it's not always advisable. Kids who go through this experience sometimes end up with deep traumas. They become afraid to get attached to anything, because they'll think their parents will just take it away from them. Unless you're not afraid for your child to experience this kind of dilemma, don't opt for this tactic. There are other methods you can try.Make A Bedtime CompromiseSome children just use their blankie when they go to sleep, but there are some who bring it everywhere they go, literally-speaking. At first, this will be adorable, but many parents will find this frustrating, especially if they have to keep washing and cleaning the blanket every now and then.It won't be easy to convince your kid to let go of his blankie immediately, especially if he's gotten so attached to it, so here's one way to get rid of this habit: don't let him spend the whole day with it. Talk to him and tell him that you're only giving him his precious blanket during nap time or when he's ready to go to bed. He'll argue, but be very firm.When he's already asleep, try and slide the blanket from him. Pry it from his fingers very carefully, so he won't wake up. When you successfully get it, replace it with another blanket. Keep repeating this until your child finally gets used to the other blanket. Eventually, he'll learn not to rely on his old blankie and use that instead.Offer A RewardNo kid can resist a treat, so this is a wonderful and effective tactic any parent can try. This works extremely well if you know that your kid is longing for something, like a toy, a book, a game or a fun trip (like going to the zoo or the amusement park). Talk to him coaxingly, and tell him that if he gives up his dear blankie, you'll give him a wonderful surprise. He'll know you're going to get the item he wants, and chances are he'll give you the blankie without any hesitation.As soon as he gives you the blanket, though, make sure you give him what he wants. This will help avoid tantrums and crying spells. After all, it's a fair bargain, right? Remember, saying goodbye to his darling bedtime blankie takes a lot of courage and sacrifice on his part.There are kids who don't give in to bribes easily, so they become hesitant to give up their dear blankie. In this case, try to make an easier bargain for him. For example, ask him to let go of the blanket just for a whole afternoon, and in exchange, you'll bake him his favorite cookies or rent out any cartoon he likes. Repeat this several times, until he becomes more and more easier to convince to let go of the blanket.Spend Time With Other KidsIf your child is already in his toddler years, chances are he will be looking for a lot of interaction with other kids and playmates. He'll want to get along with them and make friends.Make it a point to take him out to the park or the playground as much as you can, where kids his age or those slightly older than him hang out. Pull him aside and point out to him in a cheerful way how the other kids don't have any blankets with them while they play. Tell him that if he wants to be a “big boy” like those children, he'll have to let his blankie go too. If he's a little hesitant, assure him that you'll be keeping it safe for him. Repeat this a few times, until he overcomes his blanket dependency. Soon he'll have so much fun, he'll forget all about it.The Blankie “Transformation”When you try to get rid of your kid's blanket, their first reaction is to ask you what you're going to do with it. The thought of their precious sleeping companion going to the trash or to the back of any closet is unbearable, and they'll surely put up a fight.To avoid this dilemma, here's an idea: tell your child you're going to transform his blankie into something that's more useful. Coax him gently, and convince him that his favorite comforter isn't going to waste, but is turning into something more wonderful and more useful. Tell him what you're going to do to it, so he'll realize his “sacrifice” is worth it.Example of things you can do with his blankie include:
How to Get Rid of a Blankie
To help your baby sleep snugly, you gave him a comfortable blankie. It works fine, and your darling adores it. He brings it around wherever he goes, when he's napping, playing outside or when he's cuddling up next to you in the sofa. It's like the blanket has become a part of him, and they're inseparable.A few years had passed, the blanket has become worn, but your darling still carries it with him. It still looks cute, but you're starting to worry. When he goes to kindergarten, will he still have it with him? What about high school? Maybe he'll still sleep with it when he goes off to college! That's embarrassing.Having a blankie habit during the first few years of your child's life is adorable and common, but when you notice it's starting to become a dependency rather than a source of comfort, it's time you for you to take some action and ease it out of his grip. This might not be as easy as it sounds but there are some tactics that might be helpful for you.Here are some effective ways to get your baby to let go of his precious blankie.Be Harsh And FirmThis is the most common method parents use when trying to get rid of their baby's blanket dilemma. As soon as you notice the habit's gotten out of control, you must forcefully take the blanket. You can do it when he's distracted or not looking. Once you get it, hide or dispose of it. Take it away where you're sure your kid won't find.Sooner or later, your child will notice. Be prepared for squealing, whining and many objections. He'll throw tantrums and start whining. It's heartbreaking, but you must stay firm. When he asks where his blankie is, don't say anything. You might need to endure this for a few days or so, but when he gets tired of screaming and crying, your child will learn to make do without the blanket.Even if it's easy and effective, it's not always advisable. Kids who go through this experience sometimes end up with deep traumas. They become afraid to get attached to anything, because they'll think their parents will just take it away from them. Unless you're not afraid for your child to experience this kind of dilemma, don't opt for this tactic. There are other methods you can try.Make A Bedtime CompromiseSome children just use their blankie when they go to sleep, but there are some who bring it everywhere they go, literally-speaking. At first, this will be adorable, but many parents will find this frustrating, especially if they have to keep washing and cleaning the blanket every now and then.It won't be easy to convince your kid to let go of his blankie immediately, especially if he's gotten so attached to it, so here's one way to get rid of this habit: don't let him spend the whole day with it. Talk to him and tell him that you're only giving him his precious blanket during nap time or when he's ready to go to bed. He'll argue, but be very firm.When he's already asleep, try and slide the blanket from him. Pry it from his fingers very carefully, so he won't wake up. When you successfully get it, replace it with another blanket. Keep repeating this until your child finally gets used to the other blanket. Eventually, he'll learn not to rely on his old blankie and use that instead.Offer A RewardNo kid can resist a treat, so this is a wonderful and effective tactic any parent can try. This works extremely well if you know that your kid is longing for something, like a toy, a book, a game or a fun trip (like going to the zoo or the amusement park). Talk to him coaxingly, and tell him that if he gives up his dear blankie, you'll give him a wonderful surprise. He'll know you're going to get the item he wants, and chances are he'll give you the blankie without any hesitation.As soon as he gives you the blanket, though, make sure you give him what he wants. This will help avoid tantrums and crying spells. After all, it's a fair bargain, right? Remember, saying goodbye to his darling bedtime blankie takes a lot of courage and sacrifice on his part.There are kids who don't give in to bribes easily, so they become hesitant to give up their dear blankie. In this case, try to make an easier bargain for him. For example, ask him to let go of the blanket just for a whole afternoon, and in exchange, you'll bake him his favorite cookies or rent out any cartoon he likes. Repeat this several times, until he becomes more and more easier to convince to let go of the blanket.Spend Time With Other KidsIf your child is already in his toddler years, chances are he will be looking for a lot of interaction with other kids and playmates. He'll want to get along with them and make friends.Make it a point to take him out to the park or the playground as much as you can, where kids his age or those slightly older than him hang out. Pull him aside and point out to him in a cheerful way how the other kids don't have any blankets with them while they play. Tell him that if he wants to be a “big boy” like those children, he'll have to let his blankie go too. If he's a little hesitant, assure him that you'll be keeping it safe for him. Repeat this a few times, until he overcomes his blanket dependency. Soon he'll have so much fun, he'll forget all about it.The Blankie “Transformation”When you try to get rid of your kid's blanket, their first reaction is to ask you what you're going to do with it. The thought of their precious sleeping companion going to the trash or to the back of any closet is unbearable, and they'll surely put up a fight.To avoid this dilemma, here's an idea: tell your child you're going to transform his blankie into something that's more useful. Coax him gently, and convince him that his favorite comforter isn't going to waste, but is turning into something more wonderful and more useful. Tell him what you're going to do to it, so he'll realize his “sacrifice” is worth it.Example of things you can do with his blankie include:
- Bed for your pet – If you've recently adopted a new dog or cat, then making this is a good idea. Cut the blanket according to the size of the dog, then stitch the three sides shut. The remaining flap should be resealable. Stuff a pillow inside, then place it inside a basket where the pet will sleep on.
- Stuffed toy – Make a cute, washable stuffed toy for your kid. He might not have his old comfy blankie, but at least he'll get his a new companion to stay by his side. You can make a gingerbread doll, a rag doll, a teddy bear, a pony, or whatever captivates your child. Use other scrap materials, like buttons, sequins or beads to decorate the toy, to make it look more adorable.
- Treasure bag – Create small bags with drawstring closures for your angel. Whether it's for his small action figures, marble or crayons, your child will find these safe-keeping containers pleasing. If you want, you can also make a slightly bigger bag, to hold his books or large toys. If you're creative and resourceful enough, you can even make a knapsack for him.
- Christmas stocking – Is Christmas just around the corner? If your kid's blankie is green, white or red, make Christmas stockings for the whole family to hang by your chimney. Santa Claus is sure to give everyone lots of yummy and fun treats.
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