The 3 musketeers ! Aaaah....the comfort of familiarity :o)

JJ and his Buddy Blankeys ! What are Buddy Blankeys? They are a wonderful part of any child's life, from baby to toddler. Most children find comfort in a baby blanket or security blanket. JJ has 2 : One Baby Gap Blankie, with the Teddy Rattle in the middle, and another Mamas and Papas Bunny Rabbit with a tail and ears ! Actually it's quite useful as it gives babies a sense of sucurity when being away from parents or at night. It is a baby's most beloved possession. It is a substitute ME & DADDY—faithful, loving and accepting. Linus from the "Peanuts" comic strip is infamous for carrying around his security blanket while sucking his thumb. They can become tattered and dingy, but if washed, the children will get them dirty again. It is the texture and smell of the object, not the appearance that’s important.

Blankeys are not a sign of weakness. Instead, they help your baby learn about being apart from you. With a lovey, your baby can control her own comfort. It can help her find comfort anywhere, even if you aren't there. It will help her go to sleep when she's tired. It will reassure her when she's away from you. It will comfort her when she's scared or upset. It will help her remember the security of home when she's in a strange place. Think of a blankey as a symbol for you. It allows your baby to think, "I can't have my mommy or daddy right now. I have this instead. It reminds me of my mommy and daddy. It helps me remember that they love and care for me."

Comfort Habits: Security Blankets
Penelope Leach, Ph.D.
A security blanket, or "cuddly" can be any soft piece of material or toy which a baby, usually six to nine months old, adopts as his very own. Psychologists dignify these bits of blanket or worn, smelly teddy bears with the name, "transitional comfort object." They deserve the dignified name because cuddlies take on very real emotional importance for babies. They are their familiars -- the things that spell safety and security when you are not there. Babies use cuddlies in lots of different ways. If it's a toy, your baby may always lie on it in his crib, placing it so that his face against it. If it's a piece of material, he may tangle it between his hands and drop off to sleep, kneading it as he sucks his thumb. Whatever your baby does with his cuddly, once he's chosen it, it will be his most important possession. Try to insure against complete disaster by saving a duplicate. A newly adopted scarf could be cut in half. A soft toy could have another bought. If your baby's security blanket ever does get lost, producing the new one won't entirely prevent grief, because it won't look, feel or smell like the one that shared his crib for months, but it will be very much better than nothing.