How To Stop A Toddler From Kicking Off Blankets
Each night is a battle of attrition between my 5-year-old daughter Mackenzie and me. I tuck her in. I lay next to her until she falls asleep. Then, I cover her with a blanket. She proceeds to kick the blanket off almost immediately. She does it so fast that I swear she’s awake and playing a joke on me. But, she’s sound asleep. So, I put the blanket back on top of her. Again, she kicks it off 10 seconds later. It’s almost like she is allergic to blankets. And, she has been this way ever since she was a newborn. So, trust me when I tell you that I have a lot of experience with how to stop a toddler from kicking off blankets.
You can stop a toddler from kicking off blankets using a few different tactics. First, consider not using a blanket at all. Just dress your toddler accordingly. Second, try a thinner and more lightweight blanket. Third, keep the blanket off their feet. Finally, you can try a wearable blanket or sleep sack.
“Sacked Out” by Quinn Dombrowski is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Don’t Force Your Toddler To Use Blankets
The first advice that I give parents struggling with this issue is to not force your toddler to use blankets if they don’t want to. I realize that this is a somewhat unusual option for most parents. You might be wondering… “don’t they need a blanket?” Trust me, I have a method to my madness.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that your baby shouldn’t use a blanket while sleeping at night until the age of at least 12 months.1 Doing so increases the risk of SIDS and suffocation. And, while the AAP’s recommendation says at least 12 months, I didn’t allow my children to use a blanket until they were closer to 18 months. I just felt it was better to be safe than sorry.
It’s not hard to follow their advice. All you have to do is dress your baby accordingly. If it’s cold, use a few more layers of clothing. If it’s hot, take a few layers of clothing off. And make sure that the room you sleep in is neither hot nor cold. Well, these concepts don’t change just because your baby grows older.
If your toddler is like my Mackenzie and is constantly kicking off their blanket, why not just get rid of their blanket and dress them accordingly. Doing this ensures that they stay comfortable and you are sure that they are warm enough but not too hot. It could be argued that they are safer as well.
Opt For Thinner / Lightweight Blankets
There is a reason why your toddler is kicking their blankets off. They do this because the blankets make them feel uncomfortable. The blanket you are using is probably making them too hot. So, they kick it off. The problem with this is that not having a blanket on for an extended period of time might make them too cold as well. So, if not using blankets at all is out of the question, try opting for thinner and more lightweight blankets.
I found out that my daughter hates thick blankets. She will kick them off really fast. I’m not exaggerating when I say that it’s almost an immediate reaction. But, she will tolerate thinner lightweight blankets. The thinner the blanket is, the longer she will allow it to stay on her. Eventually, she will kick it off at some point during the night. But, she can stay under a blanket for a few hours if it’s thin enough.
You still have to make sure that you dress your toddler accordingly if you go this route. Since thin/lightweight blankets don’t provide very much insulation. But, this is a case where even a small victory is a victory.
Keep The Feet Clear
Some people just don’t like to have their blanket covering their feet while they sleep. I know I don’t. So, next time your toddler keeps kicking off their blanket, try to not cover their feet. You never know, this just might be the trick you’ve been searching for.
I’ll admit that this trick didn’t work with my daughter. I told you, she’s allergic to wearing blankets. But, I have heard that it does work for a lot of other parents. So, I thought I’d throw this out there for you to try. You never know, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Wearable Blankets For Toddlers
If none of the tips have worked so far, you might consider giving your toddler a wearable blanket (Amazon Link). They come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. Some of them are sleeveless and keep your toddler’s feet uncovered. Others are like sleep sacks for your baby. But, even with all their differences, they have one thing in common, your toddler probably won’t be able to get out of them unless they are very determined.
This is probably your best option if your toddler just keeps kicking off their blankets no matter what you do. Just remember to observe your toddler if you go this route. As I said, they won’t be able to get out of them. So, make sure that your baby isn’t getting too hot. For example, if your baby is sweating, they are probably too hot.
Maybe Your Toddler Isn’t Old Enough Yet
Finally, if you’ve tried everything in this article and you still can’t get your toddler to stop kicking off their blanket, maybe your toddler just isn’t old enough yet. I’ve read in many different forums that some parents find that toddlers probably won’t want to use a blanket until they reach the age of 4 or 5. But, they all said that eventually, their toddlers started to keep a blanket on. I know that you think your toddler really needs to use a blanket. But, they don’t. Especially if you dress them accordingly. So, if your toddler just doesn’t like using a blanket, have some patience. They will grow to appreciate them sooner or later. Hopefully more sooner than later.
By Grace – Child Development Associate Teacher in California
My husband Mark and I have been blessed with two beautiful, smart, positive (I can go on and on) girls… Kenzie & Kayla. And, we have learned many tips and tricks while raising them. Tips and tricks that we felt would be useful to other new parents out there. So, we started WAYISAVE as a website built by parents for parents to share the best baby deals, coupons, tips, tricks and the occasional piece of advice.
