When is too old for comfort blankets/stuffed animals

[Pulirula]

My daughter is 7 and she has a stuffed bear that she just loves. She's had it since she was a baby. Today she had a dr appt with a specialist and she brought her bear because she was scared. Hubs says she's too old to bring it. I think it's not a big deal. I'm 31 and I still have my stuffed bear from childhood. She has some serious stomach issues and has to have tests and possible( most likely) surgery. If carrying her bear makes it even a tiny bit easier for her I don't see the big deal.
Aside from her own personal health issues we are looking to move and buy an house and of course the baby due in August. She has a lot on her plate. I feel maybe once things are all over and things are "boring" again to try to break her of the bear.
She really only has it when she's sick or scared like the drs appt. she doesn't always have it near her.
What do you guys think?

 

[craquinette]

I don't think it's a big deal at all. Especially if she only really wants it when she's sick or scared. It might be a problem if she refused to do anything without it but that doesn't seem to be the case at all. If it comforts her, I'd say leave her have it, what's the harm? She will grow out of it eventually.
I had a stuffed rabbit when I was a kid and always slepped with it. I'm not sure when I stopped but definitely still had it at 6 as I have photos of a class trip when I was 6 and most of the kids on the photo had their stuffed animal with them too.
And with all the changes coming up, it might really help her to have that good old bear to comfort her.

 

[Xpecta]

My son just turned 9 and he still has his comfort item. He uses it when is quiet time like reading or watching TV or sleeping. It doesn't bother me at all. Still sucks his thumb during those times too.

I had my comfort item and slept with it (A very large rag doll that I used as a body pillow) until I was 26.

 

[crazylilth1ng]

In my opinion... Never! My SIL is 19 and she still takes a teddy in her bag when she goes places and had loads in her room!! It's just a comfort thing. My 15yo daughter still does her comfort thing frequently (this weird sucking on her fingers thing she has done since a baby) and I don't encourage her to stop. Personally I would ignore hubby on this one

 

[Sommerfugl]

Never! It it provides her comfort then so what! I think it's great she has something that can make her feel better. My 8 year old outgrew her comfort teddy/blanket when she was about 4, but still sometimes asks to bring random teddies along when we go places, which is fine.

 

[Bevziibubble]

Never! If it provides comfort then it's a good thing and not doing any harm

 

[Twag]

Never why does there need to be an age limit on having something that comforts you

Hope your DD is better soon

 

[Pulirula]

Thanks everyone. I don't want her bringing it to places like the grocery store etc. but I'm gonna let her take it to her dr appts.

 

[xdxxtx]

I'm 29 and still have a bear that I got when I was a baby. I let my kids play with it now, but I am very comforted by having it around.

 

[SonnyH]

Whenever the child doesn't want the teddy/ies anymore! Not anyone else's choice in my opinion.

I'm 29 and still have my main bear from being a kid. He sits on the chair in my bedroom but if I'm ever sad or ill, I'll cuddle him instead of a cushion. He's been all the way from my first birthday to moving away for uni to owning a house with me! I've had to sow back on his ears, nose and fill in holes under his arms! He looks quite patchwork these days. I hope my little one has something similar if she so desires!

 

[pinkpassion]

All the "never" responses remind me of a guy I dated for 6 years .. he still had his blankie and couldn't be without it at all.. seriously.. it was weird!!

But I do agree, I think she should most definitely have it!! All of us run to some sort of comfort item when needed , be it a big bowl of Mac n cheese, our favorite sweats, a comfy blanket, or a beloved toy.. even if you were to take that away from her she'd likely find something else to use as comfort! But I always make sure my girls have their comfort items especially during particularly hard or scary times (hospital stays or tests)!

 

[Symphony7]

I agree, never. I don't use a comfort animal but I still use comfort techniques when I'm at the doctors like covering myself up with a coat to get blood drawn. Maybe that's childish, but it makes me feel a bit better being able to hide at least partly from something that causes me stress.

I still definitely used my stuffed animals well past 7...I think that's a little young still to be thinking of the kid as needing to be independent of childish things like blankets or stuffies.