Expert answer: The BabyCenter Editorial Team

Though giving your baby a lovey to cuddle at bedtime and naptime may feel natural, experts say it's not safe. 

Because of the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and death from suffocation, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says not to let your baby sleep with any soft objects until he or she is 12 months old. This includes stuffed animals, dolls, blankets, quilts, and other bedding. Many experts suggest waiting until your baby is at least 2 years old before sleeping with a pillow.

Though it may seem unlikely, there is a chance that a doll or stuffed toy could cover your baby's face and suffocate him or her. "Some 2,000 babies die each year from suffocation," says Mark A. Brandenburg, a practicing emergency physician at the Trauma Emergency Center of St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and author of Child Safe: A Practical Guide for Preventing Childhood Injuries. The safest option is to keep your baby's crib free of clutter, including stuffed toys.

After your baby's first birthday, the risk of SIDS drops significantly. The likelihood of suffocation also diminishes because most 12-month-olds are able to roll over, sit up, and move objects away from their face. So hold off on the stuffed animals until then.

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