Taggie Tales

Currently Underwhelmed by Tag Blanket

I don't really remember exactly when or how the tale of the Taggie began.  I believe I was looking for something Olivia could use to sooth herself back to sleep instead of waking me up in the middle of every night.  Our pediatrician suggested a soft stuffed toy or blanket.  She explained that if I nursed Olivia with that "lovey," she may associate it with something that is soothing and learn to use it to fall asleep at night, instead of crying for me to nurse her.  Or, at least reduce the amount of times she was up asking for me (Which wasn't very often - maybe twice a night - but, I was young and thought twice was too often). She explained that it would take a while to "work" but that it could certainly help.  

Olivia is thrilled Colden now has a tag blanket - she's still obsessed with hers. 

Colden, "What the heck is the big deal? I don't care!!!! Waaa"

My friend, Joy, many months earlier, when I was pregnant with Olivia, told me a story of how her daughter had a small blanket called a Taggie.  She explained that her daughter loved Taggie.  Even though she had bought her other Taggies, she only wanted her original one, despite it becoming shabby looking over time.

So, at a craft bazaar a couple months before I delivered Olivia, Matt and I bought a hand-made replica of the so-called Taggie.   When our pediatrician suggested nursing with something she could grow attached to, I held it each time I fed Olivia. Soon, she had that thing in her hand as often as a kid addicted to a pacifier!  We flew home in December of 2005 and lost it on a plane.  I remember running to our next flight and having the stewardess call to our previous plane, the one we were on just a few minutes before, and it was already gone.  Cleaning crew threw it out (Why would anyone throw out something that is obviously a child's lovey? Why don't people think?).  I was devastated. How would she sleep without it?  And, that poor child, not quite yet a year, knew it was gone.   I quickly found a store that carried Taggie and bought Taggie #2 (it looked very similar to her knock-off Taggie).   I loved that thing. It worked wonders.  It was a band-aid, it helped her sleep, heck, she probably considered it a friend.

When I was pregnant with Lila, I bought two for her - and had her name embroidered on them (We call the second one, "back-up Taggie.").  She has yet to lose either of hers.  She is a bit less enamored than Olivia is - but still sleeps with hers every night - almost every night since birth.

Olivia, however, lost Taggie #2 in a German Home Depot last year.  It was tragic.  Given that she was five and a half at the time, Matt suggested we just wean her from it.  I couldn't handle that.  I was a wreck. I lost sleep.  She was a hysterical. She cried every day until Taggie #3 came in the mail. Identical, yet cleaner, than Taggie #2.  She had me washing Taggie #3 as often as possible for weeks (She wanted it to look beat up like Taggie #2 as soon as possible).  At first, because she complained that it didn't smell like Taggie #2, I thought she would wean from Taggie.  I was wrong.  It wasn't too long before she was grabbing for Taggie and putting it up to her face when she was tired. Often, I will walk into her room when she's sleeping and there is Taggie, either in her hand or tucked up under nose.

Both girls have traveled all over the world with their Taggies.  If I were to go through pictures, we  probably have pictures of the girls' with their Taggies in several states and several countries.

Of course Colden had to have some sort of tag blanket!!  I've become an Etsy addict and as soon as he was born, I found a seller and purchased the one you see above (it's twice the size as the girls when it's unfolded. I didn't pay attention to the dimensions when I placed the order.  But, that's ok), along with a bigger, matching blanket.  I had his name embroidered on both in bright orange letters.  He has quite an unusual name, therefore, they are sure not to be stolen (right?).  Though, I wouldn't put it past some idiot to find it somewhere (while we are frantically looking), think it's "trash" and throw it out. But, we won't let his tag blanket leave the house now will we.....