Confused about blankie/comforter & safety?

Ok, having some sleep dilemmas at our house, the effects of which are magnified by DH's absence. After a relatively good night (ie 3 get ups not 5) I'm completely exhausted, and looking for anything that might help DD (7 mo) to settle better in her cot (as she is waking when i put her in the cot or 10-15 mins later). I've noticed as I'm patting and shushing her that her little hands are busy busy busy and they seem to be keeping her awake, so I'm thinking that a blankie or comforter might be the ticket.

However, I'm confused about the safety of it. The SIDS mob say to not put anything in with your baby, the CYH site says >1 year is safe, and don't leave it in when baby is asleep, and Elizabeth Pantley says choose something firm not floppy then goes on to do the exact opposite with a snoedel which is like a floppy flannel blanket toy with a head! Aaaaaargh! Someone please help! Is smaller safer? Is a blankie safer than a toy?

Our DS was (and still is) a terrible sleeper. He has had a sleep time buddie, a cuddly bear, since he was 8 months old. It is now his best friend and he will not sleep without him. "Big Bear" comforts him when he is upset, soothes him when he crys, he cuddles him in his cot and generally just seems to genuinely love him. When he wakes early in the morning he lies awake and chats to Big Bear for while and then goes back to sleep. I think giving him a buddie was the best thing we did.

My 7 yr old DD had a blankie with a teddys head on it called cuddles that my mum made for her when she was born and she slept with that from the time she went into the cot at the age of 5 months and we never had a problem and my DS who is 9 months old has had his own cuddles blanket that he to has slept with since being in a cot from the age of 4 months he wont go to sleep unless cuddles is there to cuddle we have a spare in the toybox incase normal cuddles needs a soak and a wash

i say give it a go u can only try
sarah

I think cuddle blankets, toys etc are a great idea. At 7 months, your DD is going to be more than capable of lifting a blanket or herself if it ends up covering her nose/mouth. My DD's favourite sleeping position is bum in the air and head face down in her blanket. She's also practising to be a soccer player and pulling the bottom of her shirt up over her face to sleep!