I think secure kids can absolutely sleep without these things. We lost my daughters beloved doll at an airport and she went to sleep that night. I was more upset than she was. My kids both also dropped their soothers without issues. I think for most securely attached kids these things are just a favorite thing they like to have. I have sleep trained so many kids and I usually eliminate whatever sleep toy is brought unless they are older and they have no issues without it.

But I have seen some kids bawl their faces off if a lovey is forgotten at home and will wail all through sleep time. To me those are kids with unhealthy attachments and are not secure.

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