LOVEYS

About the Book

A Lovey is a talisman that comforts a child for sleep, for navigating their young days among strangers and situations of stress or anxiety such as doctor visits. The “hugability,” the texture, and the smell of the Loveys are more important than the appearance or elaborateness. Indeed a Lovey may eventually wear down to a fragment of silky blanket binding. The story of The Velveteen Rabbit and the attachment of the “Peanut’s” character Linus to his blanket are good examples of Lovey power. Human touch is essential for a child’s normal emotional development and attachment. As a surrogate, Lovey can be a helpful part of touch.

Eventually, the Lovey is relegated to an attic trunk, hopefully, to be replaced by attachments to friends and perhaps to a special person who will help us navigate the joyful and sometimes scary adult world.

About the Author

After 35 years, I retired from my pediatric practice in a small town in upstate New York along the headwaters of the Delaware river. In my final year of practice, I photographed and interviewed children clutching their transitional objects, called Loveys, and collated 2 dozen for this book. I added my own watercolor paintings of the Loveys and transcribed the narratives of the children and their caregivers.