"Best sleep toy" means something different at 2 months, 9 months and 3 years. This guide goes age by age, says what is safe at each stage, and points to the Love By Emi product that fits. It follows Red Nose Australia and American Academy of Pediatrics guidance, and where they differ we take the more cautious line.

Newborn to 6 months

Safe sleep first. Nothing soft goes in the cot or bassinet at this age: no toys, comforters, pillows or loose bedding. Red Nose says 7 months at the earliest; the AAP says 12 months.

What helps: sound and routine, not a toy in the cot. A musical comforter still has a role here, used outside the cot: played during the wind-down, held while feeding, clipped to the pram, then removed once your little one is asleep. The point is to build the association early so it is already familiar when they are old enough to keep it.

Pick: any musical comforter. Many parents choose a high-contrast character for this age because newborns see strong contrast more easily; Delly the White Tiger and Lylah the Cow are both black and white.

6 to 12 months

Safe sleep: this is the window where advice differs. Red Nose allows a small soft item in the cot from 7 months; the AAP still says wait until 12 months. Love By Emi recommends 12 months. Until then, keep using the comforter for settling and take it out of the cot.

What helps: separation anxiety often starts around 8 to 10 months, and this is when a consistent comfort object earns its keep. The same character, the same sound, at daycare and at home.

Pick: a two-pack of the same character, so one can live at daycare or grandparents' and the cue does not change. A mini comforter (no sound box, smaller and lighter) suits the nappy bag.

12 months to 2 years

Safe sleep: from 12 months a soft comforter can stay in the cot. Keep it small and light, and keep the sound box volume low.

What helps: toddlers hold on to routine. A comforter with a timer gives a clear end point: sound plays for 20 or 40 minutes, then stops. The strap at the base keeps it from ending up on the floor at 2am. The sound box lifts out so the plush can be washed as often as it needs.

Pick: the character your toddler already knows. If you are starting now, let them choose; Shay the Giraffe and Ellie the Elephant are long-standing favourites. Keep a spare sound box if the first one is well loved.

2 to 3 years

What changes: bedtime battles. Sleep becomes a negotiation, and a comforter that plays the same lullaby every night is a neutral referee. Toddlers at this age also start to want to "do it themselves", so a sound box they can press is a small piece of control that helps.

Pick: their existing comforter. If it is worn, a two-pack lets you swap one in while the other is washed without a fuss.

3 years and up

What changes: the comforter is usually still in the bed, and a play toy joins it. This is the age for interactive plush: a touch sensor on the head, songs on one paw, and a voice recorder on the other that plays back in a funny voice.

Pick: the Interactive Tiger or Interactive Giraffe. They are rated 3+ and take 3 x AA batteries (not included). They are for play and the bedtime wind-down, not a cot toy for younger siblings.

At every age

• Keep sound low. Soft shower in the next room, not a hairdryer by the bed.
• Use the timer. 20 minutes is enough for most settles; 40 for the hard nights.
• Wash the plush, not the sound box. Lift the box out first.
• Batteries are not included with any Love By Emi product: 2 x AAA for musical comforters, 3 x AA for interactive plush.
• Every product is designed in Western Australia and covered by a 12-month warranty.

Still not sure which character? The best sellers are a safe start, and the FAQ answers the practical questions. For the safety detail behind the age bands above, read our safe sleep page.