Choosing the Best Stuffed Animals for Babies

Have you ever heard about the potential benefits of giving a stuffed animal to your child but were skeptical about what they are? Some people assume that giving kids a stuffed toy for comfort will make them depend on it but that’s not the case. Let’s discover more about stuffed animals for babies and learn how to pick the best ones.

Should Babies Sleep with Stuffed Animals?

The American Academy of Pediatrics states you should now allow your babies to sleep with stuffed animals until they are 12 months of age. You want to avoid pillows, quilts, blankets, or other objects that could potentially lead to SIDS.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome happens when a baby, usually newborn, dies because of suffocation or strangulation. After celebrating their first birthday, the likelihood of SIDS drops significantly because the babies are capable of moving objects away from their faces. 

Benefits of Stuffed Animals for Babies

Some parents worry that children that spend too many years accompanied by stuffed animals will develop a sense of dependency on them. The truth is that children could greatly benefit from growing up with a stuffed animal. 

• Sensory Skill Development

With the help of their senses, a newborn will learn a great deal about their habitat and surroundings. Soft toys will assist in introducing children to different textures while also instructing them on the differences between sizes and colors. 

Keep in mind that, even though they are still young, babies have brains similar to a sponge, and they will be able to absorb information from anything they come into contact with.

• Social Skills Understanding

As youngsters grow older, one game that they will all appear to be engaged in is pretending. Their plush pals will be able to simulate real-world social interactions with them during these pretend play sessions. Thanks to said interactions, they will be more prepared to adjust to the process of forming friends later on.

• Grasping Emotions

Throughout their growing up years, youngsters may encounter their own set of disappointments, and they will occasionally even throw temper tantrums! Soft toys and cuddly animals will assist children in reducing these negative emotions and anxious emotions that they are experiencing.

• Stress Relief

Babies can also be affected by their emotions and suffer stress. Infants, who are still learning everything about their environment, may experience feelings of fear and overwhelm at various points during their developmental journeys. When they are feeling anxious or worried, soft toys will provide them with a sense of familiarity and comfort. 

You might be interested: Best Stuffed Animals Storage Ideas

Best Features of Stuffed Animals for Babies 

• Ease of Cleaning

Stuffed toys will become rather filthy after repeated playtime with them. Make certain that you will be able to clean your baby’s plush toys when selecting safe ones for him or her when buying them. 

Find out what material the stuffed toy is made of by reading the care label or looking at the rear of the box in which the stuffed toy is delivered. If possible, avoid purchasing plush animals that cannot be washed.

• The Battery Issue

Batteries can be a choking hazard for babies. If you purchase a stuffed toy with batteries, make sure these are secured behind a panel that the child can’t remove.

• Avoid Long Strings

Children have a proclivity to tie lengthy threads or strings around their necks and suffocate on them. They could potentially choke if they swallow the string whole. 

To avoid these unfortunate events, take a close check at the plush toy you’re considering giving to your infant. Make sure there are no pull cords attached to the rear of the toy that could cause the stuffed toy to speak something.

• Avoid Vinyl and PVC

Some stuffed animal elements, such as the eyes and a music crank, may be manufactured from these materials, as well. There’s an issue with PVC since it can include toxic substances such as lead and chlorine.

• Quality

Make sure you understand how the stuffed unicorn you got from the fair was manufactured and what materials were used before you allow your child to play with it. 

Cheap toys are prone to tearing open and spilling stuffing all over the place, which, in addition to creating a sloppy mess, can constitute a choking hazard.

• Materials

Try to opt for materials that are as natural as possible. Pick materials just as hemp, bamboo, wool, or organic cotton instead of those produced in a chemical laboratory. They are less dangerous alternatives that also assist the environment.

• Age Guidelines

Safe stuffed toys will have a label on them that tells parents about how old a child must be to play with the toy in particular. 

For example, you might come across a plush toy whose package specifies that it is intended for children aged 2 and up. This indicates that children under the age of two should not be allowed to play with the plush toy in question. If your kid is less than two years old, you should look for a more appropriate stuffed toy.

Are Stuffed Animals Safe for Kids?

Addressing safety concerns feels like an important part of buying toys for your baby. If you want to make sure that your little one is safe regardless of the toys you buy, here are some things to keep in mind.

Supervise the Baby During Playtime

Babies have a lot of imagination. Even the most harmless of plush toys may be used by your child to injure themselves or cause havoc in their environment. Therefore, it is critical to always supervise your child when they are fiddling even with the safest stuffed toys. 

Also, avoid leaving toys in the crib if you’re not there. Make sure you never leave your infant alone while they are playing, even for a brief minute.

Putting Toys Away

Children are prone to leaving toys around, and the toys may cause others to trip and fall. Assist your tiny human in learning from a young age where toys should be placed after they’re no longer playing with them. 

Washing Toys

Babies enjoy sneezing and slobbering on many objects, even their toys. After some time, even safe stuffed toys get icky. Wash your baby’s plush animals regularly, following the manufacturer’s instructions. If any safe stuffed toys fall to the floor or become visibly filthy, wash them immediately.

Buy Flame Resistant Toys

Pick stuffed toys that are labeled as flame retardant or flame resistant. This means the toy is unlikely to catch fire anytime soon. 

Final Words

When picking a stuffed animal for your baby, you need to prioritize safety. Choose child-friendly materials, avoid toys with parts that will come off, with parts that are sharp, or with any components that could injure the baby in any way.

Photo credit: Oksana Kuzmina/Shutterstock; Kate Aedon/Shutterstock;
Oksana Kuzmina/Shutterstock; Pavel L Photo and Video/Shutterstock;
Brian McEntire/Shutterstock; NDanko/Shutterstock

Frequently Asked Questions