Best Stuffed Animals: Plushies for All Night Comfort

When children know that they need to go down for a rest, or have been moved into their own room or new bed, it can be a bit unfamiliar and uncomfortable. This is why so many children have a favorite blanket or stuffed animal, as it provides not only a physical comfort for them to hold onto, but also a segway of familiar scents and texture. 

The love of stuffies is common as children grow, allowing them a sense of responsibility and connection with their imagination surrounding the animal or character represented. We’re highlighted some of the best stuffed animals below for you to consider for your own children and for gifting. 

Best Ages for Stuffed Animals

Children of all ages can enjoy stuffed animals, but many babies won’t begin to interact with them until around 6 months of age and may enjoy playing with and taking a favorite toy around with them. But you should not allow a child to sleep with a stuffed animal until at least 12 months of age. By this point they are strong enough to move out from under anything on or near their face, but until this point even a stuffed animal can be a hazard. 

Older children often enjoy their stuffies as well, and find them comforting well into adulthood. They can quickly become familiar, comfortable items that offer a sense of safety and relief from stress or a day’s anxiety.

Our Top Stuffed Animal Picks 

We’ve compiled some great brands, adorable options, and a wide variety of varying types of stuffed animals and the features they provide. Since many children are drawn to specific stuffed animals, adding in something different can allow them to enjoy more than one favorite.

Types of Stuffed Animals 

You might not consider just how many types of stuffed animals there actually are (unless you’ve been a parent for a while), but the sheer amount of types you can choose from can be a bit overwhelming. And missing out on some pretty cool features is common due to this fact. 

— Filling Type and Age Appropriateness

Not all stuffed animals are filled with a soft polyfill. Some use microbeads or poly beads, and knowing this is important for age appropriateness. No matter how well sewn, any stuffed product has the ability to tear or rip. Poly filling generally stays put when this happens, and is easy to replace. Bead-like materials spill, and are incredibly small. They are easy to pick up, ingest, and choke upon. Children younger than 3 or 4, or those prone to placing things in their mouths,  should not have these types of stuffed animals. 

— Recordable/Musical

Some stuffed animals are made with a removable, recordable speaker or music player. These are fun, novelty options to record favorite messages and voices, prayers, or even animal sounds from a beloved pet. Musical options are often lullaby in nature with self timers and gentle, repetitive music that can help a child fall asleep. 

— Scent

Scented stuffed animals usually provide a soft lavender or vanilla smell which is found to be soothing and relaxing. Many of these options use natural oils for an aroma therapeutic effect, which triggers physical reactions that are soothing in nature. 

— Warming

Warming options are designed to be warmed up  in a microwave to provide a gentle heat. These do need to be used carefully, but are initially cozy and comfortable for children and the heat dissipates fairly quick;y. 

— Projector/Light Up

Stuffies with built in projectors that cast stars and movement on a wall or ceiling, or those that have simple LED lights built in to serve as a night light are another fun novelty that helps children focus on something while relaxing and drifting off to sleep. 

— Calming

Some stuffed animals are designed specifically for calming and offer a combination of features, such as sound, scent, and even gentle vibration. These are often designed to mimic other comforting effects a child may be familiar with, such as warmth, heartbeat sounds, and a soft glow. 

You might want to read: The Best Stuffed Animal Storage Ideas

Wrapping it Up

Our top choices help highlight the many different types of stuffed animals available for your consideration. The many features that exist are designed for comfort and calming, and can help sooth your child or refocus them while they drift off to sleep.

Whether you prefer sound and scent, heat and lights, or a simple traditional floppy choice to hug and cuddle – we have you covered.