I. Love. Stuffed. Animals. There I said it. If I could own 150 stuffed animals, I would. (Actually, we might own 150.) But they make great gifts for babies and toddlers. (or 30-year-olds like me.) I’ve compiled a huge list of stuffed animals and characters from Daniel Tiger to Disney that will bring a smile to any little one’s face this Christmas or for their birthday!
{ Post contains affiliate links }
Why are stuffed animals great toys for babies and toddlers?
Stuffed animals or dolls or characters provide a lot of comfort for little ones. Your baby might attach themselves to a “lovey” early on, and that’s the only toy they’ll carry around and sleep with. Other babies might find comfort in any stuffy you hand them. Take a stuffed animal with you when you travel or go to a new place so they have a tangible piece of home to cling onto.
Toot has one lion we call Roar that she sleeps with, but she’s comfortable going new places with most of her stuffed animals. We take Roar with us when we stay at a hotel so she feels more at home.
But they’re also great for improving social skills in babies and toddlers. Stuffies can “talk” to your child or to each other. Pretend play enhances your child’s imagination and allows them to practice social situations and conversations even if they don’t know very many words.
Pretending with stuffed animals also teaches your child about relationships. A toddler can pretend to be the mommy or daddy taking care of a baby. They can also pretend to take care of their “friends” by feeding them lunch or making tea at a party.
They’re open ended toys, too. Most stuffed animals don’t say or do anything. No batteries required. You just let your child decide what they do and say.
Baby Security Blankets
Toot carried around two of the Carter’s snuggle security blankets when she was a baby. She had a giraffe and a fox. They have a head and sometimes arms and are attached to a super soft blanket. They’re just the right size for traveling. And she could hold it while she was in the moby wrap with me.
Disney Stuffed Characters
Who doesn’t love Disney? No one. I have yet to meet someone who actively hates Disney.
Currently Toot’s favorite Disney movie is Moana. She carries her Moana stuffed doll in the car. She’s also a big fan of Mickey and Minnie Mouse and recently picked out a Donald Duck stuffed toy she saw at the store with my mom.
Here are some Disney favorites!
(Use the arrows to scroll through the items)
Other Favorite Characters
Of course, there are characters other than Disney. (Crazy, right?) Some of our favorites are Thomas the Tank Engine, Sesame Street, Paw Patrol, Sing, Daniel Tiger, and Minions.
When Toot isn’t watching Moana, she’s watching Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. I actually prefer that she watches Daniel Tiger over anything else because it’s so educational. I’ve learned a lot about parenting just from Daniel Tiger. So naturally, we have a billion Daniel Tiger stuffed animals. We have one of each character and about four or five different Daniels.
(Use the arrows to scroll through the items)
Jellycat Stuffies
So recently, I discovered this brand called Jellycat. They make the CUTEST stuffed animals. I’m in love! Check these out. (I think the ostrich is my fave.)
(Use the arrows to scroll through the items)
Where to store your stuffed animals
What happens when you end up with a billion stuffed animals? You need a place to store them. There are a couple of options and the most obvious one is a toy box. We use a 
A fun option for stuffy storage is to 
And if you have the space for a 
Does your little one have a favorite stuffed animal?
Let me know in the comments below!
ARHuelsenbek says
Love the unicorn security blanket. Want that one for me.