Stuffed Animal Age-o-Meter

When picking that perfect stuffed animal, one of the first considerations for the young set is safety.

• 0-3 Months: The ideal stuffed animal for infants is small, soft, and fun to touch. It should not have any parts that can be pulled or bitten off like plastic eyes or other decorations. Some early research indicated that black and white objects were the best for infants; however, more recent research doesn’t seem to support this conclusion. Our primary recommendation after safety for 0-3 months is that the stuffed animal be fun to touch and washable.
  
  
• 4 Months - 2 Years:  Kids this age love having a buddy and play friend. It is the age of exploration when language is developing and lots of new things are being learned. Magical trips to the tops of mountains, the South Pole, jungle safaris, or outer space help those young minds develop a new awareness of their world. Hide and seek is another fun way to explore the world as are sheet forts, play houses, and tea parties. All of these activities are enhanced with a favorite stuffed buddy by their side to share the fun and, perhaps, to provide a little team bravery for the next surprise. This group still tends to stick everything in their mouth for a taste test so safety is important. Many of the rules that apply to infants are still appropriate but you can typically accommodate a slightly larger stuffed animal. There starts to be a significant variety in the way this age range interacts with the world and parents need to use their discretion in choosing the right toy that meets their child’s safety and entertainment needs.
  
  
• 3 Years – 1000 Years: Okay, maybe we’re stretching it a bit at the upper end of this age range but the point is that everyone except the biggest sourpuss on the planet loves stuffed animals. Safety is no longer the biggest concern (in most cases…however, we have known some adults that are real challenges.) Now stuffed animals start to reflect individual tastes and interests. It can be really fun to start collections of stuffed animals. They can also be used to share personal messages. What better way to say “I love you”, or “I think you’re special” than with a cute cuddly stuffed animal buddy?

No matter what your age is...stuffed animals can bring magic to your life!