The best-stuffed animal for a baby to sleep with can be great. They are soft, comfortable, and children can enjoy comfort and fun. You can give stuffed animals to babies, but they must not be in the crib together until your child has reached 18 months old. Soft materials, such as stuffed animals and blankets, should not be placed in the crib with a baby. Doing so causes a safety risk and increases the possibility of SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Until 18 months old, your child should be alone in the crib without toys and blankets.
The stuffed animal choices below are great for kids to play with as long as you do not put them in the crib before your baby is 18 months old. Above all, you need to follow safety procedures for the crib and sleep safety for your baby.
(a group of stuffed animals)
1. Can babies sleep with stuffed animals?
Babies younger than 18 months should not sleep with soft toys or blankets due to the risk of suffocation. Do not place these types of toys in with newborns or infants. Once your child is older than 18 months, you can allow them to sleep with a stuffed animal.
There are benefits to children over 18 months sleeping with a stuffed animal. They are great for comforting your child by giving something to cuddle with during the night. This act can help your child reduce separation anxiety and calm themselves down without needing to wake you. Also, they make great companions to play with and can inspire imagination throughout the day as well. Check out the best-stuffed animals for a baby to sleep with below for babies over 18 months old.
2. Things to pay attention to when buying a stuffed animal
Safe filling
The best filling for stuffed toys is all-natural. Organic cotton, wool, and bamboo are safer than synthetic. The artificial material can use a brominated flame retardant. These flame retardants can be a carcinogen and hormone disruptor.
Will not shed hair
You also want to be sure that the toy will not shed. Babies love to play rough and put things in their mouths. In other words, you do not want them to ingest hairs or to make a mess everywhere because of the toy.
Check the color of the toy.
Natural dyes and colors are better for the environment and your baby. Seek out plant-based dyes that are natural and non-toxic. Also, earth-based fabric dyes and water-based dyes are even better than petroleum-based inks.
Check suture
When you buy a stuffed animal for your child, you want to get something high quality. You do not want to have to worry about it falling apart after your child falls in love with it. Check out the seams and be sure it is not going to rip apart easily. You should also avoid strings and glued or sewn-on features. These items could end up in your baby’s mouth.
Sound and light
There are some stuffed animals out there that come with soothing lullabies and star projections. These can be fun, but keep in mind that they are not all that cuddly because they are harder to house all these features and the batteries.
3. Recommended Best Stuffed Animal for a Baby to Sleep with
Gund Animated Flappy The Elephant
Age: 6 months to play with/ 18 months to sleep
Price: $26
Size: 12 inches
Advantages:
This toy is soft, fun, and interactive. Your child can play peek-a-boo with the elephant’s floppy ears. It also has embroidered features, so you do not need to worry about eyes coming off and making their way into your baby’s mouth. There are two different play modes, and it is easy to clean.
Disadvantages:
Since it has moving parts, this toy is not as soft and squishy as other kinds of stuffed animals. There is a battery pack inside, so it is not great to cuddle. Besides, it can also be a little loud, which can be scary if it turns on in the middle of the night.
The Best-stuffed Animal for a Baby to Sleep With–Aurora World Dreamy Eyes T-Rex
Age: 3 years and up
Price: $11
Size: 10 inches long
Advantages:
The Dreamy Eyes toy collection by Aurora World is an excellent collection of animals, and the T-Rex is one of the cutest. These toys are so soft to the touch and great for kids to hug and sleep with older ones. The lock washer eyes will stay in place, so you do not need to worry about kids putting them in their mouths.
Disadvantages:
The official recommended age listed by Aurora World is three years old. So, if you give it to the tiny baby, you need close supervision. Above all, do not place it in a crib with a baby.
The Best-stuffed Animal for a Baby to Sleep With–Pebble Octopus Baby Rattle
Age: All ages for playing/18 months or older for sleeping
Price: $17
Advantages:
This octopus from Pebble is handmade and non-toxic. Because of the eight tentacles, it is easy for babies to grab. Besides, there is a soft rattle when shaken. It is handmade and machine-washable.
Disadvantages:
This toy is small, but it is great for playing. The outside is not soft but has a pleasant texture. Therefore, it may not be ideal for older children to cuddle.
The Best-stuffed Animal for a Baby to Sleep With–Cloud B Fox
Age: All ages for playing/over 18 months to sleep with
Price: $39
Advantages:
This fox toy from Cloud B is an excellent option for a cuddly and comforting toy. It is one of the best-stuffed animals for a baby to sleep with as long as it is over 18 months old. It comes with a music box to help soothe your little one to sleep. There are eight different songs and noises from which to choose, depending on which one works best for your little one. The best thing is that the music box comes out of the toy, so you can take it out to make the fox extra cuddly. Besides, there is a strap to hang him on the outside of the crib.
Disadvantages:
This toy is a bit expensive, but there are other animal options as well. When you remove the music box, there is a hole in the back. However, this hole is not a huge problem because of its sealing.
The Best-stuffed Animal for a Baby to Sleep With–Jellycat Beige Bunny
Age: All ages for playing/over 18 months to sleep with
Price: $23
Size: 12 inches tall
Advantages:
This adorable stuffed bunny is primarily made of polyester and is spot-clean only.
It is so cuddly, soft, and cute. It is a great companion for kids. Above all, it is high-quality and will be fun for kids.
Disadvantages:
Some people have had trouble getting products that were not authentic. The product picture may have a color difference.
The Best-stuffed Animal for a Baby to Sleep With–Cloud B Star Projector Turtle
Age: All babies for playing/18 months for sleeping
Price: $30
Advantages:
This soft turtle with a hard shell is a fun stuffed animal and a night light star projector. It features eight constellations and three different colors. This toy is both a night light and a turtle in one. It projects a soothing starry sky and automatically turns off after 45 minutes.
Disadvantages:
This toy is cute, but the hard shell does make it hard to cuddle.
The Best-stuffed Animal for a Baby to Sleep With–Aurora Bundle of 2 Unicorns
Age: All ages for playing/18 months for sleeping
Price: $17
Size: Seven inches long and five inches tall
Advantages:
This stuffed animal set comes with two differently colored unicorns, and is a lot of fun for a child. They are also great if you have twins because then each can get one. They are brightly colored and soft. Also, they are easy to clean and for small hands to grab.
Disadvantages:
Since they are so small, they may not be ideal for cuddling.
The Best-stuffed Animal for a Baby to Sleep With–GUND Ramon Teddy Bear
Age: 1-year-old to play with/18 months old to sleep with
Price: $28
Size: 18 inches tall
Advantages:
Every kid deserves to have a teddy bear. This Ramon tan teddy has realistic paw pad accents, a cute smile, and a heart-shaped tummy, and it is so cute, soft, and machine-washable. Besides, it is made from premium materials to excel in softness and huggability.
Disadvantages:
It is listed safe for those over one year old. Do not put it in with a sleeping baby until at least 18 months of age.
The Best-stuffed Animal for a Baby to Sleep With–Cuddle Buddies Stuffed Animal Dog
Age: All ages for playing/18 months for sleeping
Price: $19
Size: 16 inches tall with a 14-inch arm span
Advantages:
This stuffed animal dog is handmade with a corduroy body and organic cotton arm span. It’s cute, cuddly, and soft. It has fun floppy ears, and the thin arms and legs make it easy to grab and go. The body is highly durable but still smooth. Besides, it is washing-machine safe.
Disadvantages:
Buttons make up the eyes, which could come off as more accessible than other materials. It is not 100 percent cotton but has polyester as well.
The Best-stuffed Animal for a Baby to Sleep With–Manhattan Toy Unicorn
Age: All ages for playing/18 months old for sleeping
Price: $18
Size: 14 inches from the tip of the horn to the toe
Advantages:
This adorable unicorn from Manhattan Toy features weighted paws, pulled fleece fabric, and heat-sealed eyes. This toy is cute, extra soft, and cuddly. It is great for playtime and bedtime. It is one of the best-stuffed animals for a baby to sleep with as long as it is over 18 months old.
Disadvantages:
Some people have had issues receiving the wrong item. Product pictures may have a color difference.
The Best-stuffed Animal for a Baby to Sleep With–Ebba Giraffe Plush
Age: 6 months for playing/18 months for sleeping
Price: $15
Size: 11 inches long
Advantages:
This giraffe is a cute and soft toy that is great for cuddling. Top-quality materials make up this toy for both softness and durability. It also has a rattle inside, which is fun for babies. An added safety feature is that it has embroidered eyes, so you do not need to worry about them coming off.
Disadvantages:
Many people thought it was too small for the price.
Summary
There are many fun stuffed animals to choose from for your baby, but you need to make sure to choose the right one. You want one that is safe, affordable, and cuddly. Do not let children under 18 months old sleep with stuffed animals due to the suffocation risk. Above all, as long as you keep safety top of mind, your child can have a lot of fun playing and cuddling their new favorite stuffy. We hope you enjoyed this article about the best-stuffed animals for a baby to sleep with as long as your baby is over 18 months old.