How are Soft Toys Comforting for Babies, Toddlers, and Bigger Kids

Children today play with toys of all shapes and sizes. While some are cuddly and squishy, others are high-tech. No matter what, stuffed ones are usually the most favored among kids? For children, a teddy bear is like a friend who can talk and listen to them every time and anywhere. In fact, a monkey teddy bear also serves as an outlet for their emotions that is often inexpressible through words.

Do you remember your very first teddy bear? That colorful furry gift is possibly our first childhood friend for many of us—no wonder why children can become so attached to their little companions.

As per many studies, soft toys have a positive effect on child's development. Even today, shops worldwide are still filled with soft toys that are loved by many!

Soft Toys Benefits for Babies

Babies love touching and feeling new textures, and these stuffed toys like teddies provide the perfect mix for developing sensory skills and encouraging social and emotional growth. With the help of these soft toys, even at such a young age, infants begin recognizing and grasping different colors, sizes, and textures. In other words, these soft toys are a perfect way for them to explore new things.

Just like adults, even babies too feel anxious and distressed. To them, this world is a new and is a scary place for them. At such times, one way of easing them is to provide comfort by showing them their favorite furry animal. Stuffed toys give babies a sense of reassurance and familiarity. They even assist babies to self-soothe, especially if given to them in stressful situations. For example, with a monkey teddy by their side, they can feel comfortable and create the illusion that they are with a loved one.

Besides comforting them, soft toys even help babies develop their social skills. For example, stuffed animals help babies immerse in pretend play. They can mimic what is familiar to them, like pretending to eat food, talking with their mom or dad, playing with a sibling or other friends. This bolsters their social skills to a great extent.

This pretends play encourages them to interact with other people to help develop their language and other communication skills. It even encourages them to talk to others lay the groundwork for learning writing and reading in the near future. Not only this, soft toys even encourage babies to care for everyone around them and appreciate relationships. As a result, they gradually learn and understand the importance of empathy and compassion.

When buying stuffed toys for babies, ensure that they are suitable for those under 12 months of age. Additionally, due to their instinct to explore with their mouths, it becomes equally important that there be no small parts to prevent a choking hazard.

Benefits of Stuffed Toys for Toddlers

For toddlers, these benefits of soft toys are invaluable. The warmth, comfort, and security that children desire when tired or facing a new change or situation is tackled easily by a soft toy. In case of separation anxiety, too, toddler’s favorite teddy can assist them.

Toddlers can even make use of these soft toys to project their own feelings later comfort them, encouraging valued qualities such as empathy, affection and bonding. Toddlers find the world an extremely exciting place with numerous things to be discovered. Soft toys can even assist toddlers in learning new skills through role-playing.

For instance, if you want your child to learn how to brush teeth, then show them how it is done. After this, ask them to replay the process by brushing the teeth of their favorite furry black teddy.

Also, kids show temper tantrums whenever they feel frustrated. As a parent, help them manage their emotions by giving them a cute stuffed toy.

For instance, if your child often cries every time you leave home, simply reenact those moments using their soft toys. Borrow their favorite toy and then pretend as if it wants to go to preschool, make new friends, and learn from their teachers. This way, they'll be able to realize that you leave the house isn't that bad. After this realization, they won’t be throwing those tantrums anymore.

At this age, children can fear being separated from their parents. If you can demonstrate that there is nothing to fear and by helping them learn to separate, you can help improve their self-esteem, reduce their stress, and further help them feel comfortable and secure.

Older Children & Big Kids

Soft toy's benefits aren't only applicable to babies and toddlers. Again, as per several studies, cuddling a soft toy can help soothe anxiety. In addition, touch that mimics human interaction, such as cuddling a teddy bear, could be a helpful addition to treat low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.

Not just that, it's quite evident that the relationship we develop as a young child with our favorite stuffed toys turns out to be beneficial even into adult life. Research shows that 51% of adult men have kept their cuddly childhood toys, and about 28% still sleep with them. This proves that the bond one makes with their favorite teddy is a lifelong friendship.

At Giant Teddy, we sell a vast collection of unique and customizable stuffed toys for children of all ages and adults alike! So check with us now and make your purchase.