15 Cute Stuffed Animals for Babies and Kids

Featured image of cute asian girl on sofa with stuffed animals

Playtime is an indispensable part of every childhood, and the best stuffed animals that children play with have many benefits: from the development of motor skills, feelings, observations, stimulating the development of social skills, to the development of imagination, empathy, improvisation, intelligence and constructiveness.

We all had our favorite childhood plush buddy or a baby doll. They were no ordinary toys but the BEST friends we had. Often it was difficult for us to choose just one stuffed toy to have with us. Toys should be tailored to children’s needs but also inspire them.

So here are 15 handmade stuffed toys that we recommend for children.

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Find Best Stuffed Toys

PRODUCTAGE 
3 months+Check Price on Amazon


Small Product image of Melissa & Doug Tiger

Crafted with careful details
Melissa & Doug Tiger

3-6 yearsCheck Price on Amazon


Small Product image of Melissa & Doug Penguin

Can withstand rough play
Melissa & Doug Penguin

3-15 yearsCheck Price on Amazon

3-6 yearsCheck Price on Amazon


Small Product image of Basic Fun Cutetitos - Mystery Stuffed Animals

Helps a child develop individuality
Basic Fun Cutetitos - Mystery Stuffed Animals

3-15 yearsCheck Price on Amazon


Small Product image of Jellycat Bashful Black and Cream Puppy

Various sizes to choose from
Jellycat Bashful Black and Cream Puppy

3-15 yearsCheck Price on Amazon


Small Product image of Melissa & Doug Burrow Bunny Rabbit

Can easily soothe a child
Can easily soothe a child

3 months-15 yearsCheck Price on Amazon


Small Product image of Melissa & Doug Giant Giraffe

Makes a room more fun
Melissa & Doug Giant Giraffe

3-15 yearsCheck Price on Amazon


Small Product image of VIAHART Siggy The Threetoed Sloth Baby

Made from highest quality materials
VIAHART Siggy The Three-toed Sloth Baby

3 years+Check Price on Amazon


Small Product image of Prextex Plush Dinosaurs 8 Pack

Multiple toys in one pack
Prextex Plush Dinosaurs 8 Pack

3 years+Check Price on Amazon

12 months+Check Price on Amazon


Small Product image of Sparkles The Unicorn Plush Toy

Encourages creativity and individuality
Sparkles the Unicorn Plush Toy

5 months-8 yearsCheck Price on Amazon


Small Product image of Bedtime Originals Choo Choo Express Plush Elephant

Size suitable for infants and toddlers
Bedtime Originals Choo Choo Express Plush Elephant

12 months+Check Price on Amazon


Small Product image of Prextex Plush Farm House

Perfect to travel with
Prextex Plush Farm House

3 years+Check Price on Amazon


Small Product image of Melissa & Doug Giant Dolphin

Lifelike toy with realistic detailing
Melissa & Doug Giant Dolphin

3-15 yearsCheck Price on Amazon

Jellycat Bashful Beige Bunny

This popular toy comes in 7 sizes, from 5 to 50 inches, making this toy perfect for boys and girls of all ages. How your baby grows the Bashful Bunny grows with him/her. This is a great companion if your child’s feeling alone.

It is meant for spot clean only and that means that you do not need to dry clean, wet clean or hand wash any stains or visible spots. It will be enough to just do it by hand so the toy will be ready for your child to play with it again. Bashful Beige Bunny has a soft high-quality fur and floppy long ears which means it’s perfect for cuddling and soothing a child. This makes it especially suitable for infants.

Benefits:

  • Easily cleaned
  • Comes in all sizes
  • Perfect night companion for years

Melissa & Doug Tiger

What child wouldn’t love a giant wildlife animal as a friend? This realistic plush tiger made of soft durable fabric is handcrafted with care and is 67 inches high, 20 inches wide and 14 inches long. This Siberian tiger will keep your child and its bed safe from nightmares and monsters, and it will spark curiosity to learn more about nature and animals.

It is perfect for riding it in battle, for hugs and cuddles, and for keeping it as a pet. Its features are lifelike and having a pet tiger might inspire a child to be brave and bold. Your child’s creativity and a sense of its adventure will surely grow with this kind of a pet!

Benefits:

  • Pleasant features and bold colors
  • Big enough for any quest
  • Crafted with careful details

Melissa & Doug Penguin

A lifelike penguin may be just the right bird for your youngest. This realistic toy can stand on its own and is made of polyester. The penguin is 23.5 inches high, 17 inches wide, and 9.8 inches long making it the most impressive bird your kid will ever pay with.

Because of its size, it has high-quality construction and because it is meant for children of any age, the stuffing and material are soft. This chubby penguin is not just great for hugs; he will keep your child safe during various adventures, and will be a great centerpiece of any toy collection. Help your child get a better grasp of geography through interesting them in the world of penguins.

Benefits:

  • Big, chubby and cute toy
  • Can withstand rough play

Aurora World Super Flopsie Celestia Horse Plush

Are you looking for a realistically made magic unicorn? Celestia has hair perfect for combing, making braids and putting on colorful hairpins. She has a bean filled body that is bagged double just for safety which makes it perfect for princesses and daredevils. This unicorn has the size that is just right for long hugs and sleepovers or it can be used as a pillow while reading books or imagining stories form Celestia’s faraway land.

The surface is washable with soap and water, and the material is carefully chosen so it is comfortable in contact with skin. The size of this toy is 25 inches long, 11.5 inches wide and 5.9 inches high, measured from her nose to her hooves.

Benefits:

  • Well-made and unique toy
  • Soft but durable

Basic Fun Cutetitos - Mystery Stuffed Animals

Collectible toys can be a great source of fun, especially when there is a veil of mystery around them. The great advantage of this toy is that it is carefully packaged in a burrito blanket so part of the fun and surprise is the unpacking of this mysterious stuffed animal. It is made with great care not only in the design of layout and material selection but also in the unique storyline for each one of them.

Along with the toy comes a pet collector card that will tell you its name, species, birthday and even its favorite quote. These 12 mystery stuffed animals for babies and toddlers are made to feel like they are alive which will spark a feeling of companionship and compassion.

Benefits:

  • Helps a child develop individuality
  • Easily maintained
  • A unique storyline for each toy

Jellycat Bashful Black and Cream Puppy

It comes in 5 sizes, from 7 to 31 inches so you can easily choose the right one for your child. The size is important so the toy won’t be easily misplaced or too big for a kid to carry. Its colors and design make it a toy for girls and boys, and if your kids ever wanted a dog, now is the perfect time to give them one.

Because it was made for all ages, the fabric is luxurious and non-toxic, and its without shedding. This is a great toy to sleep with or even take outside because it is easily cleaned. The bottom of the toy is filled with beans making it more interesting to touch. Jellycat puppy is a great replacement for teddy bears.

Benefits:

  • Various sizes to choose from
  • Unisex design

Melissa & Doug Burrow Bunny Rabbit

If you are looking for a toy made of soft but durable material, this Burrow Rabbit might be it. The fabric is quite comfortable on the skin so it can soothe a child quickly, especially if your kid sleeps alone. The toy has a washable surface and is made of extra soft plush. Bunny is handcrafted, its size is 9 inches high, 10 inches long, and 6 inches wide. Its floppy long ears make this toy extra cute and easy to hold onto it, and it can even sit straight up.

The features of Burrow Bunny are designed to inspire interaction and imagination, and special softness is there to provide solace for children who want to be hugged in an instant of distress.

Benefits:

  • Can easily soothe a child
  • Made to last for a long time

Melissa & Doug Giant Giraffe

Big toys are quite a hit amongst kids. You must remember how exciting is seeing a fluffy toy take half of your visual space. A Giraffe that is over 4 feet tall is quite a majestic toy. Its lifelike details and realistic markings are amazing to see. The whole construction is made with a lot of care – sturdy legs are wire-framed, and its neck is made for snuggling. The whole fabric is created from soft and durable polyester that is easy to clean.

Its size and real-life looks will surely encourage a child’s interaction and imagination. This is not just a great toy, it can also serve as an inspiring decor for any nursery or playroom.

Benefits:

  • Makes a room more fun
  • Super safe interior construction

VIAHART Siggy The Three-toed Sloth Baby

Siggy is a very special baby sloth. He lives in Madagascar and likes to hang from trees with his special made three toes. It is made of acrylic and polyester fabric, and its huggable body is filled with polypropylene plush making it even more lovable. Children can give him as many hugs as they want.

His claws are sharp because he uses them to hold onto branches. He likes to go outside on adventures in nature and explore every tree he sees, and if he ever gets dirty you can wash him with a little bit of soap in cold water. Leave him outside where he likes to spend the most time and he will quickly become dry.

Benefits:

  • Made from highest quality materials
  • Easily washed
  • No shedding

Prextex Plush Dinosaurs 8 Pack

Every kid has a stage when they are crazy for dinosaurs, but toys like this are not always made for all age groups. Sharp plastic tail tips, as well as removable parts, can be a problem for young children. For such small researchers, Plush Dinosaurs are a great gift. Their size makes it easy to pack and they are perfect for pack and play cribs.

The package comes with 8 dinosaurs 5 to 6 inches long, so every kid gets his entire Dino collection right away. If your kids have misplaced one, no worries, there are plenty to go around. All the toys are made of washable durable material. Each dinosaur is of a special type and color so that younger children can easily distinguish and recognize them. These toys are made of various colors.

Benefits:

  • Soft and cozy
  • Ideal for any age
  • Multiple toys in one pack

GUND World's Cutest Dog Boo Itty Bitty Boo

Give your kids the perfect pet dog dressed in your kids’ favorite costume (available ones are a unicorn, mermaid, frog, bumblebee, monsteroo, and a dragon). Its surface is easy to wash, the material is quite huggable, and it is a nice gift for infants, toddlers and adults. This toy is suitable for teaching your kids about brotherhood and sisterhood as well as friendship through gifting them the whole series over an extended time period.

In this way, your children will through pretend play develop social skills and get a better understanding of the various relationships created between each individual in their family. The hugs that this doggie provides are just the right amount of cuteness and will make every child happy.

Benefits:

  • High-quality materials
  • Personalized styles
  • Helps children get a better understanding of family values

Sparkles the Unicorn Plush Toy

The unicorn is a creature of stories and legends with a spiral horn on its forehead and glows in its eyes. Bring magic to bedtime stories and give your child a sequin unicorn created for relaxation. On its back is a sequence material that is reversible, giving your kid ever-changing rainbows of fun while she pets her toy.

This, combined with its weighted body, gives Sparkles the Unicorn its powers of calming and soothing any child through repetitive tactile and sensory play. Personalize your rainbow unicorn with various sticker designs and give it not only food, but glasses, and other accessories too. This toy will help your child advance her nurturing skills and compassion through the care for her friend.

Benefits:

  • Encourages creativity and individuality
  • Provides tactile and visual benefits

Bedtime Originals Choo Choo Express Plush Elephant

Another one of the great exotic friends we present to you is this elephant – it comes in two colors, standard grey, and pink with a bow near its ear. The size of the toy is approximately 9 inches long, and 8.5 inches wide when sitting down.

This toy is ideal for infants and toddlers, not only because of its size and softness, but also because of the features of the material (high-quality polyester) that does not shed. This toy is suitable for gentle cycle machine wash and low tumble dry. The elephant is made in a way that no matter how small or soft your child’s grip is, it will be able to play with it.

Benefits:

  • Size suitable for infants and toddlers
  • Nontoxic durable material

Prextex Plush Farm House

Do your kids have a fascination for farm animals, cowboys, horses? Because this 11 inches tall Farm House set has everything – four different colored and 5 inches tall horses that can stand on their own, a stable with windows and doors for them to live in, and bales of hay so they can be fed. There is even a 6 inch tall farmer so your child can play pretend more realistic and take care of the horses.

These stuffed animals for kids are all stuffed and soft, made of washable materials, so no harm can come to your child no matter how young it is. The Farm House even comes with a handle on top and zippered doors so this set can be easily carried anywhere.

Benefits:

  • Easy to clean
  • Perfect to travel with
  • Suitable for several kids to play together

Melissa & Doug Giant Dolphin

If your child has a fascination for Seaworld, this realistic giant dolphin may just be the perfect gift! This lifelike mammal with its 4 feet length is perfect for any adventure your child decides to take on. With its elegant markings and quite soft fabric, it is not just cuddly; it is made to last for a long time no matter how often your child plays with it.

Its unique bright eyes and joyful expression can cheer up anyone. This dolphin is a perfect friend not just for hugs, its size is ideal for snugs and your child’s fascination with its oversized friend will not wear off anytime soon. The possibilities of interactive games are infinite and it will surely provide active play.

Benefits:

  • Lifelike toy with realistic detailing
  • Hand-crafted, soft and durable
  • Quality constructed

How to Choose the Best Plush Toys?

A plush toy represents a step into a child’s independence. They are often of vital importance when separating a child from its parents, whether it is starting to go to kindergarten or just being taken to a family member for babysitting. They represent someone close, someone, with whom the child is connected in a very special way.

Plush, light toys of vibrant colors are of particular psychological importance because they are warm and soft, which soothes the baby because it resembles the mother’s skin. Most plush toys have the function of a so-called transitional nature, because they provide security and reduce their anxiety, especially at bedtime. These cute stuffed animals are given special importance when growing up (children sleep with them, later carry them on trips, etc.).

A toy that is perfect for your child would be one that is both easy to carry around and be built in such a way that the child can embrace it with no problems. The material should be completely secure, and in the case that the toy has fur, it should not be shredding. Remember your favorite toy when you were little? You probably thought of it as the most perfect toy in the world.

If you’re following Funtastic Toy then you already know that we review a lot of toys! If you’re interested in other Leapfrog stuffed animals that are not on the list, check out our reviews for My Pal Violet and My Pal Scout.

Criteria We Used

Toys play an important role in the life of every kid. They are not only for fun; their main purpose is to help your child develop various skills and abilities. At an early age, babies start looking at different baby stuffed animals, and then slowly begin grabbing and waving them around. When they are three months old, they actively grasp them, bang them on other objects and frequently put them in their mouths. Babies begin to consciously use toys to play around with when they are six months old. Small, soft plush toys should be introduced slowly to help differentiate the child’s sense of touch as well as basic emotions around their second month of life. 

When choosing toys, the criteria we used were the following:

  • Variations in shape, size and colors
  • Softness of the toy material
  • Engagement that the toy provides
  • Uniqueness of the design
  • The quality and durability of the material
  • Price vs. quality ratio

FAQ

Why would my child play with plush toys?

These toys have always been kid’s favorites. They can be of any size and shape, making them great for children of various ages. They can also occupy a special place in a child’s heart. Can you remember your oldest toy? The one that when you think about it even today makes you feel special? There is a big chance that it was a plush toy.

Is there a difference between stuffed and plush toys?

Usually, they are the same. The main difference can be the material from which they are created. When people mention stuffed toys, they usually refer to toys stuffed with cotton. On the other hand, plush toys are usually filled with some kind of fabric, like polyester. Both kinds of toys have some outer “fur” that makes them smooth and pleasant to the touch and gives them that cute look.

Conclusion

Plush toys, however, occupy a special place in children’s lives. These are toys that cannot harm the child and they are often tied to them. In addition to their symbolic meaning, plush toys can be used by parents as an educational tool. It is with the help of the child’s favorite stuffed toy that language and social skills are developed. For example, when a child is talking to a teddy bear or some other stuffed toy, he or she unconsciously encourages the development of his or her language skills. It communicates with the toy, speaks on its behalf and conducts a dialogue with it.

Author: Catherine Evans
Author: Catherine Evans

Catherine is a writer from Canada who simply loves toys, collectibles and superhero figurines. Writing is her passion, but she also loves reading, enjoying her “me time” and finding new ways to improve her work and ways to entertain the readers.

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