Toddler gift filter: very soft or texture-centric
November 5, 2022 5:05 AM Subscribe
What are some good gifts for a toddler loves petting and snuggling things, especially very soft, very large, or fuzzy, feathery, leafy, interestingly textured things? Looking to skew either more interesting or more durable and higher-quality than the generic polyfleece stuffed animals that quickly get ratty.
Also open to rugs or other furnishings that fit this description. Maybe a giant squishmallow? The market really is saturated with silky and not-very-durable polyester stuff, though, so it'd be nice to have something that goes beyond that basic level. Thanks!
Also open to rugs or other furnishings that fit this description. Maybe a giant squishmallow? The market really is saturated with silky and not-very-durable polyester stuff, though, so it'd be nice to have something that goes beyond that basic level. Thanks!
Ty (of beanie babies infamy) makes these toys with those double sided sequins called flippables. You can find this kind of effect sequin fabric used in all sorts of things, it was really trendy a few years back, including pillows and framed canvases and gaudy sweaters, but I have a young friend who has been carrying around his flippable baby unicorn for going on two years now.
As for durability, I don’t know if they still make them the same but I’ve kept a few of my Gund stuffed animals since I was a baby and they are somehow soft as a cloud heading into forty years old.
Do you know anyone who crochets? Crochet excels at making good squishing and scrunching 3D textures. I made a tummy time blanket with big puffy flowers and squishy centers for a newborn last year and apparently he now refuses to sleep without it nearby. But something as simple as a big bunch of spiraled single crochet strips bundled together would be fun to play with, like a curly tassel. Heck, I might make some for myself.
posted by Mizu at 5:34 AM on November 5, 2022
As for durability, I don’t know if they still make them the same but I’ve kept a few of my Gund stuffed animals since I was a baby and they are somehow soft as a cloud heading into forty years old.
Do you know anyone who crochets? Crochet excels at making good squishing and scrunching 3D textures. I made a tummy time blanket with big puffy flowers and squishy centers for a newborn last year and apparently he now refuses to sleep without it nearby. But something as simple as a big bunch of spiraled single crochet strips bundled together would be fun to play with, like a curly tassel. Heck, I might make some for myself.
posted by Mizu at 5:34 AM on November 5, 2022
This classic Gund bear has been in production for I believe 40 straight years now. I had one as a child, ranked my 3rd favorite stuffy, and I just remember he was always SO soft even when stuffys 1 and 2 got matted. And yes--even though he was white and required significant spot cleaning. Still so silky soft.
My friend's kid turned one over the summer, and because I don't have children I thought it would be a great idea to saddle my friend with an all white stuffy for her baby. I was delighted to see the exact same bear for sale. The ones they're making today are just as soft as what I remember, just lovely short fur. It's a really good bear.
But that in mind, my #1 ranked stuffy was actually a rabbit puppet, and she really was great for the texture stuff. Furry, but with velveteen patches for her inner ears, stiff little whiskers, and a whole puppet pocket area for me to store my hot wheels. I actually searched for her first when I was shopping for my friend's kid, but her company (Dakin) is sadly defunct.
That in mind, there do seem to be a lot of very interesting texture friends on the Gund website. While I can't personally vouch for them specifically, I'd feel better buying an unknown stuffy from a brand that has given me good toys I trust than just going out into the world and taking my chances.
posted by phunniemee at 5:40 AM on November 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
My friend's kid turned one over the summer, and because I don't have children I thought it would be a great idea to saddle my friend with an all white stuffy for her baby. I was delighted to see the exact same bear for sale. The ones they're making today are just as soft as what I remember, just lovely short fur. It's a really good bear.
But that in mind, my #1 ranked stuffy was actually a rabbit puppet, and she really was great for the texture stuff. Furry, but with velveteen patches for her inner ears, stiff little whiskers, and a whole puppet pocket area for me to store my hot wheels. I actually searched for her first when I was shopping for my friend's kid, but her company (Dakin) is sadly defunct.
That in mind, there do seem to be a lot of very interesting texture friends on the Gund website. While I can't personally vouch for them specifically, I'd feel better buying an unknown stuffy from a brand that has given me good toys I trust than just going out into the world and taking my chances.
posted by phunniemee at 5:40 AM on November 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
We bought a cheap shag rug for our toddler daughter and she loved in that thing and dragged it from place to place in the house.
posted by AlexiaSky at 5:42 AM on November 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 5:42 AM on November 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
Giant squishmallow was my first thought. My texture-loving child has used theirs as a pillow every night for over two years and it's holding up surprisingly fine. If you have access, Costco has huge ones for around $30 and some have additional textures like mermaid scales, bows, fur tufts, etc.
posted by teremala at 6:09 AM on November 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by teremala at 6:09 AM on November 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
Would a small Comfy be welcome? It's a sort of "hygge parka" and my daughter and wife love theirs.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:19 AM on November 5, 2022
posted by wenestvedt at 6:19 AM on November 5, 2022
My little one LOVES to pet and hug her squishmallow. They're well made and a bunch have fuzzy bellies too
posted by jebs at 6:52 AM on November 5, 2022
posted by jebs at 6:52 AM on November 5, 2022
I can't find a website for the company but there is a brand called Taggies. My kids loved them. Essentially a 12x12 piece of fleece with tags sewn all around. At the time, the tags were all the same material, a soft shiny bit of cloth. I sewed a similar thing but used tags of different materials to give more textures. Original taggies are still sold, but etsy has a ton of options
posted by Ftsqg at 6:58 AM on November 5, 2022
posted by Ftsqg at 6:58 AM on November 5, 2022
This is certainly more luxurious than a stuffed animal but my toddler greatly enjoyed petting and snuggling the West Elm Faux Fur blanket last weekend in-store.
posted by paradeofblimps at 7:02 AM on November 5, 2022
posted by paradeofblimps at 7:02 AM on November 5, 2022
I am a grown-ass adult and one year my MeFi Secret Beanser gave me a Scentsy Buddy--which is a plushie that you can put a little scent pouch into--and I unironically love it. The aromatherapy aspect adds a lot to the tactile sensation, imho. If you don't want to give money to a MLM, Squishmallow has a scented line as well, and there are other manufacturers that make scented plushies as well, though I can't attest to the quality. One think I do like about the Scentsy plush is that the scent pack is replaceable, although I've had mine for...probably 8 years now and the scent has barely faded somehow.
posted by drlith at 7:04 AM on November 5, 2022
posted by drlith at 7:04 AM on November 5, 2022
Yeah, +1 to “Squishmallows.”
A friend gifted one to our toddler and absolutely *loves* it, just jams his face up in the thing all the time, tackles it into the ground. I wish he loved *us* that much.
posted by TangoCharlie at 7:57 AM on November 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
A friend gifted one to our toddler and absolutely *loves* it, just jams his face up in the thing all the time, tackles it into the ground. I wish he loved *us* that much.
posted by TangoCharlie at 7:57 AM on November 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
My 14-y.o. has several large squishmallows, and still loves them. They're a good choice if the recipient is very young.
posted by wenestvedt at 8:06 AM on November 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by wenestvedt at 8:06 AM on November 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
My toddler who loves ALL the plushies, most of all loves this blanket. It remains to be seen how durable it is, but it's super soft and squishy and receives more loves that any of her stuffed animals.
posted by DoubleLune at 8:37 AM on November 5, 2022
posted by DoubleLune at 8:37 AM on November 5, 2022
Another vote for squishmallows; my toddler is obsessed.
posted by lovableiago at 8:52 AM on November 5, 2022
posted by lovableiago at 8:52 AM on November 5, 2022
I ditto the Squishmallows! My son has been collecting/snuggling with them for at least 4 years and they still look good.
posted by victoriab at 6:12 AM on November 6, 2022
posted by victoriab at 6:12 AM on November 6, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 5:11 AM on November 5, 2022