Best Stuffed Animals

From Steiff, makers of teddy bears since 1902, come stuffed animals made from cotton velvet and cuddly soft plush. Start your wee one off with a classic: a fleecy bear in natural beige, pink or blue with embroidered eyes that can’t be bitten off. Because Steiff animals are hand-sewn and made with higher-end materials, they last a long time (think: from generation to generation).

Additional Specs

You can feel good about buying these sweet, huggable animals. Not only are they cute, hypoallergenic and made with nontoxic, 100% cotton materials, they’re handmade in Peru using sustainable, fair-trade practices. And with every purchase, cuddle + kind gives 10 meals to children in need. There’s a range of animals, and they come in little and regular sizes (13 and 20 inches, respectively).

Additional Specs

Just like with any elephant, big ears are this playful pachyderm’s best feature. Your baby will love playing peekaboo as the elephant hides behind its ears, or you can help baby sing along to “Do Your Ears Hang Low.”

Additional Specs

We’re suckers for this cephalopod. Its eight soft tentacles are perfect for toddler hugs (or wrestling). Jellycat stuffies are well known for their plush materials and adorable designs, and this cuddly octopus is sure to get a ten out of ten-tacles in your household.

Additional Specs

All stuffed animals are great for cuddling, but when it comes to getting your little one settled down for sleep, you’ll be glad to have a stuffy that does a little something extra. This sleepy little sheep plays comforting sounds and songs that’ll have baby snoozing in the blink of an eye, from white noise and heartbeats to four classic lullabies, and you can program it to last either 23 minutes or 45 minutes.

Designed by two moms—a child therapist and an educator—Slumberkins are here to help you create loving routines and promote positive life skills. Their ultra-silky, plush fur and soft faces are sure to delight your baby’s sense of touch while providing a comforting source of security. Each animal is paired with a book to match the life skills they teach.

Additional Specs

Anything but basic, this fuzzy sloth is a master at giving hugs. Just wrap the long arms around your tyke’s neck or chest for a cozy embrace. In nature, these slow-moving, South American-rainforest dwellers have only three toes, as does this plush toy.

Additional Specs

Who knew dragons could be so charming? This sweet little storyteller is sure to get your kiddo settled down for sleep in no time as it reads famous fairytales with a soothing voice and gentle animatronic motions.

Additional Specs

You and kiddo may not be wildlife conservation experts, but you can do your part to help protect the nation’s wildlife by symbolically adopting a threatened animal (i.e. donating to efforts for that animal’s protection). The $35 donation package gives you a stuffy of your new adoption, just like this adorable beluga whale, to remind you of the help you’ve given. Also available for symbolic adoption (and plush form!) are red foxes, barn owls, moose and so much more.

Additional Specs