A Plush Toy is the best friend of many children worldwide. They’re soft, cute, and give off feelings of comfort to youngsters of any age. Plush toys are the go-to playthings parents give their kids. But did you know that there’s a right time to give a child one?
No matter how excited you are to give your little one a soft buddy, a responsible parent takes a moment to think about it first. Don’t get tempted to fill your baby’s crib with plushies just yet like the ones you see on social media. Here’s a list of times when you can finally give your child the cutest little plush toy:
- When They’re A Year Old
Experts recommend parents give children a plush toy when they’re one year old and above. Stuffed toys often have buttons or plastic eyes that younger babies can swallow when you least expect. Sometimes, larger dolls might cover your poor baby’s face and end up suffocating them. To avoid tragedies like this from happening, you should give your child a plushie when they’re a little older.
When choosing plush toys for your kid, look for ones made of quality materials like the ones at https://www.gagebeasleyshop.com/. Cheaply made dolls will fray and tear and release stuffing after a short period. Not only will your child be prone to ingesting the materials, but they’ll also be so disappointed to have a worn-out toy.
Good quality plushies will last a lifetime if taken care of properly. Your child’s first doll might even follow them until adulthood. And wouldn’t that be a sweet sight?
- When They’re Learning How To Talk
Kids learn how to talk by imitating their parents. Once they’ve gotten the basics, they’re not going to stop talking. You’ve probably noticed this if you have older children. Most little kids tend to have pronunciation difficulties at first, but they’ll learn through practice. You can assist your child’s language development with the help of a plush toy.
Children love playing pretend, and most of them do this with their stuffed toys at home. Allowing them to interact with dolls and immerse in their imagination is an excellent way to improve their language skills. It’s much better than letting them talk to their blocks, which is akin to talking to a wall.
Using stuffed toys to introduce a language also works well with young babies. When you start hearing your baby babble, get a plushie and let it ‘answer’ back. You can teach them how to take turns in a conversation at an early age this way. Don’t forget to keep it away from their crib afterward and give it to them once they’re old enough, though.
- When They’re Experiencing Life Events
Everything is brand new to a child’s eyes. They’ll have questions about everything under the sun that you have to answer. In some cases, new experiences can make children feel anxious even if there’s nothing to worry about. Moments like these are the perfect time to introduce a plush toy to your child.
Stroking the fur of a stuffed toy or holding it close may help reduce any stress they feel from an unfamiliar situation. Having a plush toy is also a way for a child to self-soothe without mom or dad around. By keeping their favorite doll in tow, your kid can bravely face new scenarios like visiting a relative or attending daycare for the first time.
Expect your child to bring their plushie everywhere they go for comfort. The poor little thing will get dirty over time from all its adventures. Make sure the stuffed toy is clean at all times so your youngster can bring their little buddy to even more places.
- When They Need Extra Comfort
Nobody enjoys a traumatic experience. It’s often much worse for a child to experience it since they’ll usually bring it with them to adulthood. Even something as simple as staying the night in a hospital can leave a kid with a fear of hospitals. When your child has or is about to undergo a situation that could bother them for a long time, you should consider giving them a stuffed toy.
There’s a reason why soft toys are well-known comfort objects. Plushies are great items for a kid to cope with intense emotions. Even the sight of their favorite doll will turn a child from crying to laughing in seconds. A soft, familiar toy can ease their fears and sometimes give them the courage to face something similar in the future.
- When They’re Interacting With Others
It’s inevitable for all children to encounter people of all ages. But kids being kids, they’re still in the process of learning social skills. As a parent, you’d be surprised to learn that plush toys can help them practice their etiquette.
Toys make excellent stand-ins for other people, and your child knows this. They’ll make up or repeat scenarios they’ve come across with their dolls. They can practice their people skills and use a plush toy to interact with any child they meet at daycare or preschool. Roleplaying with toys helps children learn to share, care for others, and empathize with others, which is vital in building relationships.
And because stuffed toys are great for roleplaying, your child might ask you to give them another one. Other times, relatives will provide new toys whenever they visit. There’s generally nothing wrong with having more plushies for your kid to play with, but sometimes it can go overboard. You’ll have to learn how to say ‘no’ to more toys. Most of the time, one or two plush toys are enough.
In Summary
Plush toys are one of the easiest things to give a child. They’re soft, cute, and often affordable. But that doesn’t mean you can get one at any time, especially as a new parent. Stuffed toys are lovely to see next to babies, but they’re better off in the hands of an older kid who’s just about to start exploring the world.
