Every friend on Stuffed Animals is rated 4.4 stars or more by the families who already hug it

Stuffed animals from dozens of plush makers, sorted by who they are going to hug

Baby Stuffed Animals

A first stuffed animal is often the one that stays the longest. This lane only holds plush that its makers label for babies from birth: embroidered eyes, soft surfaces made to be chewed on, crinkle and sensory textures, and a few musical friends for the nursery shelf.

9 stuffed animals
GUND Cozys Monkey, baby stuffed animalGUND

GUND Cozys Monkey

4.84,958 ratings10 in

A floppy 10-inch monkey with bean-filled paws and a curly tail.

A first friend for the smallest hands

Baby stuffed animals are made to be mouthed, dropped and washed. The makers on this lane use embroidered features, soft one-piece bodies and fabrics that survive the washing machine. Some add sensory extras — crinkle ears, a jingle inside, a soothing tune — to keep tiny hands busy.

Remember the safe-sleep rule: soft toys stay out of the crib for the first year. Until then, a baby plush is a tummy-time buddy and a nursery decoration that grows into a bedtime friend.

A baby's first stuffed animals often come as baby shower gifts, so it is worth choosing plush toys that are soft, washable and made for little ones. Look for embroidered eyes, short pile fabric and a size that tiny hands can hold. Musical friends and sensory plush make tummy time more fun, while a classic nursery animal becomes the comfort toy a toddler carries everywhere.

Little friends for little people: a first teddy bear, a soft bunny, a sleepy giraffe or a cuddly cat. Find the one you love, check the age line and choose a size that suits the crib-side shelf. These companions are a favorite gift for new parents, and many of the cute, adorable plush animals here come from makers who design soft toys for babies first and collectors second. Stuffed animals made for the nursery are calmer in colour, simpler in shape and gentler in texture — exactly what a baby needs.

Questions about baby stuffed animals

Can babies sleep with stuffed animals?

Paediatric safe-sleep advice is to keep soft toys out of the crib for the first 12 months. Use these plush friends for supervised play and tummy time, and move one into the crib once your child is past the first year.

What makes a stuffed animal baby-safe?

Look for a maker's age label of 0+ or 'from birth', embroidered eyes and nose instead of hard parts, no small loose pieces and a fabric that can be washed.