Who among us hasn’t had a soft friend of the heart to keep us company in sleepless nights, long journeys by car or train, holidays in new places? And how many of your boys and girls feel reassured by the soft embrace of a donkey or a soft doll … in addition to that of mom and dad?

All this softness is contained in one name: plush.

But where does this funny creature come from, discreet companion of many generations of boys and girls?

The origins of the soft toy as we know it today are relatively recent. It seems that it was the German dressmaker Margarete Steiff, in 1880, who made the first soft animals for children. The idea came to her when she realized that the elephant-shaped pincushion she made were many times used by children as toys.

In the same period, the first teddy bear was produced in America, inspired by a satirical cartoon of the time depicting the then President of the United States Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt during a hunting trip in which he refused to kill a baby bear. .

From that moment on “Teddy Bear” and all stuffed animals became one of the favorite toys for boys and girls.

Why Are Soft Toys Important For Boys And Girls?

But what are the benefits and effects of soft toys on the little ones at home? Why is having a soft toy so important?

A SINCERE FRIEND : eyes, mouth, paws, etc. ensure that the soft toy is recognized by babies and young children as a living being. All this makes the bond that is created between them very strong. The soft toy becomes a playmate, an emotional support and a great source of safety for boys and girls.

A TRANSITIONAL OBJECT : First described by pediatrician and psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott, by transitional object we mean an object capable of providing emotional and psychological comfort. The plush is just that. Very useful (but we could also say fundamental) to accompany newborns to discover new things, first of all that of the passage between dark and light, or from day tonight.

So what is the right age to give a soft toy to boys and girls? Certainly from the first months of life.

Our favorite soft toys

THE IGNACE DONKEY : colorful, soft, velvety and ecological. The perfect friend to always carry with you, even in the cradle and cot.

THE ROSALIE COW :  her arms are wide open to welcome boys and girls in a warm and long embrace. She is also eco-friendly (as well as being gorgeous).

SOFT DOLL ROSE : Rose is a doll who loves cuddles, just like a real baby. Full of softness (its weight resembles that of a real child) and love for the environment. Its interior is made with recycled materials.

PLUSH: WHEN IT WAS BORN AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE LITTLE ONES, PLUSH: WHEN IT WAS BORN AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE LITTLE ONES kids