As an enduring favorite with most kids, I know stuffed animals hold a special place in many children’s hearts. I found many children still have their most treasured toys when they reach adulthood. While they might not look as plush or as brightly colored as when first purchased, they are still much loved – even with a few missing limbs! As a plush stuffed animal toys fan, I know they are the perfect companion for babies, toddlers, and older children. Parents usually find their children stuffed animals to comfort them at night, but many toys also have some interesting learning opportunities.
When looking to buy a stuffed toy, I found it’s important to choose products from reputable manufacturers rather than cheap imports. This is because they use quality materials to make these toys, reducing the risk of parts coming loose during play and posing a choking hazard to a baby or young child. With such a huge assortment of stuffed animals to choose from, it can be overwhelming, but here is my list of some fantastic toys and a few educational extras.
Stuffed Animals Who Love to Learn
 | LeapFrog My Pal Scout | Check price at |
 | Mother Goose Animated Soft Plush Toy | Check price at |
 | Sesame Street Talking ABC Elmo | Check price at |
 | Melissa & Doug Giant Tiger Lifelike Stuffed Animal | Check price at |
 | Giant Panda with Baby Stuffed Animal Toy | Check price at |
 | Stuffed Chihuahua Dog Toy Lowest Price | Check price at |
 | The Petting Zoo Anteater Stuffed Animal | Check price at |
1. LeapFrog My Pal Scout
The LeapFrog My Pal Scout is one of the cutest stuffed animals for kids. Scout is soft and cuddly but capable of teaching younger children all sorts of useful things, including first words, colors, numbers, feelings, and emotions. Scout will learn your child’s name – in fact, you can personalize him while he is still in the box! Connect Scout to a smartphone, computer, or tablet and personalize your child’s learning experience. Scout is pre-programmed with more than 40 different lullabies and songs, so your child can sing along during the day or be soothed into sleep at night.
2. Mother Goose Animated Soft Plush Toy
The Mother Goose soft plush toy made by Baby Love is a beautifully animated stuffed toy goose straight from the magical world of fairytales. The Mother Goose animated toy reads aloud five classic nursery rhymes, including Jack & Jill, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Humpty Dumpty, Little Bo Peep, and Hickory Dickory Dock. Your child can learn to sing along to the rhymes, and because the toy is animated, it will hold the attention of a small child for ages. It should even stop them crying!
3. Sesame Street Talking ABC Elmo
Everyone loves Sesame Street, so a talking Elmo toy makes a great gift for kids. Talking ABC Elmo from Sesame Street is a firm favorite with children who love stuffed animals. Strictly speaking, Elmo is not an animal, but he is great fun to play with, so we will give him the benefit of the doubt. The Sesame Street Talking ABC Elmo is made from high-quality materials and is 100% safe for kids of all ages. He sings a cute alphabet song, so kids can learn their ABCs when they play with him. Elmo also talks, which will help to encourage early speech. He is also very cuddly!
4. Melissa & Doug Giant Tiger Lifelike Stuffed Animal
The Melissa & Doug Giant Tiger is over 5 feet tall, more than enough for snuggling and cuddling from toddler to teen. This plush tiger is so realistic looking with its beautiful markings and tiger details that you could mistake it for the real thing. Thankfully, its main attack strategy is to be hugged and cuddled.
It’s huge, and I found kids love to play with it. Any child will adore this plush toy as a gift, and the soft polyester fabric is cuddly and durable, perfect for a child’s bedroom with a wildlife or animal theme. Beautifully designed this stuffed animal is made for imaginative play, fun adventures, and bedtime hugs. In addition, it may inspire kids to learn all about the Siberian tiger and other wildlife.
5. Giant Panda with Baby Stuffed Animal Toy
Stuffed animals do not come much cuter than the Giant Panda with Baby Panda. This is a high-quality toy for younger children. It is incredibly detailed, and the fur is super soft. Pop it in your baby’s cot, or let your toddler take it to bed. The baby panda is detachable, so children can play with it separately. As well as a soft, cuddly giant panda and baby toy, your child will also receive an endangered species e-book, so he can learn more about the plight of some of the world’s most endangered species.
6. Stuffed Chihuahua Dog Toy
Is your child desperate for a pet dog? If so, the stuffed Chihuahua dog from I-Best is a fantastic stepping stone to test the water. This is a perfectly formed pet Chihuahua toy so lifelike it looks just like the real thing, except it doesn’t need to be fed and you won’t need to take it for a walk! The I-Best Chihuahua is ideal for kids who want a pet dog, but are not old enough to take care of such a demanding pet. Emulation toys such as the I-Best pet Chihuahua teach children a sense of responsibility. Let your child take care of his pet Chihuahua. He can take it for a walk and cuddle up to it at night.
7. The Petting Zoo Anteater Stuffed Animal
The Anteater Stuffed Toy from The Petting Zoo is great fun for kids. This adorable anteater is very cuddly to hug. Its lifelike size makes it a great toy for learning about wildlife and sparking curiosity and interest in animals not commonly known to young children.
Made from about 17 recycled plastic bottles, this Wild Onez anteater plush toy will last for years. The stuffed animal is also an excellent educational tool for children promoting environmental consciousness while providing companionship and comfort. While cuddling the cute anteater, parents can teach children about the importance of sustainability, reducing waste, and the importance of preserving the natural environment and protecting anteaters and wildlife.
Educational stuffed animals make ideal gifts for babies and children. They encourage cognitive development and soon become firm favorites. However, you do need to ensure you are buying a quality toy. Look for toys that are made locally, or buy from a reputable retailer, as quality really counts with toys designed for younger children.
Feature image courtesy of Flickr, JD Hancock.
Reinvent everything with kids and families in mind, especially luggage, and small ball bowling, all of which was created for men, by men! Why leave money on the table?