A Selection of The Best Soft Toys of All Time
One of the first toys we are given as a child is a stuffed or soft toy and they often stay by our side, tucked next to us in bed or clutched in our hand for many years of our childhood. Do you remember your first soft toy? We certainly do! Who needs Barbie dolls or a trampoline? Those kinds of toys aren’t going to do the best job at making you feel safe or comforted quite in the same way as a soft teddy bear or plush toy will.
There are so many examples of classic soft toys on the market today. However, we’ve selected our top picks for this exclusive list. Pretty much all of the stuffed toys on this list are animals, demonstrating how much we are comforted by living things from nature in our early years. The exception to this is the Furby, Beanie Babies and Elmo, all of which are iconic toys from the 90s. Bears tend to be one of the most popular types of animal that we like to snuggle up to as kids.
Beanie Babies
These toys come in so many different forms but mainly stick to animal shapes. With regards to collector’s items, certain editions of Beanie Babies are very valuable and can sell for a lot of money. According to one article, the single most valuable Beanie Baby is Princess the Bear, who can fetch between $10,000 and a whopping $500,000, but this comes down to what your toy is filled with. Guess you better go check your toy collection or the attic in case you’re sitting on a gold mine
Paddington Bear
This classic character lends itself very well to being a soft children’s toy, partly because he’s a bear and kids love bears! They’re so soft and cuddly. Fans of the books, tv shows and films will be delighted to have a physical iteration of this beloved character to cosy up to.
Care Bears
This band of adorable, multi-coloured creatures originally started as illustration works for greetings cards in the 1980s, and then were later turned into plush toys. One of the sweetest and most adorable stuffed toys on this list, the care bears’ mission is to care for you and bring strength and harmony. With cute names such as Tenderheart Bear, Good Luck Bear, Share Bear and Bedtime Bear, there is a beautiful Bear out there for everyone.
Furby
Created in 1998, the Furby was a very sought-after toy that reached cult status amongst kids. Every child wanted to get their hands on a Furby. Even though the toy is electronic, it’s still fluffy and cute enough to deserve a spot on this list. The design of the Furby resembles an owl-like creature with its big eyes, and was an absolute “must-have” at the time, although its popularity has certainly continued across the decades since its release.
Build-a-bear
Another American company creating iconic teddy bears, the Build-a-bear Workshop has produced some amazing bears as well as other stuffed animals and characters that populate their world. One of the most popular designs is their classic Timeless Teddy, which comes in loads of uniforms and outfits such as the business suit, firefighter uniform or police officer.
Winnie The Pooh
Another timeless fictionalised character, also referred to as Pooh or Pooh Bear, this little honey-obsessed bear is friendly and gentle. Exactly the kind of characteristics you want in a furry friend!
Tickle Me Elmo
This kid’s plush toy is the character from the popular TV show, Sesame Street, which amazingly has been running since 1969. When you squeezed Elmo, the toy vibrates, shakes and giggles. 1996 saw Elmo fever sweep across the toy industry. Everybody wanted one in the lead up to the festive season, and when it sold out after Thanksgiving in the States, everyone lost their minds. The craze saw people reselling Tickle Me Elmo for as much as $1,500 online. Alongside Hatchimals and Cabbage Patch Kids, this remains one of the major toy phenomenons.
