‘Stuffies’ offer comfort, security and support no matter how old you are.
Stuffed animals are one of the happy associations of childhood. By adolescence it is assumed that the child will have relegated the ‘stuffie’ to a shelf in their room, but not so much anymore.
We all have scents, sounds or visual reminders of our childhood that delight us. I still love the books and their characters that I loved as a child like Winnie the Pooh, Goodnight Moon, and The Wind in the Willows.
Stuffed animals fall into the category that psychologists call ‘transitional objects’. These are items that serve as a bridge back to childhood memories and experiences. A surprisingly large percentage of adults still keep childhood stuffed animals for comfort or nostalgia. While exact numbers vary, surveys and studies suggest that around 37-43% of adults admit to owning or sleeping with a stuffed animal.
For adults, the reasons are largely the same as when we were children:
- emotional attachment to nostalgia
- stress relief and lower anxiety
- sleep aid.
Childhood stuffed animals currently active in the life of one of my adult children
For many adults, stuffed animals provide comfort, emotional support, and a sense of security. The psychological reasons behind this attachment are deeply rooted in memory, nostalgia, and the emotional significance these objects hold. These items can symbolize innocence, safety, and a time when life was simpler. Holding onto a stuffed animal can act as a tangible connection to the past, providing comfort during stressful or uncertain times. This sense of nostalgia helps adults cope with the challenges of adulthood by offering a link to their formative years, where they felt secure and cared for.
Humans naturally form attachments to objects, especially those that are associated with positive experiences. Stuffed animals were often present during key moments of emotional development—times of joy, sadness, or anxiety. As adults, revisiting these objects can rekindle those feelings of comfort, familiarity, and reassurance. The tactile nature of a soft, comforting object helps soothe stress and anxiety, much like it did during childhood.
For some adults, having a stuffed animal is an intentional act of self-care. It serves as a reminder to tend to their emotional needs, offering a way to soothe themselves in a healthy manner. It can also allow people to reconnect with their inner child and find comfort in simpler things.
Photo from buildabear.com
Sleep has become a hot topic with sleep medications and aids increasing in popularity. Included in sleep aids are stuffed animals because they can make adults feel less anxious at bedtime. Build-A-Bear has a section on its website called “Stuffed Animals for Adults”. Twenty-five percent of the retailer’s stuffed animal sales are for teens and older.
Adults are not just hanging onto the battered and threadbare ‘stuffie’ from childhood. Many are purchasing new stuffed animals to commune with. It is called the ‘kidult’ market, usually referring to anyone over 12 years old. It is accounting for $9 billion in toy sales every year, and Gen Z (ages 18 – 24) is leading the pack with 65% of buyers.
Bottom line: Sleeping with a stuffed animal is appropriate for all ages.
