The Best Stuffed Animals for Babies and Toddlers

Little Giraffe is a brand known for its oh-so-soft offerings, from baby blankets to cute stuffed animals—and this giraffe stuffie is no exception. It comes in two muted color variations and is made from a super-soft material, making it an all around sweet stuffed animal your newborn will love snuggling up with.

Age rating: 0+ months

Loveys work double duty as a security blanket and a cuddly toy. This option from the incredibly popular brand Jellycat features a playful pup hugging the edge and is the perfect size for newborns to clutch on to. Not a dog person? No worries—this plushie is available in a few different styles including a snuggly bunny and magical unicorn.

Age rating: 0+ months

Some of the best stuffed animals for newborns feature interactive elements that engage the five senses. Case in point: This soothing seahorse by Fisher-Price. The plush toy emits a soft glow from its tummy and plays a variety of comforting lullabies and ocean sounds. Plus, it’s the perfect size for little hands to grasp.

Age rating: 0+ months

Searching for an heirloom-quality stuffed animal? Look no further than cuddle + kind. Made by Peruvian artisans, these handmade toys are crafted from cotton yarn and stuffed with a hypoallergenic fill. There’s tons of sweet characters to choose from, but we adore Avery the Lamb who comes complete with striped overalls. Each doll is available in two sizes—20 inches or 13 inches—making them great sibling gifts too. The best part? This is a brand that gives back: For every doll sold cuddle + kind provides 10 meals to children in North America and around the world.

Age rating: 0+ months

Not only is this toy from Douglas soft and cuddly, but it projects a captivating display of the night sky and plays soothing lullabies. After five minutes of continuous play, the music will fade, allowing your little one to peacefully drift off to sleep. (Just remember not to place the toy inside baby’s crib!)

Age rating: 0+ months

This sausage dog, sporting a colorful striped sweater, is one of the cutest stuffed animals we’ve seen. Crafted from organic cotton, it’s decorated with delicate embroidery for safety, and also doubles as a rattle, making it a good choice for newborns and older babies alike. Bonus: Meri Meri has a few sweet rattles on offer, including a banana, monkey and an elf that’s perfect for baby’s first Christmas stocking.

Age rating: 0+ months

This plush octopus has eight floppy tentacles that babies will love to grasp and play with. Hello, fine motor skills! Plus, it’s super soft and cute to boot. Available in small, medium, large and extra-large sizes.

Age rating: 0+ months

Half blanket, half stuffed animal, this floppy bunny will be baby’s new BFF. Understuffed and ultra soft, it can be laid flat on the floor for tummy time or squished up for comforting cuddles. And thanks to its embroidered features, it’s a super-safe option. Better yet, it’s lightweight and small enough for little hands to clutch when they embark on new adventures.

Age rating: 0+ months

Steiff invented the Teddy Bear in 1902, and has continued to make top-tier stuffed animals ever since. Hand-crafted by talented artisans, this sweet bear is made using super-soft fabrics and has stitched features for safety. Better yet, this plush toy is certified as free of harmful substances by an independent testing organization. It comes in pink, blue and classic beige and even has the words “my first Steiff” embroidered on its paw. How cute is that?

Age rating: 0+ months

Around the seven month mark, baby begins to copy sounds and gestures. This interactive plush toy supports this developmental milestone while also keeping baby entertained. The musical toy has two fun play modes—press the left foot to play a game of peek-a-boo and the right to hear the tune “Do Your Ears Hang Low” in a sing-song voice. How fun!

Age rating: 0+ months

Different sounds and textures are endlessly fascinating to babies, and this plush caterpillar is full of them. Each soft section includes a fun surprise: From a tinkle chime in the tail to a rattle hidden inside its smiling face—and plenty more inbetween. It’s huggable, soft and makes for a perfect tummy time toy.

Age rating: 0+ months

The best stuffed animals for babies are snuggly, sweet and practical—and that’s where this playful lion plush toy comes in. It’s got no hard parts, is machine-washable and sits upright, meaning it won’t topple over during playtime. Plus, babies who are just starting to perfect their pincer grasp will love plucking the little bird out of its tummy pouch. Two toys for the price of one? Yes, please.

Age rating: 0+ months

Did you know that teething sensation Sophie La Girafe also comes in a plush version? This cuddly copy of everyone's favorite giraffe is filled with microbeads that make her easy to move around during play time, and is a petite six inches high—perfect for little hands to grasp. Fans of the Sophie teether will love this more “grown-up” stuffed option.

Age rating: 0+ months

Tired of pastel plushies and basic teddy bears? Inklings is here to mix things up. Inspired by weird and wacky imaginary friends, these stuffed animals certainly stand out from the crowd. There’s six characters to choose from including Wobby the Wild Eared Wala. The cute critter has crinkly textured ears, soft fur and a rattle hidden inside his burlap belly. Better yet, this toy brand is dedicated to diversity and inclusive characters take center stage in the accompanying board book series.

Age rating: 0+ months

Red & Olive is one of the cutest stuffed animal brands out there. Each fairtrade doll is lovingly made in Peru from the softest cotton and each detail is carefully considered. The baby collection is filled with knitted toys that fit in the palm of your hand and are perfectly sized for snuggles with your little one. Pro tip: For an extra-special gift check out the Match Me bundles that include a large stuffed animal and matching accessories for kids to wear.

Age rating: N/A

Sustainable stuffed animals tend to be more expensive than regular plushies. But that’s not the case with this cute duckling by GUND. It’s made from 100 percent recycled materials, equivalent to 10 plastic water bottles. And it doesn’t compromise on quality, this plush toy is incredibly soft and has embroidered features for baby’s safety.

Age rating: 0+ months

We’re big fans of Slumberkins, a brand that specializes in products that build social-emotional skills in little kids. Each plush toy is inspired by a different theme, such as gratitude, mindfulness and self-esteem. We love the colorful Dragon Kin, which comes with a board book and affirmation cards that promote a healthy sense of creativity. Bonus: Slumberkins also has free resources like coloring and activity sheets and games that you can download at any time.

Age rating: 3+ years

Looking for something a little different? Warmies are cute stuffed animal toys you can heat up in the microwave to provide up to an hour of warming comfort. (You can also chill them in the freezer for cooling relief.) They’re made from soft plush fabric with satin accents on the feet that baby will love to stroke. Warmies come in a range of characters and sizes, but we love this sweet puppy with soft, satin-lined ears. An added bonus? The toy is scented with French lavender, which has naturally soothing qualities.

Age rating: 0+ months

A stuffed animal is the perfect companion for tots on the move. And no matter where the journey takes you, Buddy Bear is ready to go! Designed with a narrow body, long limbs and weighted paws, Buddy is super-easy for little hands to hold onto. But because mishaps happen, you’ll find a name tag just below the tail so if Buddy gets lost he’ll always find his way back home.

Age rating: 0+ months

The best stuffed animals for toddlers spark their little imaginations—which is why we adore this cheeky monkey stuffie. The mix of soft, textured fabrics and bright patterns will inspire your child during playtime. Plus, the long arms and legs are easy for small kids to grab and hold onto when they want a hug. It’s made from recycled cashmere and cotton, so it’s luxuriously soft and perfect for snuggles. Better yet, Fly Little Bird donates 10 percent of each sale to Donate Life America, so you can be sure your purchase is making a difference.

Age rating: N/A

Animal-obsessed toddlers are sure to appreciate this cute panda. Made with huggably soft fabric, it comes with a pacifier, adoption certificate, care checklist and fun facts about animals in the wild. One thing’s for sure—this jungle dweller will make a top-notch cuddle companion for any little one.

Age rating: 18+ months

Soft and soothing, Bumpas weighted plush toys are taking the parenting world by storm. The cute characters weigh 3 pounds each and have long arms that wrap around your kiddo for comforting cuddles. Choose from six cute characters, but be warned your tot may want to collect them all.

Age rating: 3+ years

This one goes out to all the cat lovers out there! This sweet kitty is soft, cuddly and incredibly well-made. It has a tabby gray coat and a unique floppy pose, plus those paws are the perfect size for little hands to hold.

Age rating: 3+ years

Last up on our list of the best stuffed animals is a truly one-of-a-kind brand. As seen on Shark Tank, Budsies create custom plush toys based on your child’s drawings. Yes, really! To get started simply upload a photo of your artwork, describe the character, select a production time and you’re good to go. The talented team at Budsies will then make your kid’s creation from scratch.

Age rating: N/A