this post was submitted on 24 May 2025
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[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

Hmmm, I am a 67 year old male and these are my stuffies. The one in the middle was my mother’s. Yes the hamster is wearing a space helmet.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

No one is gonna take my Blahaj

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Im 19 and I sleep with my Blåhaj :3

(The blahaj keeps me safe from transphobes)

[–] [email protected] 16 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

30s, still have one

It's a little yellow bear. And it's age is definitely showing. The stuffing has been replaced, the fur has has to be re-fluffed, some holed patched, and now there are more holes that need patched.

Part of keeping it is utility, it's a nice pillow to keep my arm in the right position. Part of it I'd sentimental.

My fiancé got a weighted dragon plush, it's long, like a 1/3rd sized body pillow. And I'm kinds jealous of her having it. So when I retire my yellow bear I might switch to that.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago

Tutter fuckin’ rules.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I don't normally sleep with a stuffed animal but when my two toddlers are spending the night at my inlaws, I'll sometimes grab a couple of their stuffies to sleep with because I miss them and it makes me feel better.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I had awful parents so I really like reading loving comments like this

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Not having good parents is hard. Hugs

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 days ago

Thanks internet parent!

[–] [email protected] 23 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I'm 43 and I had to retire my favorite stuffed animal because his arm was getting threadbare and I was afraid it would fall off, so now he sits on my makeup desk. His name is Rufus and he was Avon's Christmas 1982 Plush Puppy.

My current stuffed animal is a lion cub I bought in the mid-2000s to take with me on my study abroad in Paris. His name is Ruffles (like the potato chip).

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 days ago

They say thank you ;)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago

Get a pitty. They'll make sure you go to bed on time, too. Worked for The Little Rascals.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Reading the comments and didn't expect to feel like the odd one out regarding this. 38, haven't slept with my stuffed animals since probably before I was twelve? Am I strange? I guess I just don't feel insecure without them. 🤷‍♂️

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

This comment section is self selecting for people, who hold onto their plushies for longer, than what society considers normal.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

I had that feeling, yes. I still want to believe most people don't cling to their stuffed animals past their teens.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 days ago (1 children)

When I was young I really liked them, right up until my dad made me feel terrible for doing so. I'm pretty sure he was embarrassed by it.

I didn't really think or care about this for a long time, until randomly one time at an IKEA I saw a guy in his mid 20s who just chose a stuffed animal, hugging it and smiling. His family was with him, and they were smiling and supportive. When I got back to the car I couldn't stop crying because the only response I ever got from my family was being yelled at or mocked. I may even have cried while writing this, so perhaps I'm still a tad upset.

My wife really likes stuffed animals however - and we have a raccoon that comes in the bed sometimes. The raccoon also came to a music festival with me once:

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Yeah I get the feeling that grown adults who still cling to stuffed animals are also clinging to some ~~hard-core~~ [doesn't have to be hard-core at all, when I think about it] unresolved emotional baggage as well. Which is fine, but it should be processed. ❤️

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Definitely could be.. but I also imagine some people just think they are cute / neat

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

Definitely. Just the perceived need to sleep and cuddle with inanimate things feels different from thinking they are cute.

I think some birds are cute but I don't want to cuddle or sleep with them in my bed, even if they were clean enough for it to be okay.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

A lot of males or kids raised masculine have that habit broken real fast.

For the majority of the western world, it's still considered cute and more than acceptable for women to have stuffed toys into adulthood, or that it's feminizing in some way. Try that as a guy past a certain age though and you're more likely to flip a coin on social acceptance from friends, family and strangers alike.

It's a funny example how social pressure to conform to arbitrary standards and social norms is generational even if it makes no objective sense.

(For the dense out there, if you're here to reply arguing about the acceptability of having a teddy bear as a man or woman because of your personal story/kink, you're missing the leading subtext.)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

A lot of males or kids raised masculine have that habit broken real fast.

I'm sure that's common, indeed. I for one was raised by my mother and I don't think she was pushing stuffed animals on or off me. But I'm sure society has in some way or another.

But deep down I really have no interest in using them, which is some kind of indicator to me. I find them practically in the way, in my bed, in my couch—I can't stand my kids' stuffed animals, e.g. But I love that they love them. 😅

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

It's definitely something I wouldn't admit in person. But fuck the modern definition of masculinity tbh.

I cry. I don't like hunting or sports. Or drinking, or doing stupid things or making every waking moment about sleeping with the next woman. I'm not handy, but there isn't a lot I can't do.

To me, masculinity feels more like alertness. The ability to handle anything that comes my way. The ability to solve problems in unconventional ways with the resources I have. Being able to own my faults and weaknesses.

I might not be strong physically, but I'm strong mentally. It might not seem that way to other people, but I'm still around aren't I? Yeah, I know I'm not physically attractive to most women, but I learned my lesson on the importance of physical attraction in a relationship. It's a small part.

I ain't getting rid of my bear, and I won't expect my son to either. Damn whatever his mom thinks. What's important is who we are, not what others think us to be.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago

Right on! I think it's awesome when someone confidently knows themself.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I'm glad you posted this. My 35ish year old Bear Bear often gets tossed out of bed in the middle of the night because I adjust sheets or whatever and noticed just now he wasn't with me. I found him, but he's been through thick and thin with me.

His color has long faded. His stuffing incredibly compressed. Probably more fragile than I want to believe.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Out of curiosity, would you prefer him as is, or restored (restuffed, redyed, etc.) but otherwise still the same physical Bear Bear? I guess this is a modern Ship of Theseus type question.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

As is. Wouldn't have him any other way.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago

That makes sense, thanks for the answer!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 days ago

I love my sheep okay

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 days ago

I still sleep with a nightlight and I'm in my late twenties

[–] [email protected] 49 points 4 days ago (1 children)

40s here, wearing my kitty onesie in bed with a stuffed owl.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 4 days ago

You're my kinda person

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago
[–] [email protected] 27 points 4 days ago (2 children)

38 and have my stuffed dog and wolf in bed with me. My real dog is jealous, but she's in the bed too.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago

Ayy same age, got a stuffed whale and a stuffed kitty!

[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 days ago

Yep I'm well into 40s and I sleep with a toy cat

[–] [email protected] 24 points 4 days ago (1 children)

it's all fun and games until you start wearing them

[–] [email protected] 14 points 4 days ago

Then it gets better, ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 days ago

I mean, they're better company than the vast majority of the human race.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 4 days ago

37 years old, I have the plush elefant, rabbit, polar bear, koala and toad I grew up with sitting on a chest of drawers next to my bed, my toad especially means a lot to me, it is in my list of five things I would try to save in case of a fire.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 days ago

Unfortunately my stuffed animals have been relegated to living in the closet since my real animal takes up their former bed space, and also loves shredding plushies lol. But that was me until a few years ago!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago

Just turned 40 and have a Giggle Scape Purple Hippo next to me right now.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 days ago

Swapped it for a real animal personally 😅