Has anyone ever replaced a child's doll or teddy with an identical one?

[Kathyis6incheshigh]

And if so, did you tell them or let them think it was the same one? And did they guess?

We've replaced a doll that got lost - was special present from Granny. DD only has 2 dolls, so it seemed a bit mean not to. Am pondering how to approach it.

[PeatBog]

No never never

the bunny that got lost was miraculously found, though strangely much cleaner and fluffier than before

she never guessed.

[NAB3wishesfor2008]

Our DD got really attached to a soft toy Piglet when she was small so we bought a spare. She still favoured the first one though and one night we just could not find him and gave her the other. No, no good. Eventually found the other and she settled straight away. We I was heartbroken when we lost them both within a month and then a few weeks later we found one of them in the wardrobe so big happiness all round. Kids are clever.

[mumblechum]

Have done it with a hamster when Hamster No 1 went AWOl.

[NoBiggy]

I have got spares tucked away, but no sooner have they decded that one fluffy must be with them always than they move on to the next.

Fickle, my kids.

My sister recommends rotating them once in a while so they get equally worn, btw.

[diplodocus]

My DD is so fond of her soft dog I bought a spare just in case. They are now alternated so they wear at the same rate - the "spare" is washed and tumble dried in the dead of night and hidden in a secret location. Did feel a bit uncomfortable about it at first, and am wondering when I finally tell (when she leaves home? Gets married? Has children of her own?.

[HuwEdwards]

DD lost Tigger when she was 2. She can ONLY sleep when she's got Tigger (even now at 5yo)

We took her to a shop and got a replacement - he just slipped into place without a problem.

[Indith]

Ds is only one so this may yet backfire but we just have 2 of his fave dou dou on the go at once, they are not alternated just both around so he picks one up. Of course when he is 3 he will be totally unable to go to sleep without having both

[Indith]

marma that posting story is pure genius

[Kathyis6incheshigh]

Oh, lots of people then!
I don't want her granny to find out because she'll insist on paying for the new one and she can't really afford it.

Might take the risk of not saying anything!

[PippiCalzelunghe]

yup. mini teddy survived a million holidays, even swam on the med, only to accidentally being left behind at a petrol station by a overloaded, tired pg mum after collecting DD from childminder. I searched for him everywhere and then gave up. 6 months later I 'saw' him in a shop. bought it and hid it. one day when at my mum the doorbell rung and when DD opened the door here was the teddy with a mini suitcase. She was over the moon although she did not seem to mind at first and kept talking about teddy's holiday for a long time. she was 2.

impressed at you lot for having doubles - very organised!

[GooseyLoosey]

Yes, but only with an identical object.

[PippiCalzelunghe]

ps: tbh the most impressed and happy was dh who is still scarred by having lost his teddy on a holiday when a kid. so there: replace replace if you can, dh has got loads of emotional issues because of that .

[Cappuccino]

we had two Noddies; Upstairs Noddy and Downstairs Noddy. dd1, who thought they were one and the same, lost D.N. on the way home from somewhere

"Maybe he walked home before us" I said to wailing child

On arriving at home I hissed 'Upstairs Noddy!' and he went and fetched it

much amazement and delight

[Kathyis6incheshigh]

Pippi & Capp - what brilliant stories! Maybe I should do the suitcase thing with doll Trouble is, dd would probably be so excited she would tell granny and granny would guess.

[Polgara2]

Oh yes, when dd1 was small we had 5 white teddies because they kept getting so grubby. Did eventually tell her after about the third one! She thought it was a great idea fortunately.

[PippiCalzelunghe]

kathy yes she will say it. my dd had very limited vocabulary at the time but managed to repeat 'teddy door ding dong oohhh cuddle love you' a million times to anyone who cared to listen.

granny could only be happy though for dd being so attached to her dolly and will understand you replacing it and not asking her to do it.

also I'd never say it to a child untill they are past adulthood. I still 'know' every details of all my teddies and I'd have been devasted at the time to think they were impostors.

[BabiesEverywhere]

We requested a spare Piglet from the family member who kindly bought the first one, which DD took a shine too.

Sadly Piggie 2 is a shade lighter and she noticed, so while she'll accept Piggie 2 for an afternoon nap, he won't do for the night sleep. So Piggie 1 gets washed, dried and back in time for the evenings.

Also our piggie's are cot toys only, if they don't leave the house as often, we are less likely to lose them. (I hope)

[PippiCalzelunghe]

babieseverywhere do you wash piglet everyday?

[BabiesEverywhere]

God no, I mean when he gets washed, I make sure I choose my time carefully.

I reckon he gets washed every 2/3 weeks on average or a lot more if she has a cold.

[BabiesEverywhere]

~Hopes she is not a complete slattern~
How often should favorite toys be washed ?

[FunkyGlassSlipper]

We have monkey 1 and monkey 2. One has a mouth and one doesnt but DD1 who is nearly 4 hasnt noticed enough to be upset. She did ask once why monkey wasnt smiling.

They are washed interchangeably,

Back to the OP. A neighbour gave us a duck that was lost within a week of it being given to us. I called the zoo she got it from and ordered a replacement. I didnt tell her.

[Hassled]

Yes, Tyler the doll got left behind in Great Yarmouth. I can't really think of a worse fate. Anyway, we bought a new Tyler, DD (then about 3) obviously knew it was new, more than happy with the arrangement just as long as she had a doll.

[brendar75]

My DS has a 'Taz' (tasmanian devil) who is the absolute favourite cannot-be-put-down toy, and I have four of them in total!! He goes into the wash every week and is replaced with one of the others while DS is in the bath, so one never gets too dirty or distinctive.

[PippiCalzelunghe]

babieseverywhere you are not a slattern... I am! mine get washed when DD decideds to give them a bath ... with her .

ah we also replace the goldfish, but that's easy.