Too old for teddies?

[Burtz]

This is more out of curiosity then an ongoing issue, but I've always wondered when is the "normal" age to stop sleep with a stuffed animal or "teddie" as my family called them.

Most children have a stuffed animal that they're more attached to and may carry round and sleep with. When I was growing up I had a brown bear called Ben that I loved and my sister had a panda. We both carried on sleeping (cuddling at night) with our teddies until our teens. I know a couple of other people who stop sleeping with there's at a range of ages such as 10, 13, and some who never had one at all.

However there was a few times in my teens that I wondered whether any of my friends still slept with teddies and if I was weird. For me I stopped when I was 16 (and had my first boyfriend) and my sister left her panda behind when she moved out for uni. I must admit after I broke up with that boy at 18, (it was an very bad relationship) I cuddled my bear a few times for comfort at night.

Many people I've spoke to about this consider myself and my sister odd for having teddies for so long, we did come from a household of divorce so maybe this is a contributing factors and I've always wondered why my mum never tried to take them away.

Does anyone else have an opinion on what age children should have teddies until or if parents should intervene at a certain age and wean them off??

[Joanna1232]

I don't know the answer to the age thing as I had them untill about 11 years old. One day I came home from school and my mum had removed them from the bed and told me I was too old. I'm in my thirty's ans still remember it. More for the feeling of being told to grow up quicker than I wanted to. I will never tell mine they are too old for teddies because of this. Sorry if that doesn't help.

[Jossina]

Never. There is no cut off age and it seems more than a bit cruel to institute one.

[Burtz]

All contributions very helpful and interesting.

I'm just curious to see everyone answers and points of view on this, no judgments :)

[mumwon]

old pensioner teddy is retired in my wardrobe he does stay on my bed because he is too fragile

[mumwon]

doh -he doesn't stay ...

[strawberrylipgloss]

I think it's fine to have a teddy in your bed however old you are.

I think if you're cuddling a teddy at work that would be strange (unless you work at Build a Bear perhaps) but your bed is a safe space and as long as it doesn't negatively affect sleep then it's fine.

I think more people have one than you think. They don't advertise it as they don't want to be judged as immature

[hungrycater]

I've never stopped and I'm 36

[Prettylittlelady]

I haven’t stopped yet at 32.