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Parenting

Should I give her her cuddly toy back?

62 replies

SilverBellsandCockleShells · 02/09/2013 20:10

My seven-year-old daughter has, pretty much since birth, only gone to sleep with the aid of a specific soft toy. We spotted her attachment at an early age and bought in several spares but sadly only the original was ever good enough!

A week ago, we went on holiday which involved an overnight stay at a hotel near the airport and a very early start. In our haste to get our flight, her toy, let's call it Hippo, remained tucked up in bed and got left behind. His absence wasn't noted until we reached our destination, several hours later.

After a few initial tears, she settled down to sleep OK and the rest of the week was spent without a mention of the lost Hippo. On the flight back home, she asked if we'd go back to the hotel and get him but we didn't really have time. First night home we had a few more wobbles bit again she slept fine and has now admitted she doesn't really need Hippo or any of his friends to get to sleep.

In the meantime, I have spoken to the hotel, who have tracked down her cuddly toy and are sending it back to me shortly. Question is, when I get it back do I give it to her and risk regression or allow her the joy of being reunited?

I know it's a minor problem but I can't decide what to do!

TIA

OP posts:
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WhoNickedMyName · 02/09/2013 20:13

Yes give it back to her. Don't be mean!

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chelsbells · 02/09/2013 20:14

Personally I'd give it back to her.... Sleeping with a teddy isn't going to cause her major issues when she's older... She's proved she can do without it so she may be less dependant on it anyway at bedtime! :)

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GwendolineMaryLacey · 02/09/2013 20:15

Yes give it back!

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waterrat · 02/09/2013 20:16

Aaah I would give it back! It's really nice and comforting and will help when she is ill or has trouble settling ..

You could have a rule tht the toy doesn't leave the cot at home

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waterrat · 02/09/2013 20:17

Sorry - I said cot then realised she is older than that!

Definitely give it back she will be so happy!

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AFishWithoutABicycle · 02/09/2013 20:21

Give him back and take some photos of what he's been up to and a post card.
She won't be taking it to uni, so if she only has him for bed where's the harm.

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CreatureRetorts · 02/09/2013 20:23

She might take it to uni like my DH but who cares?!

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MissOtisRegretsMadam · 02/09/2013 20:25

Makes home schooling seem appealing Grin

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MissOtisRegretsMadam · 02/09/2013 20:25

Wrong thread!

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PoppyWearer · 02/09/2013 20:26

Oh gosh, give it back, please!

I have traumas related to my DMum taking cuddly toys off me when I was maybe 3 or 4yo.

(hence my DCs now have twenty billion* cuddly toys and I never throw any of them away)

(*approx)

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nickelbabe · 02/09/2013 20:27

give it back!

jesus!

I have a teddy bear that I slept with whenever I wasn't in bed with my ex and dh.

and I'm 37

in fact, if it weren't for sleeping with dd, I would be sleeping with it when dh goes on holiday in october.

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spanky2 · 02/09/2013 20:28

Give it back . I still have pink mouse and I'm40!

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LumpySpacePrincessOhMyGlob · 02/09/2013 20:28

Of course you give it back.

sniffs Mr. donkey

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nickelbabe · 02/09/2013 20:30

fish I took my bear to uni.
he even met lads I got off with.
if they didn't accept the bear, they didn't get to stay.

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SmallTorch · 02/09/2013 20:31

Yes, give it back!

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StrangeGlue · 02/09/2013 20:33

Give it back! I still have my ted now! It hasn't caused me to regress Hmm

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orangeandemons · 02/09/2013 20:33

My nearly 20 year old ds still has his doggy. He'd be gutted if anything happened to it

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Ifcatshadthumbs · 02/09/2013 20:34

Give it back you meaner! I still have a bear from 30 years ago. I don't sleep with it anymore but it's the only thing I still have from childhood so has a lot of sentimentality.

She's only 7 lots of children that age sleep with their teddies.

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SilverBellsandCockleShells · 02/09/2013 21:11

OK, OK, I'll give it back. You don't think she'll regress to the same level of neediness if I give it back?

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belatedmaybe · 02/09/2013 21:16

I wouldn't! Well I would but not straight away. I would let her independence set in a little more as she is happy enough then give it back.

This way it hasn't been torn from her but will be the lovely toy she used to need to sleep rather than the lovely toy she does need to sleep! (But I am a meany Wink)

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whois · 02/09/2013 21:20

You don't think she'll regress to the same level of neediness if I give it back?

No idea but does it really matter? People grow out of bears in their bed eventually - going to uni, or a boyfriend asking "WHAT is that?" or similar.

You've got DH in your bed for comfort, the bear is harmless enough.

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CreatureRetorts · 02/09/2013 21:21

Who cares if she needs a cuddly? What on earth do you think will happen?

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MirandaWest · 02/09/2013 21:22

Definitely give it back.

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InTheRedCorner · 02/09/2013 21:23

Yes give it back, she loves it!

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Fuzzymum1 · 03/09/2013 10:02

If DS3's Bearemy got left somewhere I would definitely let him have it back. There have been occasional days when he doesn't have him to go to sleep but usually he does. It's not going to do any harm -unlike a dummy etc - DS3 is 6.7 and still takes a muslin to bed as does his 15yo brother but he thinks we don't know I don't have a problem with it - I think DS1 might even be planning to take his tabby cat cuddly toy to uni in a couple of weeks!

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