How old is too old for a comfort teddy?

[ZestyLemons]

7yo carries his crusty old teddy that he's had since birth with him everywhere. Has to be reminded not to take it out with him, at home it's permanently stuck under one arm and we are forever telling him to put it down (eg if asked to take something up to his bedroom he has to be reminded that teddy doesn't need to go with him/he'd be able to carry his cup of water without spilling it if he didn't have teddy lodged under his arm/doesn't need to be at the dinner table with him). It has been to school with him a few times and he's been laughed at by peers. Getting it in the wash is a battle.
He's a sensitive little boy. Wondering if this is normal.

[devildeepbluesea]

Completely normal. My best friend from uni is 48 and still has hers.

[SoMuchToBits]

I'm 58 and still have mine. He doesn't go everywhere with me these days, but does still come on holiday!

[NewAndImprovedNorks]

What is ‘normal’ doesn’t matter
It gives him comfort and reassurance and causes no harm.

Grayson Perry has ‘Alan Measles’ who is still very much part of his life and his work.

[EyeDrops]

32 and still have my teddy by my bed.

That said, it does sound a little extreme to not want to put it down even at 7 years old. Has he always been that attached?

[chocolicious]

My daughter is 32 and still has a teddy in the bed she shares with her husband.

[SunbathingDragon]

He’s seven and on top of that, we’re in the middle of a pandemic. I think it’s fine and some adults still have their own comforters even if they aren’t toys.

[Didiusfalco]

I’d obviously stop the school thing so he is not teased but apart from that I think it’s sad to try and stop a child being comforted.

[Zoflorabore]

I’m 42 and sleep with a cuddly crocodile!

My dd is 9 and has various comforting night time creatures. Ds is 17 and has his old bear on his bed and I occasionally find him cuddling it while he’s asleep

I wouldn’t give it a second thought op.

[user1635482648]

I wholeheartedly agree with this:

He’s seven and on top of that, we’re in the middle of a pandemic. I think it’s fine and some adults still have their own comforters even if they aren’t toys.

And this:

I’d obviously stop the school thing so he is not teased but apart from that I think it’s sad to try and stop a child being comforted.

Stop harassing the poor child and let him make use of something that brings him comfort. It's not doing any harm, but you interfering and making a big deal out of it might.

[Zoflorabore]

Ps the crocodile was dd’s at one point and he comes to every school play etc and her class think he’s cute!

[ZestyLemons]

He's always been this attached, pandemic has made no difference. I don't know if I should be concerned as neither of his siblings (1 older 1 younger) have comfort objects.

[caribooshriek]

I'm 57 and still have my baby blanket.

[caribooshriek]

Why on earth would you be concerned, OP?

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

God I remember the fight I had with my step-father who thought 8 was too old for a comfort teddy!

I wouldn't be worried about this at all. I agree that taking it to school should be stopped but that's more about keeping it from getting lost/damaged.

He will absolutely grow out of this when he's ready, DS teddy still sits in the corner of his bed and while he does not look at it from one month to the end, he does not give a fuck who notices or comments.

[Epigram]

My DD is 12 and still sleeps with hers. It's less important to her now though. When she was 7 she was like your DS.

[Grapesoda7]

My daughter is like this with hers, she's just turned 8. She seems to think of it as a real person! It brings her lots of pleasure though, helps her to sleep and calm down.

It's like dummies, they all grow out of it in the end, some kids just don't really bother in the first place.

[Cheeeeislifenow]

My almost eleven years old D's. Tucks his teddies in for bed every night, I actually think it's a lovely trait and looking after things nicely develops empathy.
My six year old ds (asd) adores his teddies and sometimes I can't find him in the b d, he has teddies with him all day as he loves being comfortable and loves soft things.

[Shinygreenelephant]

My 11 year old adores her giant teddy. Way too big to carry around or sit at the table with but hes often next to her on the couch, she lies on him to read and has never slept without him. He often features in her tik tok videos, he goes on sleepovers and school residentials with her and while children have made comments she's certainly never been embarassed about it and is very confident and popular - never teased. I think its lovely and at 7 in the middle of a scary unfamiliar situation I think you need to stop hassling him and let him cuddle his teddy.

[DelurkingAJ]

40 and my bear is sat on my dressing table. He came on holidays until I was taking a boyfriend instead. And even then he certainly came to uni with me. I was far from alone. Gentle ribbing from the odd person was as far as it went. I was teased a little at junior school when he came on an overnight trip but nothing major (one of the teachers suggested that I should have a caricature made with me clutching my bear by his leg). I was feisty enough to deal with it but I can see it would have upset a sensitive child.

I think what I’m saying is let him be. He’ll adjust and his real friends won’t blink.

[Littleshortcake]

Mine are 5 and 6 and attached to theirs. They don't bring them to school but they have little things they bring (ds wanted a teddy pencil case which is much the same as his comforter and also favourite keyring they twiddle)

I wouldn't worry they will grow out of it

[Handsnotwands]

83 ish

[Azaziel]

I’m nearly 40 and still have mine. If he’s getting laughed at at school then I’d make him keep it in the house, otherwise let him crack on

[JaneJeffer]

Never too old.

[rosegoldwatcher]

My youngest son took Brown Bear to Y6 end of year camp, securely fastened to the inside bottom of his sleeping bag.

Brown now lives in Edinburgh with his 26 year old owner.

[Snagscardies]

He's too old when he decides. I often find girls are allowed to have soft toys longer than is deemed appropriate for boys which is sad. My 11 year old still take his toy on sleepovers, he started secondary so stuffed him at the bottom of his bag when he went to a new friend's house, new friend had soft toy hidden under his pillow.