AIBU – For wanting to break up with my 23 year old partner because he sleeps with a stuffed animal?

I am normally very skeptical when people here refuse to give details of a hobby because it would be too identifying to anyone who knew them irl, but “building a new 15-20 foot dragon plushie to sleep with every year” might force me to eat my words.

Dragons are like Whippets- They curl up small.
dragon🐉🐲

I don't see any harm in it, OP.

Might have to do similar...he keeps taking mine. Says it's very comfortable..... I'm curious about this dragon that op mentioned as sounds amazing

Asian Robert Pattinson you say? Plus all the driving, the shows. You would be crazy to dump him over this. Out of interest I’m of East Asian descent, what are his parents are like? they can be massively over bearing. Have you met them? I mean I never even told my Dad I dated.

Everyone has their quirks and this seems on the endearing side. I'm impressed that he makes these dragons himself. That's a good crafting skill to have.

Stuffed animals themselves aren't even that unusual. Adults don't really talk about them but many people I know (including both DP and I, though we don't sleep with them) have managed to retain a sentimental one from childhood.

I missed the 15-20 foot long!! Our bed is 7ft long, so that's almost 3 bed lengths. I have no rooms in my house with a 20ft long wall

He drives you to work at 5am when he doesn't start until 9am.
I would put up with someone who had a bed with a soft toy in for that.

He's probably just s side sleeper who likes the pillow next to him for support.

And I absolutely agree with this post of @MrsTerryPratchett .
Even if you put 6.30 instead of 4.30 not many will do this.

Most of the "things you’d expect most men to do regardless" are not things most men do. You have an exceptionally kind, loving and generous boyfriend.

The average bed is just over 6 feet long. If your boyfriend's stuffed dragon is three times as long the bed, then yes, you have a problem. Every house you live in as a couple will have to have a bedroom the size of an aircraft hangar, which will be really expensive.

If the dragon is the size of a body pillow, then it's the equivalent of body pillow, which is not an issue. He sleeps with it because it's comfortable. He builds a new one every year for fun; the same reason you play the games you play and watch the shows you like even though he doesn't get why you like them.

If your "gut tells you there is something wrong about this situation," you either have irritable bowel syndrome or you're looking for a reason to break up with this guy who, at worst, has a sense of fun. Ask yourself why you're looking for a reason.

I thought that too!
It sounds amazing!

Hand washing makes sense because a 20ft dragon would not fit in a washing machine…

You don't need anyone's permission to dump him, OP. To be honest, if you're deeply inexperienced and only 23, I'd give myself a lot more time to see who's out there.

If he builds a new one every year how many has he got, where does he keep them? Sounds like a kind guy who treats you well,

You'd expect most men to drive you to work at 5am even though they start at 9? And to watch TV shows they hate?
It's clear you're a bit naive. If you think the dragon is a turn off then tell him. But if he cuddles up to it when you're not there then how will you know?
Tell him it seems childish. He'll probably still do it but feel the need to hide it from you.
I sleep with a cuddle pillow when alone. Not a dragon, but still. I'm in my mid 40s.
Obviously I'm female but if he's not doing it while you're there is it that much if a problem?

50 here. And when I moved in with my husband 28 years ago, I bought him his own stuffed toy as I kept waking up in the night and he had stolen mine :D

It would put me right off.

Yes to this ^
and hand washing makes sense as otherwise it might affect decorations or whatever he adds or shrink the thing. And he adds whatever he adds for fun, like some people buy t-shirts or socks or bedding with characters or slogans.
I don’t do anything like these but I’m quite boring type, I openly admit it. I’m suspicious even about coloured socks, luckily for me DH preferred black ones when we met 30 years ago.

How big is his bed, 20ft seems extreme. I still sleep with a cuddly toy, comfort has no upper age limit.

If it was very thin and coiled up it could be 20ft.

36 here, had a cuddly dog I’ve slept with until I had my first child and kept thinking it was her I was squashing.

He sounds lovely.

You can dump someone for any reason at all. You are allowed in all circumstances. People, particularly women are told to give a reason. Nope. The reason can be, 'I don't like your face' if you want. Two people start a relationship, one person leaves. You don't need the other person to agree you're allowed.

However, He drives me to work at 5-6am most days even though he starts at 9am. Prioritises spending time with me above his friends, wants to play and watch games/shows that I like (even though I know he hates them), listens to me, holds hands etc. Things I’d expect most men to do regardless.

Good luck if you think most men are emotionally intelligent, confident and will get up at 4.30am to drive you to work when they don't have to. He sounds like a gem. He may not be the gem for you, and that's OK, but his dragon is fine.

To put into some perspective - the average height of a two storey house in the UK is 20ft.

This stuffed toy might very well be annoying but it’s not 20ft.

You've got the ick and whether reasonable or not it's difficult to go back from that now

I’m struggling to picture this 15-20 feet long dragon. 15 feet would be more than twice the length of his bed and longer than an average sized bedroom 😳