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Original poster

How do i find this toy? Help!

127 replies

SinkGirl · 22/07/2019 16:25

My twins are both autistic and attend a local nursery - one has become very attached to a set of toy animals, especially this poor seal who is very worse for wear after he’s chewed it to death.

He’s just handed me the PECS card for it (unheard of) and cried because I don’t have it. Nursery have said we can take it home but I’m worried it will get lost, and I’d like to buy some so we have similar ones at home, plus replacements for nursery.

I don’t even know how to search for it - it’s that sort of rubbery, soft foamy texture.

Any ideas? The only text on it says “made in China” 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:

Thread gallery

bloodywhitecat · 22/07/2019 16:30

Is it squeezable? It looks like it could be a stress ball type thing

Original poster

SinkGirl · 22/07/2019 16:32

It’s that sort of material but not quite as squishy as a stress ball. He chews on it and it doesn’t break, whereas a stress ball would.

OP posts:

Elvesdontdomagic · 22/07/2019 16:36

Aw I had a quick google for you but I'm not sure! Much sympathy from a mum of an autistic girl who needed certain socks once! I put a public post on FB and was inundated with socks! People can be so kind, maybe give that a try? I think there's a fb group for finding things for autistic children-wish I could remember the name! Hopefully someone here will know x

FixTheBone · 22/07/2019 16:36

I normally try in google images - search for ' black sea lion' or 'sea lion toy' etc and scroll through the images until you find it.

Vesperia · 22/07/2019 16:41

I'd start with asking the school where they buy their toys & have a look there.

If not maybe it's some sort of stress toy or bath toy?

What's a PECS card OP?

LeonoraFlorence · 22/07/2019 16:42

Look up Little Blue Cup on Facebook for help finding one.

TeenTimesTwo · 22/07/2019 16:45

How big is it? Could you post another picture with a ruler or coin or something for scale?

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 22/07/2019 16:46

It looks like a modern version of this:

www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1964-Laflex-France-Baby-Seal-Animal-Rubber-Squeak-Toy-Works-/173963777920?_trksid=p2047675.m43663.l10137&nordt=true&rt=nc&orig_cvip=true

Not sure that's much help though.

Original poster

SinkGirl · 22/07/2019 16:48

Sorry - PECS is a system for non-verbal people that uses picture cards, they exchange the card for the item they want (that’s the basics anyway). He found the card for the seal in his folder which isn’t normally there (I just made it along with some others as he’s only just starting) - he normally only uses them to request snacks but he spotted the card inside his folder, handed it to me and got very upset when I didn’t have it!

OP posts:

chilledteacher · 22/07/2019 16:48

littlebluecup.org/

SweetLathyrus · 22/07/2019 16:49

Contact Little Blue Cup

They are a charity that finds things just like this for schildren with special needs.

SweetLathyrus · 22/07/2019 16:52

XPost (and terrible typos!)

But they are an awesome organisation. They get huge traction for their searches, so if anyone can find it, their network can.

WhenDoISleep · 22/07/2019 16:52

I think it is the one out of this set.

Baddaboom · 22/07/2019 16:53

Just had a google image search and the only one that looked anything similar was a vintage toy from 1964. There were also lots of other black rubber toys that would make your eyes water...

Sirzy · 22/07/2019 16:58

If it is from the Peterkin set linked above (and it looks similar) try contacting them directly as they may have some left even if not for sale anymore

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 22/07/2019 16:58

@WhenDoISleep You are amazing