How do i find this toy? Help!

[SinkGirl]

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” 🤦‍♀️

I love threads like this Well done!!

Glad it's been tracked down!

Hooray! Warm happy feeling here too. It reminds me that there are more nice people than nasty.

I am very impressed by those who found it!

Oh my goodness, thank you so much - I’ve been sick as a dog this afternoon so I missed all the helpful comments at the time. Thanks again, I so appreciate your help - hopefully I can get some now! You’re all amazing

This thread has made me happy. I hope his sea lion brings joy. Maybe give a new ones to the nursery in exchange for his beloved one?

Brilliant work, MN!

What a lovely feel good post! Well done to those who took the time to track it down! X

Posts like these are why I love mumsnet. Hope your little boy is as over the moon as you OP

rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F183025692294

Is this cheaper ?

Honestly I didn’t think for a second that I would ever find this actual random seal - I just thought someone might have something similar and know where they got it from! I’m absolutely amazed and so grateful. Every morning when I drop him off at nursery, he waits patiently for me to take his shoes off and then darts across the room to the box where the animals live then chucks them all out until he finds his seal. He loves it so much, and he’s really not attached to anything else. This will make him so happy!

I will of course buy some extras for the nursery too, either of this set or similar :)

They are cheaper but it’s hard to tell if they’re the right sort of material - seems like the seller linked upthread has multiple sets. Going to message them and ask how many, and buy a few!

Hurrah. A feel good thread with hopefully a happy ending.
And the reason I still come on here so often.
all round x

What a great ending to a thread! Good luck OP, I found the bit about your DS finding the PECS card & showing it to you really moving 😌

Thank you - it’s a huge thing for us. Last week is the first time he used a card for a toy. I asked him if he wanted it and he actually walked past me to find his folder, pick the right card and brought it back to me. It’s like a miracle - until now he’s had no way of telling me what he wants which is so hard for him. It broke my heart today that he asked me for something and I couldn’t give it to him - you should have seen his little face when he was looking through the folder and saw the seal, he did a little double take and then stared at it really hard for a second - then handed it to me with a big smile. I felt awful! He has never paid much attention to cards other than for snacks so I didn’t expect it!

Thanks so much everyone - I’ve just purchased 5 sets 😂 Unlikely I’ll ever find them again, so figured it was best, and the nursery can have a set / any animals he’s not fussed about!

Just have to hope they arrive now!

Aww gosh I can't bear to think of how disappointed he must have been I'm so happy that Mumsnet has come through for you and your little boy!

Ah that's made my day!! ( so glad I was one if the people to find them!)
Amazing how a little thing can make your day.

Well done MN 🙌🙌🙌

@SinkGirl sorry for going on about it but that's amazing with your little boy. That idea that he can finally communicate with you, and that so soon after using the PEC system, he recognised the seal. 😍

Thrilled you have your sets on order.

I know aint - I felt absolutely awful. I just didn’t expect him to spot it, as all the toys he has exchanged for, we’ve introduced the card at the same time as the toy. I felt so bad, hence posting here!

Hopefully he won’t chew through five too quickly!

Thank you so much Marmite and everyone who else who found them or went looking for me. I tried to to google obviously wasn’t using the right terms!

Don’t be sorry Earrings - DH and I both cried when he first independently found a card for something he wanted that wasn’t food! It’s so lovely that people understand what a big deal it is for him and for us

He’s sleeping horribly at the moment and I’m crossing everything that his brain is having a little development spurt that will bring us some more communication :)

Really wishing you both & your twins the very best (as well as a bit of sleep soon!) 💐 I've no experience of this at all, but can imagine how it must be such a huge step for your DS to discover this whole world of language & communication. I can only also imagine how tiring & challenging it can be at other times, having two children needing additional support.

You’re so lovely, thank you :)

Look what turned up! Looking at this pile it looks a bit excessive 😂

Thank you so much to everyone who looked. The twins are at nursery right now but he’ll be delighted when he gets home.

Going to take a set for nursery :)

Yay!! Glad they have arrived. You might need to make cards for the other animals!

I definitely will, I’ll put them away until I’ve made them (nothing more annoying than making PECS cards but needs must!)