To be unable to part with my childhood (and later...) soft toys?

[SargeantAngua]

My name in Angua and I have a soft toy problem. I'm in the process of moving the last of my stuff into my fiance's flat, and I've just unpacked this menagerie. They used to live in a bag under my bed, and probably will go into a similar home here. A small number have lived on the end of my bed here for years - we have separate rooms- and this is deemed acceptable, with affectionate rolled eyes occasionally... there are also a few still at my parent's house.

I'm 35. I don't sleep cuddling them, most of them don't have names, most are from my childhood. All of these i would happily store in a box and rarely look at them. I don't want/need to keep them all out like this on a shelf. The thought of disposing of any of them (except perhaps 1 or 2 particular ones if I was feeling particularly strong) brings me out in a cold sweat though.

Am I very unusual? If it helps, autism runs in the family and I have some traits - I'm obsessive, have a real thing for soft textures, a tenancy to hoard. I also have a long history of anxiety, OCD, teenage anorexia and now CFS/ME, all of which quite possibly adds to my need for comfort items. I also grew up on a farm with with lots of animals and cant have pets now. I cant be alone in having such a collection though??

I'm 37 and still have dozens of fluffy critters, I don't actually have space for them all in my house so a lot of them are living at my dads house! I do sleep cuddling a big fluffy dog too. My mum thinks I'm a big baby!!

My DC have all mine now, and there were quite a lot, they love them.

I used to have LOADS when I was a child. I gradually had to let them go but still have a handful of the most important ones.

However, I have recently started buying Jellycats. It's at the point were they take up most of the second sofa in my lounge. I'm 44 FFS!

I still have a large box of soft toys in the loft. I used to have a few more, but managed to get rid of most, but not all. Probably still have more than some children. Keep meaning to get them down for my daughter, but she has more than a toy shop!
I am 45 and mine probably take up more space than yours.

I also have two build a bear that my daughter has chosen to buy for me sat on a storage box in the bedroom.

I've got a few teddies hanging round, doesn't everyone? My favourite teddy has velcro paws so he can cling on, hands free!

Thank you everyone! Such lovely tales of treasured friends I'm glad I'm not alone too.

Love the crocheted clothes! I made clothes for a friend's old bear who was feeling unloved last year. Had great fun doing it, especially knitting miniature socks!

I do recognise the warning about adding to the gang though. I accidentally brought home a stray polar bear after Christmas because he was reduced to £2.50 with kinder chocolate. DP was slightly disapproving of him, and rightly so. I'm generally quite good at not buying new ones.

My DC have my favourite cuddly toys from childhood split between them. But there’s one that still sleeps with me. No shame. DH doesn’t care. My teddy travels with me too, we’re closing in on 40 countries and he’s a great pillow.

I have a 38 year old rabbit my brother gave me when I was born, I’ve inherited my mums 64 year old bear her brother gave her when she was born. They are besties and sit on my dressing table.

I have loads of toys. Most are in bags in the attic, poor things, but there are 4 special friends on my bed. I cuddle them when DH isn't around - if he comes to bed late, or is away or whatever. When get into bed they usually get moved to the foot of the bed or the floor, but by him not me!

I have three dogs - one is a Pongo dog from Disney's 101 Dalmations, he stands guard at the side of my bed, and I can stroke his head should I feel the need. The other two are small and cuddly, Spot the Dog who I have had since I was 2, and Balthazar, who I got when I started uni in 2003 from my Grandma and looks a bit like an Andrex puppy.

Finally, I have a panda bear, called, imaginatively, Panda. I've had him since I was 2, too. He is bigger than the rest (maybe 2 foot high?), and looks nothing like a panda, really, with a completely black body and completely white head. But I luffs him and he is a great comfort, and also makes a great pillow should I need an extra one.

I would sooner leave my husband than get rid of them, although I respect his need not to have them between us when sleeping!

So not weird at all OP, and I am jealous of that badger, I always wanted a toy badger, but never got one despite badgers being my favourite animal.

I had a clear out a few months back, loads of toys that were my own and also some that belonged to my children. I found it really difficult to part with some of them, especially ones that i'd had for 30+ years but we simply didn't have room to store them all so I had a cull. I have kept a handfull of our favourites so that some day they can be passed on to the next generation.

I gathered two black bin bags full of soft toys and took them to a local charity that were organising a 'Shoebox Appeal' - they fill shoe boxes with small items like toys, colouring books / pencils & toiletries. The boxes are sent to poverty stricken places and given to children that would have very little. It made it easier to part with my toys knowing that they would be going to children that would love them and appreciate getting them rather than simply throwing them out. Would there be any charities near you that would have a similar appeal? You could give them to a similar worthwhile cause?

My mum came across a bag of my toys in the loft and asked if she could throw them. One she suggested cos his legs are falling apart and his arm is no good. My reply was that if that was the scale we were using I should throw her away too. She also suggested I get rid of a penguin from foreign climes. I blame brexit