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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to buy a Merrythought bear for my son

69 replies

Dogdogcat · 17/07/2019 18:25

I think I am. I had one when I was a baby and he was my best friend when I was a child. I slept with him until I was a teenager and brought him on every trip we went on as a family. (Even now, I am referring to this bear as him.) They are crazy expensive and I'm not sure how I can justify the cost. I live in Canada and they don't even sell them here so I would have to order it and have it shipped from the UK. I could get him something else, but I am so sentimental about my own bear and I want the same experience my son. Tell me IABU.

OP posts:
YesItsMeIDontCare · 17/07/2019 18:55

I have one very similar, I think it was my mum's. Does he have a growler?

Original poster
Dogdogcat · 17/07/2019 18:57

There's a growler, but it stopped working years ago.

OP posts:
Seeingadistance · 17/07/2019 18:57

I think that you would be setting yourself up for disappointment, to be honest. Your baby is his own person, with his own likes and dislikes. Your bear was special to you, but he is not you, and he'll find his own special thing (or not).

I'm 51 and I still have the teddy I was given when I was christened, but my DS didn't have any favourite teddy. Just not his thing.

Original poster
Dogdogcat · 17/07/2019 18:57

My mother had one that she gave to my DS when she was born.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dogdogcat · 17/07/2019 18:58

I meant D sister, not D son.

OP posts:
TinyMystery · 17/07/2019 19:00

I’ve just seen their Freddy Fox and want it badly for DS 😬

MyOtherProfile · 17/07/2019 19:00

Do it for you if you really want and can afford it but don't expect him to like it. A couple of relatives bought my DC teds they really wanted them to adore but both ended up fixating on cheap and cheerful IKEA Labrador pups.

kfh · 17/07/2019 19:01

I wanted my son to have a cuddle blanket like I had when I was young he was not interested at all, his comfort was stroking a toy car.

F2Feee · 17/07/2019 19:02

Sorry but that bear doesn't look anything special. Just a standard teddy bear. You get better looking ones from build a bear. Madness to spend that amount on something so generic looking.

NeverGotMyPuppy · 17/07/2019 19:06

@F2Feee that may be your opinion but I dont think Msrryhtiught/Steiff etc are remotely comparable to Build A Bear. They are much much higher quality.

NeverGotMyPuppy · 17/07/2019 19:06

Sorry - Merrythought

WarmestRegards · 17/07/2019 19:15

This reply has been deleted

This has been been removed by MNHQ for privacy reasons.

Nat6999 · 17/07/2019 19:21

Merrythought bears are more for collecting than for children as a cuddly toy.

WatcherOfTheNight · 17/07/2019 19:28

I prefer Charlie bear ,Ds has one that was given when born ,he's a growler with magnetic paws & beautifully soft .
He still has him on his bed

Ilovemylabrador · 17/07/2019 19:28

I had a wooden snoopy when I was a kid. All of mine have got one (off eBay!) and they all loved it just as much as I did. I’ve also brought them loads of vintage toys and they love those too. So yes buy it. We are totally retro here though same tv programmes (road runner etc on dvd!), music, they have retro CD players and Walkmans and toys and they also have an amazon fire ! I love retro stuff and stuff that makes me smile. Could you maybe get a second hand one to reduce the cost? I have a friend that can mail to the us for free from the UK ? If that helps and you could then get it mailed to Canada?

EssentialHummus · 17/07/2019 19:30

Speaking as the parent of a toddler who is currently insisting on going to bed with a 2-inch Duplo alien... no.

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 17/07/2019 19:31

I had a Merrythought bear as a kid, I never knew they were valuable! I have no idea where mine is now Sad

VeryQuaintIrene · 17/07/2019 19:32

I had a green Merrythought hippopotamus. It was the very best thing ever.

babysharkah · 17/07/2019 19:33

Get a build a bet and save $250. Those bears are nice to look at but but cuddly bedtime bears. I have my mum's one, he always sat on a shelf.

Ithoughtyouwere · 17/07/2019 19:33

DD was given a merrythought panda for last Christmas when she was 10 months. It’s been in her cupboard in its bag since as I don’t know what to do with it. I’ve just looked up the price too, I knew it was expensive but not £82! Still don’t know what to do with it, the tag says not suitable for children under 3 😕.

Valkarie · 17/07/2019 19:36

Does your son show any interest in soft toys? I loved them as a kid, but neither of mine have any interest in them. We have a box of beautiful ones given as presents that are totally ignored.

Gingernut83 · 17/07/2019 19:40

My DS has a Hamleys bear that we took him up to the big store to pick out when he was smaller and he likes it but his favourite soft toy that goes everywhere with him is a jelly cat giraffe (Mr Raff naturally !) that I bought on a whim one day in John Lewis. I must admit we have a spare Mr as well in case he wears out or gets lost...

flissfloss65 · 17/07/2019 19:44

I bought my ds a Merrythought bear hand puppet. Much cheaper, soft and he did love it. Maybe a compromise?

boohome · 17/07/2019 19:48

I guess it all comes down to whether it’s affordable for you, and whether you’ll be bothered if your DS doesn’t like it.

You can’t predict which cuddly toys a child will become attached to.

Ive got one DC who’s devoted to his favourite soft toy and rejects all other soft toys. The favoured toy is inexpensive and not the obvious choice for best cuddly thing ever.
One DC who is mostly indifferent to soft toys.
One DC who has a mild preference for one type of cuddly toy, but is generally happy with any cuddly toy if the favourite isn’t to be found.

tararabumdeay · 17/07/2019 19:51

My DS (26) has one called Roosevelt that Mum bought him for his first Christmas. Roosevelt is on the bedroom window ledge of his new flat and has always been special.

I live near enough to the factory to pick one up and post it if that helps.