AIBU to struggle to declutter teddies despite desperately needing space?

[peoplepleaser1]

DS is now 12, he no longer wants or needs most of the teddies and soft toys that he's had over the years.

It's quite a big collection. For a long time he was really keen on soft toys, taking loads to bed, playing with them, lining them up endlessly etc etc..

Most of them hold memories for me- of where we bought them, DS playing with them etc etc. I find the thought of parting with them really really hard, which I know is pathetic!

They are in great condition, most look new and I really need to get rid of them as they are taking up too much space. Does anyone else find this really really hard?

I've had no issues parting with baby clothes, toys etc. but I'm really struggling with the soft toys!

Any advice anyone? Is there a good cause I could donate them to, or maybe I could sell them (cash is tight but I don't have much time).

@peoplepleaser1 you’re not alone. I can’t do it either. I’m worse than the kids 🙈

What about a picture of them, lined up, having a party, going off to unibearsity.. what ever you fancy but something to have them for forever without having 6 bin bags of creepily deflated bears in your loft for years.. their faces look even sadder smushed in those bags.

it's the cute faces and eyes. Argh! I find it so hard, I think part of me believes get are real. Sigh.

Not unreasonable. We have all seen Toy Story.

Oh @Lunafortheloveogod you've now even ruined the idea of storing them in vacuum storage bags for me. I can't suffocate them!!

I love the idea of taking a staged photo of them having a party, that's great. We're gradually filching out a few each time the school have a fair, that kind of thing. But I'm really attached to my old teddy at the age of 39 and I don't necessarily think that my kids are old enough that they wouldn't regret a mass purge.

Definitely keep a few. He'll thank you when he's much older. My DC have a few soft toys (cleaned!) that were in rotation when I was younger and it's lovely.

They are just in stasis awaiting being brought back. No harm done in those bags. !

Photos are a great idea.

@peoplepleaser1 it’s an image I’ll never forget after attempting to hide some of my less fancy bears.. they all live on ds’s wardrobe he’s only 5 months so he doesn’t care .

If your ds was willing or younger and therefore easier to convince lol you could have him in the pics waving them off.

I am not a good person to ask as I still have most of mine! Keep the favourite ones I think. I also like the idea of taking a photo and then charity shop the rest; I've done this with a few childhood items before I donated them. Most of my bears are in my spare room so every time we have visitors I have to move all the bears back into my bedroom (yes I realise I am a weirdo!)

The Teddy Trust sends teddies to children all around the world, particularly war zones and refugee camps.

OP, you can't put them in bags, they'll suffocate!

It's not expensive to send to Teddy Trust, check here: www.teddytrust.org.uk/send-us-your-teddies

There are drop points & you print a label at a much reduced cost.

No batteries or known Disney type characters, standard teddies/animals all fine.

Vacuum pack them and put them in the loft
they will smother

I am the same. Their little faces! In fact one teddy was revolting and DH chucked it in the bin and I nearly cried when I saw it in there. I still feel bad. Its pathetic!

My friend took photos of all the beloved old things before they moved house (and country) which required major decluttering.

She made a photobook of them on, I think, Photobox, where she wrote a few words about memories of each. Then she got the glossy photobook printed. It's great. She does this for holidays too. Also one per year summarising their year. It is amazing. She says it takes bloody ages but is worth it for her. Me, I love the idea but have no such patience. Maybe you do.

OP, we had shelves of them years ago.
I spoke to the children about re-homing some, coming up to Christmas.

The children went through them and were in fact ruthless. They knew exactly the ones that they loved and wanted to keep.

I washed them and handed them into a local charity shop.

We disposed of about 2 full black bags. A couple of months later we got rid of another load and they kept about 4-6 each.

It's another stage of children moving on I guess.💐

This is the weather to be drying them in.