To give small children (somewhat) valuable old Steiff teddies?

[wackyracer123]

I have a relative who died not long ago, we hadn’t been close since I was a child, and so she left me her collection of Steiff animals since I’d liked them when I was little.

They’re very sweet, and I’d like to give three of them to my DC but from googling, it seems like the ones I like are selling for £60-£80, which seems excessive to give to children that will potentially break them.

What concerns me more though is whether it’s right to give children something 60/70 years old. I always admire vintage and antique things but never buy them because I couldn’t imagine myself using them. Until now I’ve thought it should all be well preserved in a museum to look at.

What about keeping one each as a piece to inherit as presumably the value will increase?
Or selling now and putting the money in the bank?

If you have no desire to sell, let them play with them.

Exactly, Karma

NOOOOOO.
You will get upset when the children treat the objects "badly". Don't do it.

My mother tried this with some fancy toy car. My poor nephew cried & cried because he couldn't play with it. Pointless cruelty. I was left a lovely gold ring by my great-grandmother. I begged to be allowed to wear it, & I can remember vividly the day I lost it (approx age 5). Just don't go there.

And responding more to your point, personally, I think antique and vintage things should be used! Just used with care, not trashed. Seeing them in museums makes me feel a bit sad, unless they're well over 100 years old. I have clothes that are twice my age, my furniture where ever possible is vintage or antique, my children were baptised in a 150 year old robe and half my crockery is inherited from my great, great aunt... I use them with a degree of care, but they are used and loved.

I'd wait until your kids are old enough to be respectful of the teddies and look after them. I have a few old quality teddies that were old and threadbear when I got them as a child, but I cherished them. They're no worse for wear now than they were 30-40 years ago because I looked after them. I won't be giving them to my kids until I can trust them to not destroy or eat them

Oh herja 😢

All those Steiff teddies being unloved. Ever heard of the the 'Velveteen Rabbit'?

Put them aside. Give them to them whe they are older. When my grandmother passed away, my dad decided that I should have her opal ring and her gold charm bracelet. (She had no daughters, he was her only child). I was only twelve at the time so my mum put them away somewhere until I was 16, when she knew I would be responsible for them.

I'd give them to them. Unless you're planning in selling them, what does it matter if they're worth £60-£80? They're just toys. They were made to be played with.

£50 - £60 isn't the end of the world value wise. My DC have Steiff, a Charlie Bear and a Silver Tag Bear between them which were special occasion gifts. They cost about that much, in fact I think the Silver Tag was £70.

Wahhhh 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 now I'm sad about all the unloved Teddies 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Steiff even state that their collectible bears are not toys.

As others have said, I'd be worried about the safety of them.

I wouldn't give them to children to play with - maybe find out the best way to store them to preserve them? Maybe later on (when they are teenagers) look at selling them for them so they get the benefit?

This is quite timely as mine decided she was taking hers to nursery this morning, um...nope!

Thankfully hers is newer and meets all modern safety regulations, we got in Germany when I was pregnant. But I want to preserve the labels, so don't want to be washing it and it was still over £30 for a small teddy I am careful that it doesn't get lost or damaged...it normally sits on a high shelf but she spotted it this morning and I have a quandary over whether she could have it to cuddle and technically it is hers!

Thankfully she took a Peppa Pig to nursery and hopefully when she gets home tonight Steiff will have been forgotten about!

@lazylinguist

I'd give them to them. Unless you're planning in selling them, what does it matter if they're worth £60-£80? They're just toys. They were made to be played with.

Steiff bears aren’t toys.

They are only ever going to go up in value OP, and they will certainly maintain their value, I'd keep them and gift them to them on a milestone Birthday when they are old enough to appreciate their value and sentiment.

she left me her collection of Steiff animals since I’d liked them when I was little.
It is the exposure when young that breeds the sentimental value. But if the DC play with them then they might damage them.
Keep the teddies yourself so that they are mummy's teddies, to be admired from a distance or played with under supervision. Then gift them in future years, when the DC are of an age to appreciate them.
So, basically, do what your relative did.

Only you know your DCs OP. Will they wreck them? If not then give them to them. Seems sad otherwise, they’re not fulfilling their purpose.

I wouldn’t. Apart from the value, they’re not soft and cuddly like more modern ones, and I hate that button in the ear business!

I wouldn’t give anything valuable to young children unless I genuinely didn’t care if they spilt paint on it/put it in the bath/puked on it/decided its ears needed a trim, etc.

Steiff bears aren’t toys.

The Steiff website disagrees with you.

"it became clear to her how important high-quality and lovingly designed toys are for children. Her belief that “Only the best is good enough for children” is our company philosophy and shapes both our work and every toy that leaves our production."

That’s so sad that you think Steiff bears aren’t toys. My eldest DS is 11 and has ASD. He takes a small blue ‘my first steiff’ bear literally EVERYWHERE with him. The poor bear has definitely been through some trials and adventures and I think any other bear would not have made it, but being a steiff its well made and can survive most things. Because he can’t be without it I have managed to get a secret spare off eBay (though his much lived bear now looks nothing like the pristine original!).

Steiff do have strictly collectors items, and that’s fine, and the OPs instance I would probably treat the bears as collectors items as that’s how her own relative kept them, and possibly passed them on with the expectation that they would be similarly carefully kept and cared for.

But to say all Steiff bears are not for playing with his just silly, and very sad.

Sorry, my last post was directed at @emilyfrost

I would give them, explain that they are for them and will likely go up in value and be worth something to them in future. Suggest one days careful play with them (treating them like a queen) and then find a place on a high shelf. Get down occasionally and reverently when asked.

I wouldn't give them to kids unless you accept they will be treated as toys and not heirlooms.
As the children's parent, I also wouldn't want any responsibility for ensuring the children that them as anything other than toys.