AIBU to still find comfort cuddling my childhood teddy occasionally?

[Clusterflusters]

My DD aged 8 is an extremely cuddly child and will often give me a cuddly toy of hers to take care of for her overnight. We visited my parents house recently and she was so interested in my childhood cuddly toy, and she took it home with us. He’s a bear and he was my absolute favourite growing up.

She was insistent that it wouldn’t be nice if I didn’t take cuddle him at bedtime, so to appease her, I said I would. She sometimes has nightmares so I just sat the bear on my bed in case she came in during the night. However, one night I woke up cuddling my bear! 🤣

I know I sound weird and pathetic, but there was something so comforting about it but I am absolutely mortified and would never admit this to anyone irl.

Am I being unreasonable, or does anyone else have a beloved childhood cuddly toy that they’ve taken into adulthood?

Still have mine and he gets cuddled every night even though I’m a 40 y/old wife and toddler mum!!

My mum bought me a white teddy when I was 28 and I'm now 68. He sits on my bed. I don't sleep with him but do have a cuddle especially if I'm upset. Mum has been gone 30 years so I always think about her when putting the bear on the bed. He doesn't have a name.

I have mine (he is sort of a replacement as my ‘original’ which was an owl got lost when I was in hospital when I was 18 - rather traumatic! - as a complete coincidence a friend bought me a small bear which was about the size of my owl as a present when I came out of hospital, not knowing my owl had got lost, so the bear naturally replaced the owl). He never actually had a name until I met my now DH who named him. DH’s bear is original though ie the same age as him and rather threadbare but very precious. Well, they both are. My bear is just the right size to tuck into my hand when I go to sleep.

Imagine this from the male prospective. They would get totally flamed. Andrew?

I’ll be an odd one out along side @LightDrizzle I never had a bed time
or cuddle teddy that was my comfort like that.

So If dh had suddenly come along with Mr snuggles who then had to live by our bed and have random cuddles I would find it weird yes.

Out of our three children only one ever did the teddy thing as well. Maybe she will still love her Teddy as an adult though sometimes he goes missing for weeks and it doesn’t bother her till she suddenly wants him.

Not the OP But I thought that I'd answer you. I'm 44 & still cuddle mine every now & then. He's a rabbit & his long ears go under my cheek & I cuddle him facing away from me, it's just how he's always fitted!

To me it's a comfort, it's soft, warm, & just makes me feel safe... When I was pregnant a few years ago, I really struggled with my MH & I used to lay down for a rest in the day & tuck my rabbit in, his legs had to curl over my bump, & I'd wish for him to keep my baby safe whilst I didn't feel able to...

Its not weird at all. Soft toys can give comfort, especially at times of emotional stress. Your daughter sounds lovely and caring OP xx

I don't think I've known a grown adult male who admits to still cuddling a teddy, but I know plenty who still have their childhood teddies.

I had an ex who couldn't sleep at all, unless he was holding some fabric in one hand, so either the hem of his T-Shirt or the corner of the pillow/hem of my T-shirt.

The best thing about getting divorced was being able to have my childhood monkey back in bed with me. My new partner will ring to say goodnight if he’s at his house and will say goodnight to my monkey as he knows he is curled up with me. We all deserve our favourite toy, however old we are.

I think The Nonce Formerly Known As Prince Andrew just collected expensive teddy bears and had them on display in his bedroom, rather than cuddling them. And I don’t think the teddy bears were a huge issue for anyone until it transpired that he had form for sexual activity with teenage girls.

I do agree men would get flamed, though, which is a shame. I know loads of men who still own their childhood teddy (my DP included) and would be gutted to lose them, but not many who would admit to cuddling them.

I Cuddle my bear overnight. In fact he’s in my arm now I’ve woken up. It’s habit and comfort and it’s lovely. In a world of stress and madness it’s nice to have something that comforts you. Nothing strange about it.

I’m sixty and take two bears to bed to cuddle. If I go on holiday I take little bear with me.

I still have Howard the bear - I am 71 and he is 68. He sits on a chair in my bedroom, and on cold nights I wrap him in a shawl to make sure he is warm.

I’m nearly 40 and still use teddies

I’m 49 and I have four in my bed that live there.
one build a bear from my daughter that is called Jameel, one toy catbus from Totoro, one big pink rainbow thing that is more like a pillow and gets used as one and one just bear.

indeed. I have retired big ted who I got at 6m old and now sits on a shelf in my bedroom with other childhood toys. He’d be 53 now.
32 year old teddy gets to be generally squashed or used as a head rest each night.

I started sleeping whilst holding my son's wolf teddy because it helped with my hand pain post pregnancy.

Now I can't sleep without Mr Puppy Woof!!

52, think the world would be a very different place if we kept and cared for our cuddlies. Has a giraffe and a big Miffy.

Mine is with me every night, sleep far better with her and usually cuddle to sleep.

I'm not keen on soft toys in bed, but I have a faux fur covered hot water bottle that cuddles very nicely.

Soft and furry is a fairly universally liked texture.

My 60 year old childhood teddy is in bed with me now, he has had all his fur loved off, has patches & bits sew up but I wouldn't change him for the world. He has mopped up tears from losing people I have loved, been there when I was being bullied as a child, been at my side in hospital when I was on traction for 6 weeks for hip dysplasia & when I was in a spica cast for 6 months. I have so many holiday photos with me clutching him, he has travelled thousands of miles by car & plane, he would be one of the first things I would grab if the house was burning down.

This is lovely. I have a snoopy I've had since I was born. He's elderly now so he mainly lies in a box wrapped up in ds1's old baby blanket and wearing ds5's pyjamas. I do still get him out for a cuddle sometimes though.

I am going through a bad time at the moment and dug mine out for a cry when no one else was around. I wouldn’t sleep with it every night or anything but I do think it’s ok now and again.