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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

toddler and soft toy

18 replies

Bertieboo1 · 03/12/2015 13:15

Don't know if this is something I need to worry about at all....

My sweet sensitive two year old DS has a soft toy owl that he carries with him everywhere - literally, except when he gets in the bath. The owl eats with him, sleeps with him etc, leaving him normally only 1 hand to do anything with.

When we've been out, I've noticed that hardly any children his age do this. He gets upset if he misplaces his owl thought he can sleep without him. He wanted to take him to nursery and left him there (of course!) so off we went to get him back.

It is quite cute as he cuddles and kisses him a lot and I don't want to upset him - do other kids do this?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

beela · 03/12/2015 13:26

You might want to invest in a spare owl....

ChinaSorrows · 03/12/2015 13:29

Or six

NeedsAMousekatool · 03/12/2015 13:33

Get more owls. Get a whole flock of owls. My nephew left his beloved toy puppy in Edinburgh once. Disaster. Luckily it came back. I got married when my nephew was 3, his toy puppy is in my wedding photos he was that attached to it. So yes, very normal.

Snossidge · 03/12/2015 13:43

Other children do this. My almost 2 year old has a blanket. However I do encourage blankie to stay in bed or on the sofa so that he has two hands to play, climb, eat etc.

CheeseEMouse · 03/12/2015 13:47

Yes. My daughter has a (well 5 of the same) cuddly. In fact nursery positively encouraged it when she first went to help her settle. Do as others suggest, buy multiple owls!

FurryGiraffe · 03/12/2015 13:52

My 2.5 year old has a giraffe (hence my user name). It goes everywhere, including to nursery, though he can cope without it- and had to once when DH left giraffe at Granny's and Granny had to post him back! I think it's completely normal. Obviously obtaining spares is good advice (though he probably wouldn't be fooled!) Gentle encouragement to do things without it is probably also a good idea. For example, DS's giraffe sits on the table while we eat and if we go out somewhere, he comes along for the car ride but 'stays in the car seat for a sleep' when we get out.

Kittymum03 · 03/12/2015 13:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DrewsWife · 03/12/2015 13:54

My boy has 2 nutbrown hares. One in cot. One for out and about. But we are going to get more. Lots more.

He needs his soft toy.

Flingingmelon · 03/12/2015 14:01

DS has his beloved monkey and he's the same age. We have one at home and one at Creche. The only reason it doesn't go everywhere is that if he loses it he may never sleep again.

It does go out an awful lot though...goes off to buy another

originalusernamefail · 03/12/2015 14:08

My DS's cuddly has been discontinued . We have 2 but the thought of them going missing brings me out in a cold sweat! Perfectly normal OP, although as PP have said if cuddly comes out with us he stays in the car for safety.

BathshebaDarkstone · 03/12/2015 14:15

DS is like this with Bear. We've got through 4 as he's lost 2. It's nothing to worry about. DS is in reception, he has "little more suck" of Bear before school, and he asks for him as soon as he comes out. I wouldn't worry.

Original poster

Bertieboo1 · 03/12/2015 15:42

Aw thanks everyone, glad it's not just him! He's started calling his owl 'Hiya', no idea why! It is luckily an Ikea owl puppet type toy so I will definitely be getting several more. Especially so we can wash owl number 1. Frankly he's a health and safety risk at the moment!

OP posts:

Portlypenguin · 03/12/2015 17:35

Ds1 (4yr4mo) has his bear comforter that he is very attached to. Age 2 bear was with ds continuously and we never ever dared go out without him. He went to nursery daily and was constantly in ds' hand or mouth. I bought a spare on ebay once i realised the attachment. Starting preschool,the teacher said bear had to be in ds' tray unless it was freeplay ( ie more structured activites, meals, pe etc) and this was quite traumatic for a few days but settled. Ds started school in sept and we talked for weeks about how bears don't go to school. Bear comes in the car but stays in there during the day. Oddly this has been fine! Ds still carries him all the time at home but we are gradually not taking him out and about.

Don't worry - a gradual separation will occur! Your ds is still tiny.

MiaowTheCat · 03/12/2015 18:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

skankingpiglet · 03/12/2015 20:24

Oooo I know the Ikea puppet owl ("Owlie"). DD loves hers too Definitely buy more, they are only a couple of quid aren't they? If it's not too grotty already, regularly swap and wash them in strict rotation so they become equally worn.
DD is obsessional about a cuddly dog (Owlie takes second place) so we bought spares once it became obvious she was smitten. By this time dog1 was a bit worn but we thankfully caught it early enough. Dog2 was a godsend when DD left #1 at the child-minder's, the time she dropped it in the bath, and the time it got covered in poo... They are now equally worn. I would love to buy a few more, but at nearly £20 each it's not going to happen. We're just going to have to be careful!

GeorgiaT2468 · 03/12/2015 21:19

My DS has had his special blanket since his first birthday- he's now 5.. Not a day goes past where he doesn't have it. Although at first it came everywhere with us, supermarket, child minders, friends, park, doctors ect..

Slowly over the years it's naturally become more of a distant relationship as such. Now he has blanket for bed time, first thing in the morning with his morning TV time and hot milk before breakfast and if/when he's poorly.

Occasionally he asks to take it to school but Iv said better keep blanket at home just in case it gets lost. The anxiety in his face when Iv suggested it could be lost or damaged is awful, it's like someone suggesting to me that if I took my children out I might lose them!! Lol..

However Iv allowed him to take it when it was show and tell at school and the whole day I was praying the blanket was ok. Even had a word in the morning with his teacher about how sacred it was lol.

He's gone from screaming and crying at his blanket as it rolled around the washing machine for an hour, not leaving its side, to hmm mummy where's my blanket?? My reply is its having a bath, won't be long and we will dry it and give it back. He's totally fine now. Although when tired he will be upset but at his age it's easier to distract him.

I'm not prepared to put pressure on him to take it away though, it will happen naturally and when it does I might even be a bit sat that my baby is a grown up boy and doesn't want/need his blanket lol.

I agree though, buy multiples. I bought this blanket from a shop in town and can't find another the same in shops or online!! So as Iv done for years prayed that it stays in tact and doesn't ever get lost lol.

PositivePete · 03/12/2015 21:26

Yes! We have 7 "babies" jelly cats

ceeveebee · 03/12/2015 21:32

We have 4 jojo mamon Bebe cuddly coys; DS used to carry one everywhere and suck its feet, gross. He's now 4 and still won't sleep without one but it does stay in his bedroom now. Totally normal for a Toddler I'd say!

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