Lost favourite toy

[elenamb568]

Sorry as a newcomer I wasn't sure where to post this but yesterday I have made my worst parenting f-up to date. We lost my 7 year olds favourite bear.
We left the bear just outside Tesco in one of those kids rides, and when we returned 20 mins layer he was gone.
My daughter is devastated to say the least, she is quite sensitive and 'Bear-bear' has been her security and confidante since she was born.
We have had near misses before, left on a bench being the worst. But I fear we will not see her little bear again.
I don't know what to do for the best. He is so well loved that he is now unique and bears little resemblance to his double act that was once able to stand in for him. We have put up posters, searched surrounding parks and roads and posted on the lost and found sites of FB and local police.
I cannot believe that he hasn't just been handed in. He is so worn now I can't see that anyone would consider taking him home! I can only guess a little one picked him up without their parents realising.
Any advice on handling this with an older child is appreciated. I feel awfully guilty and everyone here is just a little gloomy.

Don't feel guilty! This happened to my DD when she was 4 and she lost her Winnie, it was very emotional and hard to see her so upset. They do get over it eventually though and my advice is to offer to take her to a toy shop and let her choose a new cuddle buddy. It won't be the same but after a while it will all be fine! X

Thanks, can't believe how sad everyone feels about a silly old bear as my husband (affectionately!) calls him. Even our 3 year old is being very nice to her big sis today which is unheard of!

Just a suggestion but could you tell her that he's been handed in to tesco and the kind man is sending bear to the toy hospital? Then use double act bear as the bear coming out of hospital all cleaned up etc and present in a couple of weeks or so when she's less upset?
Crazy maybe but just thought if you had the option of a new one the same x

Hmm, not sure. She knows that the other one exists so not sure she would buy it. I'll see how she seems to be coping with it all and might try that. Nice suggestion x

Sorry didn't realise she knew about other one! Mmm I reckon a new cuddly altogether, at least a trip to the toyshop would cheer her up a bit? Hope she feels better soon

Yes, bit of a fail on my part but I thought we were past the losing toys stage! Oh well, you're right, a new cuddly may help. Thanks for the advice x

This reminded me of when our Bear-Bear went AWOL. Luckily the owner was lots younger than your DS, so we managed to get a doppelganger and construct a story about the absence. (Said replacement referred to by us adults as Spare-Bear when we were out of earshot!)

Presumably you've spoken to the store in case he was handed in? Do you have a community FB page or Streetlife to post about your loss? I often read about stuff that's been lost or found on those. Good luck!

Thanks, there's a lost and found FB page dedicated to teddies etc that we have posted on, I've even emailed the local paper in case they are having a slow news week! The store has been helpful and let my daughter put up a missing poster (she's watched a lot of Stuart Little recently) but sadly no-one has handed him in yet.
I think because she is a bit older it's tricky as she is not as easy to fool or placate as a younger one. She knows he's lost and fears he's likely to stay that way. Plus she's really beating herself up about it -how could I be so careless etc. It's really sad .

Since she's old enough to grasp the truth of the situation, could you talk to her about why someone might have taken him? (Little child who has no bears of their own, or similar??) Grasping at straws a bit, but it might help.

Yes that's worth a try, she's finding the why but quite tricky as when we were driving manically back to find I kept saying that he would still be there as no one would take a toy