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Stuffed animals and other plush toys are beloved by children and adults alike. Kids often have a favorite stuffed animal or two that they snuggle with at night or keep with them as a security blanket. Adults treasure plush toys as collectibles or cherished reminders of childhood. To learn more about these mainstays of kids' toy collections, below is a brief history of stuffed animals.

Where Did Stuffed Animals Originate?

Ancient Rome & Egypt

The Ancient World produced the first plush toys. In Ancient Rome, children of privilege often played with expensive wood carvings of animals. Poorer families could not afford such luxuries, so they would make ragdolls from straw and leftover bits of fabric for the children to play with. Ancient Egyptian children also created and played with ragdolls filled with straw, beans, cotton, or wool.

The Victorian Era

In 1880, German seamstress Margarete Steiff began creating stuffed elephants to sell as pincushions. But when local children played with them as toys, she developed the modern era's first stuffed animals. Steiff started her own company and manufactured a variety of stuffed animals based on her own designs, selling dogs, cats, pigs, and many others.

The Modern Era

plush toysA turning point in the creation of stuffed animals came in 1902, when President Theodore Roosevelt went on a now-legendary hunting trip in which he decided not to kill a bear cub he encountered. Newspapers relayed the story to their audiences, including shopkeeper Morris Michtom. Michtom was already selling Steiff-inspired plush toys in his shop, so he decided to make a stuffed bear in honor of the President. That bear's name? The teddy bear.

Today

Stuffed animals have been consistently popular for hundreds of years. In more recent times, plush toy crazes have included Cabbage Patch Kids®, Tickle Me Elmos®, and Beanie Babies®. In 2014, a Steiff® bear decked out in Louis Vuitton® became the highest-selling toy ever, pulling in an astounding $2.1 million.

 

Stuffed animals have a special place in both history and in the heart. If you’re looking for a comforting plush toy to add to your child’s collection, consider The Dream Pillow™. The soft toy fosters creativity and positive thinking, encouraging children to think about the adventurous dreams they want to have before they fall asleep. Learn more about the product online, or call (561) 272-0018 to place your order today.

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