Best Stuffed Animals of 2023

Imagine you’re a three-year-old standing in front of a 4-foot-tall stuffed giraffe. Wouldn’t that excite you? This giant giraffe from Melissa & Doug is the perfect accessory for the kids’ bedroom.

Its long legs are wire-framed, and the neck is soft and bendable. Your little one will love to hug and snuggle with this one. The giraffe is handcrafted with polyester fabric, making it durable and easy to clean.

This little stuffed llama from Infloatables is both cute and fluffy. The material is high quality and compliant with current child safety standards.

The llama looks adorable, with a small blanket covering its back. Additionally, it’s a great size — 12 inches high and lightweight. Infloatables even includes its own birth certificate, so your child can officially name it.

This 12-inch baby elephant from Gund is cuter than cute. If your little one loves elephants, then this is surely a worthy candidate. It’s made from high-quality plush material and is suitable for children from birth.

Flappy the Elephant has big ears that move to play peek-a-boo by pressing his left foot. Press his right foot, and he sings a little song — perfect for nighttime. Batteries required.

This penguin from Melissa & Doug is excellent for penguin-loving kids. Because of its texture — it’s quite stiff — it’s not suitable for children under three years old.

The penguin is nearly 2 feet tall, so it’s perfect for pretend play or as a huggable friend. Its features are extremely lifelike!

Want matching stuffed animals for your twins? Unicorns are always magical, and in this set, you get two! Blueberry Ripple and Jelly Roll are two of the cutest unicorns ever. They’re bright and colorful and will capture the heart of any child.

They’re actually small bean bags with a hand-washable polyester exterior. Each measures seven inches long, perfect for little users from 12 months old.

Teddy bears are a classic option, and Gund’s version will not disappoint. This teddy, called Ramon, with a heart-shaped tummy patch and a lopsided smile, ticks the boxes of cute, super-soft, and huggable.

Ramon is 18 inches tall and safe in the hands of children as young as 12 months. The plush material is surface washable.

This plush giraffe from Aurora is super soft and snuggly. Inside its tummy is a rattle for grabbing a baby’s attention. Speaking of grabbing, the giraffe’s neck is just the right size for a baby’s grip!

It’s completely safe thanks to its embroidered features. We love the natural colors — it’s easy on the eyes and can be cleaned with a damp cloth.

Toddlers are sometimes hard to entertain. Fortunately, Violet, a stuffed animal from LeapFrog, is here to save the day and provide some distraction.

Violet will provide hours of fun and can even learn your child’s name. The stuffed animal has over 15 activities and 40+ songs and lullabies, and you can sync it with your smartphone or tablet for personalization. Suitable for babies aged from six months.

Nighttime can sometimes be a little scary for children. Here we have Orion, a small plush toy dog that lights up whenever your child needs it.

It comes with two portable star lights that you can place in different areas of the room. If your child wakes up and feels scared in the night, pressing a button on the dog’s paw will make the stars light up.

Additionally, it plays soft-spoken phrases to soothe your child. You’ll also get a storybook filled with encouraging tales. Suitable for children from age 30 months.

Who doesn’t love a super soft stuffed animal that’s big enough to hug? This giant handmade sloth from Winsterch is almost too huggable. Its giant arms fit perfectly for any child over three years old in need of a cuddle.

On the outside, it’s made from fluffy plush material, and the inside is filled with cotton. It has big googly eyes and a cute button nose. The size varies as they’re handmade, but the average is 27.5 inches.

Sometimes the world gets a little crazy, and we all need some comfort. Intelex’s therapy plush elephant can do just that.

Perfect for all ages, this stuffed animal is pretty cool, or warm in this case. You see, this elephant can go in the microwave, where you can heat it when needed.

It’s stuffed with lavender seeds to calm aches and sinus problems, among other things. You can also place it in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer to use as a cold pack. Warm or cool, this soft plush toy is ready to provide a comforting cuddle to your little one.

Pandas are exceptional animals, and here your child gets a mom and her cub. This duo from Wild Republic is excellent for toddlers or even older children. The material is safety certified and is free from toxins, such as lead and phthalates.

The momma bear is 12 inches tall, and her little cub is half its mom’s size. Do take note that the baby is not detachable.

Who knew sharks could be cute? I guess different rules apply when it comes to stuffed animals. This baby shark from Wild Republic is adorable, plush, and suitable for even the tiniest baby. It’s surface washable, so you’re able to give it a wipe-down if the need arises.

The shark is perfect for marine enthusiasts and encourages curiosity about wildlife. If sharks are just a bit too scary, a penguin is also available.

Whether you’re looking for nursery decor or something your bundle of joy can cuddle when he gets a little older, this teddy is amazing. Gund’s My First Teddy Bear is cute, soft, and available in three different colors.

The details are embroidered, and you can wash it in the machine, which is a definite plus. No more awkwardly wiping spit up from a fuzzy stuffed animal!

This stuffed crocodile from Wild Republic is excellent for any boy’s room. It’s made from soft fabric and is completely huggable, even for tough boys (when nobody’s looking).

Your kids will love its size. It’s approximately 30 inches long and is excellent for pretend play. With great attention to detail, this crocodile isn’t missing anything.

This narwhal from Bellzi is suitable for kids of all ages, even newborns. The cute whale is bright blue, with large sweet eyes, and 100 percent hypoallergenic.

It’s perfect for car rides and vacations due to its compact size of only 6.5 inches in height. The details are all stitched, so there should be no loose fragments coming off.

This giant elephant is the perfect size for any kid and is delivered gift-wrapped for a convenient present. It has big fluffy ears and a soft trunk. Made from plush material, there’ll be cuddles galore.

Your kids will love hugging this giant stuffed floppy animal. It’s almost 39 inches tall. The exterior is also easy to clean — a wipe with a damp cloth should do it. As the details are stitched, it’s probably even suitable for babies — if they like their toys to be huge, that is!

If your child is over five years of age and you’re looking for a sensory toy, then this unicorn from Creativity for Kids is cuteness overload. The animal is weighted, providing some tactile benefits that create a comforting feeling, much like a hug would.

This chubby unicorn has sequin material on its back, which is reversible. Along with the sequins, there’s a sheet of reusable stickers to decorate the unicorn. If unicorns don’t impress your child, there’s also an elephant available.

If you’re planning a vacation, take a look at this. This cuddly dog is the perfect travel companion for your kids. It’s actually a little lap desk that is suitable for children over four years old, making on-the-go creativity a possibility.

At the back of the puppy, there’s a pocket with space for drawing supplies. Then at the front, there’s a little drawing desk. Six colorful markers are included.

Sesame Street is a favorite among many, and I personally love the Cookie Monster. This stuffed character is bright and colorful, soft and plush. It’s recommended for children aged 12 months and over.

This version is rather small, just under 11 inches tall. But that means he’ll fit in even the smallest hands.

This hand-crafted stuffed horse from HollyHome is excellent for little girls aged 3 to 8 years. It’s made from soft plush material and includes a leather saddle.

It’s not really for cuddling but has a lifelike mane that can be combed and braided using the included comb, with a pink bow to finish. There’s also a cloth to wipe the coat clean after a gallop on the trail!

This sweet, 16-inch dinosaur from Marsjoy is excellent for both boys and girls. It’s made from high-quality plush material and stuffed with cotton.

With a funny face and cute polka dots on its back, this dinosaur is suitable for children over three years of age. Additionally, it’s surface washable. Just wipe it down with a damp cloth.

The Jellycat stuffed sheep is so cute! It reminds us of the classic nursery rhyme featuring Baa, Baa, Black Sheep; this time with a twist! The sheep is completely opposite color – white. This 11-inch toy is fluffy and soft, making it the perfect cuddle partner for any age.

Other characters are available, including a bunny, puppy, calf, or even a gorgeous green turtle!

Harry the Bunny is a 13-inch stuffed animal toy, great for any age, although we recommend its features for toddlers. He’s interactive and will help your little one count, learn the alphabet, and more.

He’s super cute with a little carrot on his tummy. The toy also plays some popular nursery rhymes, including “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” Includes 3 AAA batteries.

This adorable Sherpa bear from Bears for Humanity is not only super cute but also organic. It’s made from GOTS-certified cotton from co-op farmers and is suitable for kids over one.

Inside, the stuffing is made from recycled plastic bottles, inspired by Patagonia. Apart from the cuteness and eco-friendly production, when you buy this, Bears for Humanity donates a stuffed animal to a child in need.