I Still Take a Stuffed Toy to Bed

I might be (cough, cough) the wrong side of 50, but I still take a stuffed toy to bed.

There are heaps of fully-grown adults fond of a stuffed animal or two, including:

• Hunger Games’ star Jennifer Lawrence, who was spotted walking through Heathrow clutching a stuffed toy;
• British socialite and presenter, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson who recalls meeting “Snowy” in this article; and
• Amy Schumer, who revealed on an episode of Ellen DeGeneres that she sleeps with six cuddly friends!

A quick search of the internet suggests that roughly 30 to 40% of adults have a stuffed toy as a bedtime companion – yes, even married ones like me 😉 .

So I thought it was high time for a formal introduction here on the blog: Meet my bedtime companion, Sophie de la Snuggles (pronounced Snoo-gals).

Contrary to what you might think, I’ve only had her a few years, certainly not since childhood!

There is a bit of a story behind how Sophie joined my family.

The Story Of Sophie

Once upon a time (about 2007 if memory serves me right), the husbear was studying part time in addition to working full time.

This meant that I often went to bed, while he hit the books.

It was a trying time – both of us resented being separated by his studies. So he brought home a surprise gift – this beautiful toy puppy for me to cuddle in bed when I was missing him. (A psychologist would probably call her my transitional object and insist I need therapy immediately. Whatever!)

Somehow, Sophie became a part of the family, with a real personality, back story, and her own trademark sayings.

• Although she is probably closer to 12, she insists she is “four!” and is obsessed with everything 4;
• She loves sitting on people’s heads and pretending that she is a hat (as you can see in the photo of a much younger Mr 25);

• She graduated from Snuggle U with an Advanced Diploma in Snuggles;
• She loves chocolate, and hot chips and gravy;

• She has a large selection of pretty ribbons to wear on her neck, and even a Christmas themed one to wear during the festive season, and one decorated with the poop emoji!
• Sophie is one well-travelled pup, she’s been on cruises to New Zealand, Noumea and Vanuatu, as well as holidays to North Queensland, and the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

• Oh, and like most dogs – real or stuffed – she hates baths. Trouble is, being so loved means that she does get quite grubby at times! Thankfully, I learned how to wash stuffed animals a long time ago 😉 .

I don’t think we ever grow too old for the comfort a soft toy can bring. Sophie even kept me company in hospital in 2012, when my surgery went terribly wrong and I found out what it’s like to be a patient in Intensive Care.

So tell me – is there a stuffed toy or two helping you to sleep at night?!