A first cuddly toy is often much more than just a toy. It can become a trusted little friend that lasts for years and is sometimes even kept as a keepsake later on. But for a baby, you obviously don’t just look at which cuddly toy is the cutest. Safety, material, size, and practicality play at least as important a role.
What should you look for when choosing a first cuddly toy or comfort blanket? We have listed the most important points for you.
Look at safety first
When it comes to baby toys, safety is the first thing you want to look at. Bukowski Sweden cuddly toys meet the European toy standards EN 71-1, EN 71-2, and EN 71-3. These standards set requirements for, among other things, the mechanical and physical properties, flammability, and certain substances in toys. Bukowski also mentions this certification itself for its cuddly toy collection.
For our comfort blankets, the eyes are also embroidered. This means no plastic bead eyes are used. That is a detail you might not immediately think about as a parent, but one that we feel is important for a baby's comfort blanket.
Choose a material that feels pleasant
A baby discovers the world largely by touch. That is why not only the appearance of a cuddly toy is important, but also how it feels.
Our Bukowski comfort blankets are short-haired and wonderfully soft. This makes them pleasant to hold and cuddle. Bukowski himself pays a lot of attention to the choice of soft fabrics and the finish of his cuddly toys.
And soft certainly doesn't have to mean boring. You can choose calm, neutral tones that fit beautifully into a serene nursery, but there are also more cheerful patchwork comfort blankets with different colors and patterns.
A comfort blanket is more than just a cuddly toy
The Bukowski comfort blankets are soft and designed so that little hands can easily hold them. Most models can also be used as a hand puppet, allowing you as a parent to play along with the cuddly friend and connect with your baby.
In addition, these blankets have a loop to which you can attach a pacifier. The smaller Hubert comfort blanket is an exception to this.
With the exception of Hubert, our comfort blankets are also delivered in a beautiful gift box. That makes them extra nice when you want to give the blanket as a baby shower or maternity gift.
A cuddly toy and safe sleeping
A soft cuddly toy naturally invites you to take it to bed, but for young babies, a safe sleeping environment is extra important. Therefore, keep the baby bed as empty as possible and do not put large or stuffed cuddly toys in bed with a young baby while they are sleeping.
A cuddly toy can, of course, become a trusted part of moments together: during play, cuddling, or reading. For sleeping, always look at the current advice for safe sleeping and the age and usage information for the product.
Neutral or colorful?
Many nurseries and baby layettes are currently calm and neutral in color. A soft beige, white, or gray comfort blanket fits in beautifully. But ultimately, a baby product doesn't have to match the parents' interior.
A cheerful patchwork blanket, in particular, can have its own unique look due to the various colors, fabrics, and patterns.
Our advice? Choose what suits the child and the parents, rather than just looking at what is popular at the moment.
Ask parents what they like
Are you buying the first cuddly toy not for your own baby, but as a gift? Feel free to ask the parents what they themselves like. Perhaps they like calm colors, have a colorful nursery, would prefer a comfort blanket over a regular cuddly toy, or already have a favorite animal for their little one.
A surprise doesn't have to be less fun just because you inquire beforehand. On the contrary: this way, there is a greater chance that you will give something that is actually used and cherished.
Which first cuddly toy will you choose?
If safety, material, and practicality are right, the most fun part comes: which cuddly toy suits you? A comfort blanket, a music box, or perhaps a larger cuddly toy for a nice spot in the nursery?
Comfort blanket, music box, or a real cuddly toy?
A comfort blanket is soft, light, and easy for small hands to grasp. Our Bukowski comfort blankets are short-haired, have embroidered eyes, and—with the exception of Hubert—can also be used as a hand puppet and have a loop to which a pacifier can be attached. Most are also delivered in a beautiful gift box.
A music box is a completely different choice. Our Lena and Lucian combine a soft Bukowski cuddly toy with a music box: pulling the cord plays a calm melody. A sweet detail for the nursery, for example.
A larger cuddly toy can be beautiful when you want to give something that immediately gets a special place in the nursery. Think of a classic teddy bear or a large soft rabbit. Such a cuddly toy can first be a beautiful eye-catcher in the room and later grow into a beloved cuddly friend.
For a young baby, a large cuddly toy should obviously not be in the bed during sleep; give it a nice spot in the nursery instead.
Are you in doubt? Let the parents choose themselves
Don't know which animal the parents like, which colors match the nursery, or maybe they already have a favorite Bukowski cuddly toy in mind? Then you don't have to guess.
With our digital gift card, the parents can pick out a comfort blanket, baby cuddly toy, or another favorite Bukowski cuddly toy themselves. This way, you still give something special, but you leave the choice entirely up to them.
