Can baby sleep with Jellycat

Can Baby Sleep with Jellycat Plush Toys? Safety Tips and Benefits

What Are Jellycat Plush Toys?

Jellycat is a popular brand of soft, plush stuffed animals and dolls for babies and children. Jellycat plush toys are known for their adorable designs, super soft fabrics, and quality craftsmanship.

Some of Jellycat’s most popular plush animals include the Bashful Bunny, Cordy Roy Koala, and Dexter Dragon. In addition to animals, Jellycat makes plush versions of foods like ice cream cones, fruits, and vegetables. They also have a range of soft baby dolls and nursery characters like fairies and wizards.

Jellycat plush toys are made from luxuriously soft fabrics like velour and corduroy. Many Jellycat plushies feature intricate details like embroidered features, cute little outfits, and accessories. The plush filling is soft yet firm enough to maintain the toy’s shape.

Are Jellycat Plush Toys Safe for Babies?

The short answer is yes! Jellycat takes several important steps during manufacturing to ensure their plush toys meet all safety standards in the UK, Europe, the US, and beyond.

Safety Testing and Certifications

All Jellycat plush toys undergo rigorous safety testing at independent laboratories. They test for compliance with important safety regulations and standards such as:

• ASTM F963 – Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety set by the American Society for Testing and Materials
• EN 71 – European toy safety standard for flammability, chemicals, and other hazards
• CPSIA – Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act enforced by the US CPSC

Jellycat plush toys are certified to meet flammability standards to minimize fire hazards. The dyes used comply with regulations regarding allowable chemicals and levels of lead and phthalates.

The plush filling meets standards for cleanliness and is sterilized during manufacturing. The stuffing contains no sharp edges or small parts that could become a choking hazard if exposed.

Quality Design and Construction

In addition to safety testing, Jellycat’s own design team carefully engineers each new plush toy with babies in mind:

• All parts are securely stitched together so they don’t detach.
• The toys have no small, removable accessories like buttons, bows, or plastic eyes that could choke a child if swallowed.
• The plush fabric has short fibers that don’t easily shed or detach.
• The labeling uses child-safe inks and is securely attached.

Jellycat strives to meet both EU and US safety standards so their plush toys can be sold worldwide. Parents can feel confident giving Jellycat plushies to babies and young children.

Benefits of Jellycat Plush Toys for Babies

Jellycat’s super soft, cuddly plush animals and dolls provide many benefits for babies beyond just being cute and safe. Here are some key ways they can support development in the first year:

Sensory Stimulation

The soft textures and silky fabrics of Jellycat plushies are ideal for stimulating baby’s sense of touch. Running their hands along the plush fur and squishing the soft tummy gives great tactile feedback.

As baby explores with hands and mouth, they strengthen fine motor skills. The contrasting textures like a silky ear and fuzzy mane help baby experience different touch sensations.

Visual Stimulation

With their bright colors, contrasting patterns, and sweet faces, Jellycat plush toys give babies engaging visual stimulation. High contrast designs in the first months help strengthen developing vision.

Later, babies can visually inspect a giraffe’s spots or a bunny’s stripes. Tracking moving toys with their eyes promotes visual coordination.

Language Development

As parents chat and sing with their babies during playtime, plush toys become part of early communication and language development. When an adult talks about the bunny’s nose and ears, they expose baby to new vocabulary.

Later, toddlers can practice naming body parts themselves as they learn about animals, food, and other plush toy themes. Cute Jellycat characters inspire storytelling and imaginative play.

Motor Skills Development

Clutching, reaching, and manipulating plush toys engages baby’s gross and fine motor skills. Lightweight Jellycat plushies are easy for tiny hands to grasp and hold. Babies enjoy moving them around and practicing their grip.

As toddlers gain mobility, they may drag around a favorite Jellycat friend, which promotes coordination. Plush toys that crinkle or rattle add cause-and-effect discovery to sensory play.

Self-Soothing

For many babies, cuddling a soft plush pal provides comfort and soothes them before naptime or bedtime. Toddlers often become emotionally attached to special stuffed animals. Having a consistent Jellycat plush companion aids the transition to independence.

The familiarity and ritual of a bedtime plushie gives a sense of security that helps calm kids for sleep. A Jellycat toy from home can also ease separation anxiety and be soothing during travel.

Supporting Imaginative Play

As toddlers mature, beloved Jellycat plush pals spur the imagination and role-playing. A child might have a pretend tea party with Cordy Koala or create elaborate adventures with Bashful Bunny.

Pretend play allows kids to work through emotions, build social skills, and make sense of the world around them. Whimsical Jellycat characters enrich this developmental phase.

Choosing the Right Jellycat Plushies for Baby

Jellycat has hundreds of adorable plushies to choose from, so which are best for baby? Here are a few things to consider when selecting developmental Jellycat toys:

• Age range – Many Jellycat plushies list the recommended minimum age, usually from birth+ or 12 months+. Match toys to baby’s age and abilities.
• Size – Look for compact toys that are easy for baby to handle. Avoid oversized plushies that could smother an infant.
• Features – Crinkly sounds, textures, mirrors, and activities engage developing senses. For newborns, high contrast patterns are best.
• Washability – Babies will drool on and play rough with plush toys, so prioritize ones that are machine washable.
• Safety – Ensure any plush toy given to a baby meets Jellycat’s safety standards and has no small decorations or parts.
• Softness – Extra soft velour or chenille plushies will become fast favorites for snuggling.
• Convertibility – Some Jellycat plush toys convert from lay-flat loveys to pillows or upright friends as baby grows.

Caring for Jellycat Plush Toys

To keep Jellycat plushies looking their best despite heavy play, drool, and love, follow these care tips:

• Read the care instructions – Check the tag for washing, drying, and stain removal recommendations specific to the fabrics used.
• Surface clean often – Use a lint roller, brush, or damp cloth to remove dust and stains after playtime.
• Wash regularly – Most Jellycat plush can safely be machine washed on gentle/cold and air dried. Avoid overly hot water or heat drying that could damage plush fabrics.
• Treat stains promptly – Spit up and diaper leaks can stain plush fast. Pretreat or soak in oxyclean to lift organic stains. Do not bleach.
• Avoid harsh chemicals – Use only gentle baby-safe detergents and spot cleaners without dyes, perfumes, or other harsh ingredients.
• Air dry thoroughly – Tumble drying can damage plush fibers, so air dry plush toys completely before giving back to baby.
• Check before each use – Inspect for damage, detached parts or decorations, and colorfastness before allowing baby to play with a plush toy.

With some basic care, Jellycat plush toys can last for years, surviving many adventures of childhood and beyond. Proper washing keeps plushies sanitary despite exposure to baby drool, germs, and messes during play.

Are Jellycat Plush Toys Safe for Sleeping?

Parents often wonder if plush toys pose safety risks for sleeping infants, so let’s look at some key considerations:

Suffocation Hazards

Any soft bedding, including plush toys, in baby’s sleep area increases the risk of suffocation. Baby’s nose and mouth can become covered by a stuffed animal or blanket, blocking airflow. Always keep plush toys out of the crib and away from baby’s face when sleeping.

Strangulation Risk

If a plush toy has buttons, bows, or other decorations, these small parts can detach and become a strangulation hazard in bed. Remove all accessories from plush toys before giving them to babies.

SIDS Prevention

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends bare, flat sleep surfaces for infants to reduce SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) risk. Do not place plush toys or pillows under or next to baby.

Hygiene

To prevent germ transfer, plush toys should not be shared between children and kept away from dirty surfaces. Wash toys between uses according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Despite these precautions, many parents allow newborns and infants to sleep with a favorite soft lovey. To minimize risks, choose a small, lightweight plush toy with no added decorations. Keep blankets, pillows, and crib bumpers out of baby’s sleep space.

As babies become more mobile, they will need better sleep safety. By age 2, transition children to sleep without plush toys in the bed.

The Takeaway: Safe Plush Play from Infancy Onward

With their whimsical designs and ultra soft fabrics, Jellycat’s plush toys are hard to resist for babies and toddlers alike. Parents can feel confident that Jellycat’s rigorous safety testing and quality control makes them a trusted brand for babies.

The right Jellycat plushie stimulates senses, encourages imaginative play, and provides comfort. Selecting developmentally appropriate toys and following safe sleep practices allows babies to enjoy the many benefits of plush toy play. Handle with care and wash regularly to keep Jellycat plushies looking cute and cuddly for years of play.