Soft toys
91 products
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There comes a moment when a child picks one soft toy out of all the ones on the shelf. Not the prettiest, not the most expensive — just that one. From then on it goes everywhere, disappears regularly, and ends up clamped under an arm at bedtime. Which one it will be is impossible to predict. What you can do is make sure there is something within reach that is soft, survives a wash and suits your child's age.
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Which soft toy suits which age?
- The first months — a comforter is the classic first one: small, light and easy to grab hold of. Sleep with it yourself for a night first, so it carries your scent and works better as comfort. Also lovely: a rattle that makes a sound as soon as your baby moves it.
- Around six months — this is usually the stage where a child settles on one favourite. A heartbeat toy can help with falling asleep: it makes a rhythmic sound close to what a baby heard in the womb. The Moonie toys combine that with a night light and a sensor that responds when your child cries.
- From 1 year — bigger toys to lug around, and warming toys with a removable cushion you heat up: good for tummy ache, cold feet, or simply when falling asleep is hard.
- From 3 years — now the real play begins. Soft toys get names, come along on trips, get looked after and put to bed. This is the age at which Maileg mice land: small characters with their own clothes and beds, around which whole stories grow.
Sleeping safely with a soft toy
The question we get most. The common guidance in the Netherlands is to keep a baby's cot empty: no soft toys, pillows or duvets, because loose objects in a bed are a risk. A comforter is fine during the day — while feeding or in the pram, with you present — but does not belong in the cot at that stage.
When something may go in does depend on the child and the situation. Follow the advice of your child health clinic or doctor on this; that is the source to go by, not a web shop. When the time comes, choose something small and flat with no loose parts, and check regularly that eyes, labels and seams are still firmly attached. Every product page states the manufacturer's age guidance.
What else to look for
- Washable — a toy that goes outside has to survive the machine. Check the care label and use a wash bag; it protects ears and seams. If there is a sound module or a warming cushion inside, take it out first.
- Buy two of the favourite — the best advice we can give. Once it is clear which toy is the one, a spare is worth its weight in gold: one in the wash, one in the bed, and no drama if one goes missing. Alternate them and they wear evenly, so the difference stays invisible.
- Material — many of our soft toys are organic cotton. It breathes better and feels nicer than synthetic, and it stands up to frequent washing.
- No small loose parts for children who still put everything in their mouth.
What you'll find here
We stock Maileg with its mouse families, the handmade animals of Senger Naturwelt — including the warming toys with a removable cushion of cherry or grape stones — and the sleep companions from Moonie. Alongside those, bears, rabbits and elephants in various sizes, from something that fits in a hand to a toy you can flop against.
Soft toys as a gift
A soft toy is the most-given new-baby present there is, and for good reason: it is personal, it gets used, and it lasts for years. A few ideas that do well with us — a comforter with a set of muslin cloths as a new-baby package, a little Maileg mouse alongside a birth announcement, or one new family member under the Christmas tree each year so a collection builds up. At checkout you can add a handwritten card.
Why we choose the way we do
At our own nurseries we see how much a soft toy means at the moment a child is dropped off and mum or dad leaves. Something familiar helps a child find their own calm in a situation that feels big. That is not a side issue but a real skill: being able to comfort yourself.
Something else we live with daily: soft toys in a nursery group take twice the beating of ones at home. They go through the wash, get dragged around, hugged and sometimes chewed. What survives a year with us is what we are willing to put in the shop.
Frequently asked questions about soft toys
Can a soft toy go in the cot with a baby?
The common guidance is to keep the cot empty while your child is a baby. For when something may go in, check with your child health clinic or doctor — that is the source to go by.
Which soft toy suits a newborn?
A comforter: small, light and easy to hold. For daytime, with you present.
How do I wash a soft toy?
By the care label, usually at 30 or 40 degrees and preferably in a wash bag. If there is a sound module or warming cushion inside, take it out first. Let it dry thoroughly afterwards, filling included; that prevents musty smells.
How does a warming toy work?
There is a removable cushion inside, usually filled with cherry or grape stones, that you heat in the oven — 3 to 5 minutes at 75 degrees, not in the microwave. Follow the timing on the packaging exactly and always feel for yourself that it is not too hot before handing it over.
What is a heartbeat toy?
A soft toy with a sound module that imitates a heartbeat or white noise — close to what a baby heard in the womb. The Moonie toys also have a night light and a sensor that responds when your child cries.
What if the favourite goes missing?
That is exactly why we suggest buying two once it is clear which one is the one.
