Quick answer
Above all, choose an animal the user likes: you are more likely to reach for a stuffed animal you think is lovely. How it feels depends mainly on how the weight is spread and how you use it. A long shape rests comfortably across your lap, a round shape is easy to hold and long arms can be draped loosely over your shoulders, never around your neck.
In this article
There are weighted stuffed animals shaped like a sloth, elephant, dog, turtle, sheep and lots more. Choosing an animal is the most fun part of buying one. The shape also determines how the stuffed animal feels and how comfortably you can use it. Below, you can read how to choose a shape that suits you.
Does the animal make a difference to how the stuffed animal feels?
You don't need to look for one best animal. Whether it is an elephant or a dog makes no difference to the weight itself. What does matter is how the weight is spread inside the stuffed animal and how you hold it or put it down.
A few things determine how a stuffed animal feels:
- Where the weight is. In some stuffed animals the weight is mainly in the tummy, in others also in the legs or the tail.
- Whether the filling is in compartments. Then the weight stays in place. If the filling is loose, it sinks to the lowest point.
- How big the stuffed animal is. The same weight feels firm and concentrated in a small stuffed animal, and softer in a large one.
That last point also matters when you choose the weight. You can read more about that in how heavy should a weighted stuffed animal be?
And the animal itself? That certainly matters too. You are more likely to reach for a stuffed animal you think is lovely. For many children, a stuffed animal is also a little friend or something familiar. In a study of more than a thousand pairs of three-year-old twins, one in three children had a regular comfort object. For about one in three of them, it was a soft doll or teddy bear. So a familiar shape can be nice, regardless of the weight.
Which shapes are practical to use?
Think about how the stuffed animal will mainly be used.
- A long shape, such as a sloth or snake, rests comfortably across your lap or thighs. The weight is then spread over a larger area.
- A round or compact shape, such as a turtle or a sitting dog, is easy to hold in your arms or against your tummy.
- A shape with long arms or legs can be draped loosely over your shoulders. The weight then rests on your shoulders.
How to use these shapes safely: never put long arms around your neck or around someone else's neck. A weighted stuffed animal does not belong on the face, the head or the neck. You must always be able to take it off yourself in one movement. British paediatric occupational therapists ask for an individual risk assessment for neck rolls and shoulder snakes. So take extra care with these shapes, especially with children. You can read more about where to put the stuffed animal in how do you use a weighted stuffed animal?
Which size suits the sofa, bed or travel?
On the sofa you have plenty of room. A larger or longer stuffed animal can be lovely there, because it rests across your lap while you read or watch TV.
In bed, adults often use the stuffed animal beside them or in their arms. A medium size is handy then: big enough to hold comfortably, small enough to push away in your sleep. With young children, a weighted stuffed animal does not go to bed with them. The Flemish agency Opgroeien also points out that toddlers can use a stuffed animal as a step to climb out of bed.
On the go, smaller is better. A compact stuffed animal fits in a rucksack or bag and you don't have to carry it around all day.
How do you let a child choose?
Let a child choose for themselves if possible; that makes it extra fun. An animal your child has picked out themselves often feels more like their own. That helps them get used to it. Look at photos together and ask what your child likes. Also talk calmly about what the stuffed animal is for: for quiet moments, during the day and with you nearby.
For a child, it is best to choose a compact shape that they can easily lift and push away. Make sure eyes, noses and other details are firmly attached, and that the seams are strong. A weighted stuffed animal is not suitable for children under 3, whatever its shape. If you are giving the stuffed animal as a present, also read a weighted stuffed animal as a gift.
Which shape suits teenagers and adults?
Not everyone wants a stuffed animal that looks childish. Teenagers and adults often prefer an animal in a calm colour with a simple shape. Some choose a shape that looks more like a cushion or a roll. That is fine too. A weighted stuffed animal is for all ages, and a shape that suits you makes it easier to simply leave it out on the sofa.
With older people and people with dementia, respect is especially important. In care, people have long discussed dolls and stuffed animals in dementia: can they offer comfort, or do they unintentionally treat someone like a child? A review on doll therapy in dementia mentions this ethical debate. So choose a shape that suits the person and offer the stuffed animal without pushing it on them.
You can find tips for teenagers in a weighted stuffed animal for teenagers. You can read which fabric feels most pleasant in materials: which fabric and cover should you choose? More about choosing can be found in choosing and using.
Frequently asked questions
Which animal is the most popular weighted stuffed animal?
Online, people mainly search for a sloth, dog, cat or sheep, but also for elephants, rabbits and turtles. The nicest animal is the one the user likes, in a shape that suits how they are going to use the stuffed animal.
Is a weighted stuffed animal with long arms suitable for a child?
A child can enjoy holding a stuffed animal like this or resting it on their lap while you are there. Never put long arms around a child's neck, and don't let them knot or twist the stuffed animal around their own neck. For children, a compact shape that they can easily put aside themselves is the better choice.
Is a large weighted stuffed animal better than a small one?
That depends on where you use it. A large stuffed animal spreads the weight over a bigger area, so it feels softer. A small stuffed animal is handier to take with you and feels firmer. At home on the sofa, large is often lovely; when you are out and about, small is better.