A weighted stuffed animal when travelling and on the plane

When you travel, a lot changes at once: busy spaces, long waits, different sounds and a bed that is not yours. A familiar weighted stuffed animal then gives you something you know to hold on to, just as at other tense moments, such as at the dentist or in hospital. A little piece of home that can simply come along. With a bit of preparation, you can bring it along without fuss and keep it safe and pleasant for children too.

Can a weighted stuffed animal go on a plane?

A weighted stuffed animal is a stuffed animal with a heavy filling, usually glass beads or plastic pellets. You can take it in your hand luggage or in your suitcase. If you want to use it during the journey, it belongs in the bag you keep with you.

Do keep an eye on the weight. A stuffed animal of 1 to 2 kg simply counts towards your luggage, and some airlines have a strict limit for hand luggage. So check your airline's website beforehand to see how much you can take. Rules differ from airline to airline and from airport to airport, and they sometimes change. If you are unsure, ask before you leave.

What happens at the baggage scanner?

A dense mass of beads or pellets can stand out on the screen of a baggage scanner. So security may set your bag aside and want to take a quick look at the stuffed animal. That is part of their job and says nothing about the stuffed animal itself.

Put it at the top of your bag so you can get to it quickly. Feel free to say that it is a weighted stuffed animal and what it is filled with. If you are travelling with a child, tell them beforehand that a member of staff might hold the stuffed animal for a moment. Then your child will be less startled if it happens, and will know that the stuffed animal will simply come back.

Can a weighted stuffed animal help with fear of flying?

Take-off, turbulence and sitting still for a long time can feel tense. Then it can be nice to hold something soft and heavy during the flight. It gives your hands something to do and can help you keep your attention on your breathing. For example, put the stuffed animal on your lap, feel the weight and breathe out slowly and calmly.

Research into weighted stuffed animals themselves is still in its early days. For weighted blankets, which cover a large part of your body, a 2024 review found a small effect on anxiety. Try it yourself to find out what a stuffed animal on your lap does for you.

You can read how to combine a stuffed animal with calm breathing in the article on anxiety and panic. During take-off and landing, always follow the instructions of the cabin crew. If your fear is stopping you from travelling, talk to your GP or a psychologist about it. You will find other situations in which people use a weighted stuffed animal under benefits and uses.

What should you look out for when travelling with children?

A weighted stuffed animal is not suitable for babies and toddlers. Stuffed animals with a pellet filling are not intended for children under 3. You can read from what age it is fine in from what age is a weighted stuffed animal suitable.

In the car, do not let a child hold the stuffed animal loose on their lap while driving. A heavy object lying loose can slide or fly through the car if you brake hard. During the journey, store it so that it cannot move, for example at the bottom of the boot. During a break, when the car is stationary, your child can have a nice cuddle with it.

On the plane, on the train or in the waiting area, your child can hold the stuffed animal on their lap while you are with them. Make sure that, even in a cramped seat, your child can still lift it and push it away themselves. You can read more about use with children in a weighted stuffed animal for your child.

How do you use it in an unfamiliar place to sleep?

A hotel room, holiday home or guest bed smells and sounds different from home. A stuffed animal from home is then something familiar, and that can make settling in a lot easier. For children, it belongs to the moment before sleep, for example during story time. After that, take it out of bed. Kind en Gezin, the Flemish child and family agency, already gives this advice for ordinary soft toys for young children: if a child needs their soft toy to fall asleep, take it away as soon as they are asleep.

As an adult, you can hold the stuffed animal in your arms or put it next to you. Do not put it on your face, head or neck, and not on your chest when you are going to sleep. You will find tips on position and duration in how to use a weighted stuffed animal.

How do you pack a weighted stuffed animal?

Put it in a bag you keep with you, so you can get to it when you need it. A clean fabric bag or a pillowcase keeps it clean on the floor of an airport or among the things in the car. Feel free to let your child help with the packing; then they know exactly where the stuffed animal is. Washing it is often not possible while you are away, so read the care label before you leave. Then you know what you can and cannot do once you are home.

Check the seams after the trip. A full bag and lots of carrying around can put strain on a seam. If you see a loose seam or filling coming out, stop using the stuffed animal.