What is the solution to decluttering stuffed animals?

[Anonymous]

We bought an empty bean bag for this. Now it doubles as a chair.

[Anonymous]

One of my neighbors left a big box out at the curb. I was so sad walking by them. There was Curious George looking right at me. It was all I could do to not take him home (and I will add my kids are grown so it would not be for them). We still have too many..who also have names and personalities in fact one bunny is sitting on our couch with me now.

[Anonymous]

We have way too many stuffed animals. Gifts from relatives. One of the gift givers is now dead. DH won’t let us part with any of the stuffed animals given by the deceased. Kids are way past the stuffed animal stage and want them gone. I want them gone. UGH!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad knowing these things can't be donated and have to be trashed. That seems so incredibly wasteful.

Which is why we have to rethink what and how much we give our kids culturally.

Sure, I agree, but the "we" is my MIL and she's not on DCUM nor does she give a hoot about the environment.

I've never purchased a stuffed toy in my life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have way too many stuffed animals. Gifts from relatives. One of the gift givers is now dead. DH won’t let us part with any of the stuffed animals given by the deceased. Kids are way past the stuffed animal stage and want them gone. I want them gone. UGH!

Start tucking them into bed with him...

[Anonymous]

We turned a bunch of the smaller ones into dog toys. Ordered replacement squeakers and pop one in. Kids give them to the dog on holidays and he slowly destroys them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of my neighbors left a big box out at the curb. I was so sad walking by them. There was Curious George looking right at me. It was all I could do to not take him home (and I will add my kids are grown so it would not be for them). We still have too many..who also have names and personalities in fact one bunny is sitting on our couch with me now.

This is a horror story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We turned a bunch of the smaller ones into dog toys. Ordered replacement squeakers and pop one in. Kids give them to the dog on holidays and he slowly destroys them.

This! If they headed to the trash, my dog would happily dispatch them in his special way. They’ll be dismantled with great joy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very question: Why would you want to donate a stuffed animal? Most are not washable. It's like getting someone's unwashed pillow. A stuffed animal owned by a kid has probably been subject to drool, cough, spit up, being sit on, peed on, and dragged and thrown around. I don't like my own kid to keep a stuffed animal for too long if I cannot wash it. And the effort it would take to wash (and likely refresh or mend) is not worth it to me. I'd throw away or as a PP suggested - used a stuffing in a bean bag type chair. And then plant a tree, if you feel guilty.

NP. Not really, I wash them on gentle, and except for a favorite 2-3, the rest have been minimally played with and are practically in as good as new condition. Thanks for this thread - will check out some of the recommendations to donate.

[Anonymous]

I've always washed my kids’ stuffed animals. Pop them in a zippable pillow case or lingerie bag, cold water wash and air dry on clips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've always washed my kids’ stuffed animals. Pop them in a zippable pillow case or lingerie bag, cold water wash and air dry on clips.

I’ve oxicleaned them on hot and they are fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my neighbors left a big box out at the curb. I was so sad walking by them. There was Curious George looking right at me. It was all I could do to not take him home (and I will add my kids are grown so it would not be for them). We still have too many..who also have names and personalities in fact one bunny is sitting on our couch with me now.

This is a horror story.

It is good to know I’m not the only sentimental softie around here. This kind of thing is so heartless!

[Anonymous]

I have a whole laundry basket of ones that have never been played with a barely touched. Once I became a parent I realized that every child receives 10X as many stuffed toys as they will ever want or use and I vowed to never buy one again. I feel so guilty about giving them in the past!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A Wider Circle in Silver Spring takes them if they are good quality. Right off the Beltway.

It’s not on their list of things they take—why do you think they take them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad knowing these things can't be donated and have to be trashed. That seems so incredibly wasteful.

Which is why we have to rethink what and how much we give our kids culturally.

Sure, I agree, but the "we" is my MIL and she's not on DCUM nor does she give a hoot about the environment.

I've never purchased a stuffed toy in my life.

My MIL is the “we” in our situation, too. So in my case, if my husband and I get grandchildren, we’ll buying a lot fewer toys.