Bestselling Plush Toys For Newborns
Welcoming a newborn is a truly special time, filled with anticipation and joy. As you prepare for their arrival, selecting the perfect items for their nursery and playtime is a delightful task. Plush toys, in particular, hold a unique charm, offering comfort, companionship, and gentle sensory stimulation from day one.
Finding the best plush toys for newborns involves considering safety, softness, and developmental benefits. This curated list explores some of the top options available, ensuring you find a wonderful companion for the newest member of your family. We’ve gathered a variety of products to suit different preferences and budgets.
From classic teddy bears to engaging activity plushies, there’s something here for every little one. This selection highlights quality, popular features, and excellent value, making your choice easier. Get ready to discover some truly adorable and comforting options that newborns will love.
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1. Baby GUND My First Teddy Bear
This classic plush teddy bear is a timeless choice for any newborn. Crafted from ultra-soft, huggable material, it’s designed for gentle cuddles and comfort. Its gentle pastel colors make it a sweet addition to any nursery.
It’s perfect for baby’s first companion, offering a sense of security. This particular product is a budget-friendly option, providing excellent quality for its price. Its simple, endearing design is a standout feature, making it a beloved keepsake.
2. Jellycat Bashful Bunny
The Jellycat Bashful Bunny is renowned for its incredibly soft fur and floppy ears. This luxurious plush toy quickly becomes a favorite for snuggling and gentle play. Its charming, understated design appeals to both parents and babies.
It’s an ideal choice for parents seeking a premium, high-quality plush that will last for years. While a mid-range to premium option, its exceptional softness and durability are highly praised. The distinctively soft texture is its ultimate selling point.
3. Mary Meyer Taggies Lovey
The Taggies Lovey combines a plush animal head with a small blanket, featuring multiple satin tags around the edges. These textured tags provide tactile stimulation, which newborns often find fascinating and comforting. It’s designed for sensory exploration.
This product is best for babies who enjoy fiddling with textures and need a soothing item. It’s a mid-range price point, offering unique sensory features. The variety of colorful tags is its most appealing and unique feature.
4. GUND Peek-A-Boo Bear
This interactive plush bear plays peek-a-boo and says phrases when its paw is pressed. It’s an engaging toy that can bring smiles and encourage early interaction. The bear’s soft, movable arms add to its playful charm.
It’s perfect for slightly older newborns who are starting to react to sounds and movements. This premium plush offers developmental benefits through interactive play. The charming peek-a-boo action is its most captivating feature.
5. Burt’s Bees Baby Organic Cotton Lovey
For eco-conscious parents, this organic cotton lovey provides a soft and safe option. Made from 100% organic cotton, it’s gentle on sensitive skin and free from harmful chemicals. It typically features a small animal head attached to a mini blanket.
This lovey is an excellent choice for those prioritizing natural materials and sustainable products. It falls into a mid-range price category, offering peace of mind alongside comfort. Its certified organic cotton construction is a significant quality feature.
6. Cloud b Sleep Sheep
The Cloud b Sleep Sheep is more than just a plush toy; it’s also a sound machine. It features eight soothing sound options, including heartbeat and ocean waves, tucked inside a soft sheep exterior. This helps create a calming environment for sleep.
It’s best for newborns who need help with soothing sounds to drift off to sleep. This is a mid-range to premium product due to its dual functionality. The integrated sound machine, hidden within the plush, is its standout feature.
7. Manhattan Toy Wee Baby Stella Soft Doll
Wee Baby Stella is a soft, 12-inch (30 cm) doll designed specifically for infants. She has soft fabric hair, a magnetic pacifier, and removable clothing for gentle play. Her plush body is perfect for small hands to grasp and cuddle.
This doll is ideal for introducing the concept of imaginative play and nurturing from an early age. It sits in the mid-range price bracket, offering a quality first doll experience. Her magnetic pacifier is a delightful and unique feature.
8. Slumberkins Yeti Snuggler
Slumberkins plush toys are designed to promote social-emotional learning through comforting characters. The Yeti Snuggler comes with a storybook focused on themes like self-esteem or gratitude. It’s made from incredibly soft, high-quality fabric.
This product is perfect for parents looking for a plush toy with an added educational dimension. It’s a premium option, reflecting its unique mission and superior materials. The accompanying story and focus on emotional development set it apart.
9. Disney Baby Winnie the Pooh Plush
A beloved character like Winnie the Pooh brings a sense of nostalgia and warmth. This soft plush representation of Pooh Bear is perfectly sized for newborn cuddles. Its familiar face offers a comforting presence in the nursery.
It’s a great choice for families who love classic Disney characters and want a recognizable friend for their baby. This iconic product is typically a mid-range purchase. The timeless appeal of Winnie the Pooh is its primary feature.
10. Aden + Anais Muslin Lovey
Known for their breathable muslin products, Aden + Anais offers a lovey that combines a small plush animal with a soft, lightweight muslin blanket. It’s gentle against baby’s skin and easy for little hands to hold.
This lovey is best for newborns who prefer lighter, airier textures for comfort. It’s a mid-range item, valued for its quality muslin and thoughtful design. The combination of a plush animal with a soft muslin square is its unique selling point.
11. Lamaze Freddie the Firefly Activity Toy
While primarily an activity toy, Freddie the Firefly features a plush body with multiple sensory elements. Crinkly wings, a squeaker, a teether, and various textures engage a newborn’s senses. It can be easily attached to strollers or car seats.
This toy is perfect for stimulating a baby’s developing senses and encouraging interaction. It’s a budget-friendly to mid-range product, packed with features. Its vibrant colors and multiple sensory elements make it incredibly engaging.
12. Skip Hop Bandana Buddies Activity Toy
The Skip Hop Bandana Buddies are plush animals that double as multi-sensory activity toys. Each buddy has crinkly ears, a teether, and various textures, often including a removable bandana-style teether. They are designed for on-the-go fun.
These buddies are great for keeping babies entertained during outings or playtime at home. They offer a mid-range price point for a toy with many functions. The clever bandana teether attachment is a standout feature.
13. Manhattan Toy Llama Llama Plush
Inspired by the popular children’s book series, the Llama Llama plush toy brings the beloved character to life. Made with soft, huggable fabric, it’s a comforting friend for storytelling and snuggles. Its familiar design resonates with many families.
This plush is an excellent purchase for fans of the Llama Llama books, connecting literary joy with a physical companion. It’s a mid-range price option for a quality character plush. Its direct connection to a cherished book series is a unique appeal.
14. Aurora World Flopsie Plush
Aurora World offers a vast collection of soft, realistic animal plush toys in their Flopsie line. From puppies to pandas, these plushies are known for their quality craftsmanship and cuddly nature. They are often weighted slightly for a comforting feel.
If you want a wide variety of animal choices with a consistently good quality product, this brand is an excellent consideration. These are typically budget-friendly to mid-range. The extensive selection of realistic animal designs is a key feature.
15. Wild Republic Hug’ems Plush
Wild Republic Hug’ems are smaller, highly huggable plush animals designed for little hands. They feature realistic details and are made from soft, high-quality materials. Their compact size makes them ideal for travel or carrying around.
These plush toys are perfect for newborns who need a smaller, easily graspable comfort item. They are generally a budget-friendly option, offering great value. Their convenient size and soft texture make them highly appealing.
16. Cuddle + Kind Hand-Knit Dolls
Cuddle + Kind dolls are exquisite, hand-knit artisan dolls made from natural cotton. Each doll has a unique personality and contributes to a charitable cause, providing meals to children in need. They are designed to be heirloom quality.
This product is for those seeking a premium, ethically made, and truly special plush toy. It’s a premium investment, but one that supports a good cause. The hand-knit craftsmanship and philanthropic mission are truly remarkable features.
17. Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Soft Activity Book
This isn’t just a plush toy, but a soft fabric book with plush elements and sensory activities on each page. It encourages exploration with crinkly pages, textures, and peek-a-boo flaps, all within a cuddly, baby-safe format.
It’s best for stimulating early cognitive development and fine motor skills in a playful way. This is a mid-range product that offers both comfort and learning. The combination of a soft book with interactive plush features makes it very engaging.
18. Fisher-Price Soothe & Glow Seahorse
The Soothe & Glow Seahorse is a plush musical toy designed to calm and comfort newborns. When squeezed, its belly gently glows and it plays eight lullabies and soothing ocean sounds. Its soft texture is ideal for snuggling.
This product is great for creating a peaceful bedtime routine and helping babies relax. It falls into the mid-range category, offering valuable soothing functions. The gentle glow and calming sounds are its most effective features.
19. Steiff Hoppie Rabbit
Steiff is a renowned German toy company known for its exceptional quality and craftsmanship. The Hoppie Rabbit is a classic, beautifully made plush with super soft fur and a timeless design. It often features the iconic “button in ear” tag.
This premium plush is for those who appreciate heritage brands and desire an heirloom-quality toy. It is a premium investment, reflecting its superior materials and storied reputation. The impeccable quality and classic design are its hallmarks.
20. IKEA SAGOSKATT Soft Toy
The IKEA SAGOSKATT collection features unique and whimsical soft toys designed by children. These plushies often have imaginative shapes and bright colors, offering a distinct and playful aesthetic. They are very soft and huggable.
This product is a budget-friendly option for parents looking for something a bit different and charming. Its unique, child-inspired designs make it stand out. The creative and varied designs are a key feature of this collection.
21. Pottery Barn Kids Plush Animal
Pottery Barn Kids offers a range of beautifully crafted plush animals, often coordinating with their nursery decor themes. These plush toys are known for their classic designs, soft materials, and durable construction. They make lovely gifts.
It’s a great choice for parents who appreciate classic, tasteful nursery aesthetics and high-quality items. This is a mid-range to premium product known for its sophisticated appeal. Their elegant designs and soft textures are highly regarded.
22. Lambs & Ivy Signature Ollie Elephant Plush
Lambs & Ivy is a popular brand for nursery bedding and decor, and their plush animals often match these themes. The Ollie Elephant plush is soft, cuddly, and features charming details, making it a beloved nursery companion.
This product is ideal for parents who want a plush toy that complements a coordinated nursery theme. It’s a mid-range option, offering a blend of style and comfort. Its ability to tie into nursery decor is a unique benefit.
23. Carter’s Elephant Plush
Carter’s is a widely trusted brand for baby clothing and accessories, and their plush toys maintain the same standard of softness and quality. Their elephant plush is often a popular choice, known for its gentle feel and friendly face.
It’s perfect for those seeking a reliable, soft, and affordable plush from a well-known baby brand. This is typically a budget-friendly choice, providing excellent value. The consistent quality and adorable design from a trusted brand are key features.
24. Melissa & Doug Burrow Bunny
The Melissa & Doug Burrow Bunny is an extra-soft, oversized plush rabbit designed for big hugs. Its floppy ears and gentle expression make it an inviting companion for newborns and growing toddlers alike. It’s built for durability.
This plush is best for those who want a larger, super cuddly friend that can grow with the child. It falls into a mid-range price category, offering substantial size and softness. Its generous size and exceptional softness are its primary appeal.
25. Jellycat Fuddlewuddle Puppy
Another delightful offering from Jellycat, the Fuddlewuddle Puppy features incredibly soft, shaggy fur that is irresistible to touch. Its sweet, innocent expression makes it a comforting and lovable friend for any newborn.
If you are looking for another premium, super-soft animal friend from a beloved brand, this puppy is a fantastic choice. It is a mid-range to premium product, known for its unique texture. The wonderfully shaggy and soft fur is its standout feature.
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Last Words
Choosing the perfect plush toy for a newborn is about finding that special blend of comfort, safety, and charm. This list of bestselling plush toys for newborns offers a fantastic starting point, covering a wide range of styles, features, and price points. Whether you’re looking for a classic teddy, a sensory-rich activity friend, or an heirloom-quality doll, there’s a wonderful option waiting.
Each product brings its own unique appeal, from the ultra-soft textures of Jellycat to the soothing sounds of the Cloud b Sleep Sheep. You can’t go wrong with any of these highly-rated choices, all designed with your little one’s well-being in mind. Remember to consider what qualities you value most, such as organic materials, interactive features, or simply unparalleled softness.
We encourage you to explore these options further, perhaps thinking about what might best complement your nursery or bring the most comfort to the baby. Checking current prices and availability on Amazon can help you make your final decision. No matter which you choose, these plush companions are sure to bring joy and gentle comfort to any newborn.
Leticia (a.k.a Letty) is a bibliophile who loves to read and write, she is also a Content Associate and Curator at Clue Media. She spends her spare time researching diverse topics and lives in New York with her dog.

