Teddy bears for children

A child's teddy has a harder life than most collector's bears. It gets dragged by one ear, slept on, dropped in puddles and washed more often than anyone planned. So the teddies here are chosen for that life: soft, sturdy, and rated by their makers for the age they are meant for.

The groups below are split by age, because what suits a newborn is not what suits a five-year-old. A baby needs a teddy its maker rates suitable from birth. A toddler needs one that can take being carried everywhere and washed. A child of three or more can have a proper character, a first Steiff, or a bear with a name and a story.

Buying for a birthday? Go by the child's age below: a birthday teddy has one job, which is to be played with, and a two-year-old and a six-year-old want very different bears. For a new baby, a christening or a naming day, the newborn list is the one.

The age recommendation on each teddy is the maker's own. If you are unsure about a particular one, ask us.