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ST. LOUIS — Though many might never admit it publicly, a new survey finds that four in ten adult Americans still sleep with a teddy bear at night. And many of those bears are the same bears kept from childhood.

The popular custom teddy bear outlet Build-A-Bear Workshop commissioned a new survey with over 2,000 Americans to gauge their views on their furry friends, and came away with some surprising findings.

Girl with teddy bear in field
Four in ten American adults still sleep with a stuffed animal, a new survey finds.

More than half of the survey participants indicated they currently owned a stuffed animal, and 40 percent indicated the toy joins them at bedtime. Perhaps most surprisingly, most of the plush toys out there are no spring chickens — 56 percent of those polled said that they’ve held onto their favorite stuffed animal from childhood for at least two decades.

This perhaps is a reflection of the fact that 72 percent of respondents want to keep their stuffed animal forever.

As for the feelings and emotions associated with one’s stuffed animal, 30 percent said that they thought of comfort, 22 percent thought of the person who gave them the toy, and 19 percent thought about the appearance of their most dear animal.

Geography played a minor role in determining one’s likelihood of having a plush animal, with 75 percent of adults in the southern U.S. owning such a toy, compared to 72 percent of those in the midwest and 70 percent of those in  northeastern states.

“As children develop independence from their parents, they still yearn for a secure bond with something. In many cases, children turned to stuffed animals, including teddy bears, to help them through this transition,” says best-selling author Dr. Shefali Tsabary of the survey’s findings in a press release.

“As we enter adulthood and leave home for the first time, it’s not surprise that the same object re-enters our life, providing comfort while also helping us work through feelings of uncertainty as we transition into a new life stage,” adds Tsabary.

The survey, conducted in August ahead of National Teddy Bear Day (Sept. 9), was carried out by a third-party firm on behalf of Build-A-Bear.

About a quarter of respondents had children between the ages of five and 10.

About Daniel Steingold

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StudyFinds publishes digestible, agenda-free, transparent research summaries that are intended to inform the reader as well as stir civil, educated debate. We do not agree nor disagree with any of the studies we post, rather, we encourage our readers to debate the veracity of the findings themselves. All articles published on StudyFinds are vetted by our editors prior to publication and include links back to the source or corresponding journal article, if possible.

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200 Comments

  1. Patricia Collins Ethen says:

    Who comes up with this crap?

  2. Ann Arbor says:

    … perverts …I really didn’t need to know … 😉

  3. Barney Mabnet says:

    Who would be stupid enough to admit they still sleep with their Teddy Bear?

    1. I survived the GAY kenyan says:

      SNOWFLAKES.

  4. juancarnuba says:

    Millenials are so adorable.

  5. Howard Philipson says:

    Flat out fake news.

  6. Mike says:

    Comfort for nervous SJW’s. After a busy day of Play-Doh and coloring books, they can suck their thumbs while holding their teddy bears at night.

  7. Informed says:

    Another fake story to generate ad revenue.

  8. Joe in OH says:

    Daniel Steingold, do you think think we’re stupid? You’ve just thrown your credibility out the window.

  9. Bigg Bunyon says:

    Nonsense, the more enlightened adults sleep with Unicorns and other associated fantasy characters. Democrats sleep with Hillary, but there’s nothing new there.

  10. Mike says:

    Liberalism is a severe sickness!

    #MAGA

    1. John Jackal says:

      Well IF the numbers are true and it is only liberals-
      Math says we are in big trouble.

      1. zonablue says:

        No. Most of them are too afraid to leave the house even to vote.

      2. trueblue says:

        I thought that too but somehow Hillary won the popular vote. Or, was that the Russians who helped her do that. Or was it the Mexicans. We need to build a wall!

  11. RamiroFonsecaLozano says:

    this story is bovine excrement

  12. IBDavid99 says:

    It also found that all of them were democrats.

    1. cogent_1 says:

      What else would pajama-boy sleep with?

      1. forgetyoutooo says:

        You just won the internet for the day!

    2. TexasHornyToad says:

      The 40% of adults that still sleep with their Teddy Bear also, still live with Mommy and Daddy because they were never made to take any responsibility for their own life. In the normal world, you don’t have time for a Teddy because that space it taken by your children and grandchildren.

      1. HarryObrian says:

        and I know just where those snowflakes are coming from. I recently found out that many lib parents allow their children to sleep with them until very late ages, sometimes early teen years. They expect these children to be so sensitive and dependent on them that they will take care of them in later years. It’s sick.

      2. Rascal69 says:

        But, they all received trophies for participation. If it weren’t for stupidity, what else would liberals have to show.

      3. Blackstone says:

        No kidding — my brother married an African woman and the entire household (4 “kids” including their grown late-teenhood son and daughter) still sleep in the same bed/room.

  13. Curmudgeon10 says:

    And in other news, Rep. Gutierrez states new study shows 93% of Americans want Open Borders and Amnesty for all Hispanics in the country illegally.

  14. David Morris says:

    Ad

  15. Nos Nevets says:

    Gotta admit I am curious as to how this piece of fiction was created.

  16. Dan Meyers says:

    Survey: 4 In 10 Adult Americans Still Sleep With Teddy Bear. Research Sponsored By Vermont Teddy Bear®. With over 158 different characteristics to choose from, isn’t it time you got your own Vermont Teddy?®

    1. MooTieFighter says:

      Everybody ahas an agenda. It has become an information battle, starting with our schools.

    2. Foofydo says:

      You’ll need one if you live in Vermont.

  17. libwithIQ says:

    I call B.S. on this story.

    1. MooTieFighter says:

      I think people just make stuff up or maybe the polling was done at one liberal sorority house. Either way, stupid.

    2. pintorider says:

      I agree this is more FAKE NEWS

      1. HarryObrian says:

        Yup, if it’s not fake news it’s an ad for teddy bear company, either way it’s rubbish but you watch, as many of the lemmings start buying useless teddy bears because they can’t figure out how to have a human relationship with anyone, including their spouse.

      2. libwithIQ says:

        Only reason to have a Teddy Bear on the bed is if it’s a good place to hide your Glock.

      3. RoPovlo says:

        Good one!

      4. whatever3210 says:

        That’s a fantastic idea. Maybe I’ll built my own bear after all.

    3. Giantmetoer2016 says:

      it all depends upon who took the survey, if it was done in rural Texas I would call b.s. too, but if it was taken in NYC then I could believe it. Depends on how many playdoh boys took the survey.

    4. JasonsDay says:

      Have you watched the tv ads aimed at young adults? Teddy bears, squirrels and super heroes..

    5. Spacemonkey says:

      This is why we call them snowflakes.

    6. Josefa says:

      Stop that! You are offending the Teddy Bear sleepers with your anti plush-toy statements! RACIST!
      I think we should have legislation for separate Teddy Bear bathrooms. I know I would like to marry my Teddy bear, but I don’t think it’s legal- yet. This world is so facist!

    7. SolidusRaccoon says:

      Have you met many millennialx?

    8. Rascal69 says:

      No matter the number, they’re still all liberals and still ignorant.

  18. Rodney Patterson says:

    i think your numbers are a little skewed. and your stupid bears cost like a hundred bucks so damn right people want to keep them forever