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.
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.
There is no way 40% of American adults sleep with a teddy bear – unless they are in an American college or university, where pacifiers and crayons are now essential equipment.
Most Teddy Bears never fully recover from a good hot sudsy washing.
I guess some will just spray Teddy with Febreeze.
100% of whom were Progressive pajama-boys.
WTF?? This must be some type of weird liberal thing, I’ve never known any adult that does this, but I also don’t hang around with many far left libs so that must be why.
YES…mine is a 3d puSSY
I wanted to buy a stuffed cat that reminded me of my first love, a stuffed cat. My sister kept saying just buy it. What would I do with it? She said sleep with it. I really deliberated because just looking at it made me happy. I’m 61. Pathetic but I get it.
Then you voted for Bernie Sanders. Finished the story for you.
Probably same people who need “safe spaces” with ponies, coloring books, etc.
Teddy is the beloved name of my gun.
I HAD NO IDEA THAT TEDDY ROOSEVELT RETAINED SUCH ENDURING POPULARITY
I seriously doubt the validity of this story.
…and I’m sure goverment funded … GOD it makes me sick in my stomach, what a huge waste of my taxes by democrats, thanks obama!!
The majority has been sleeping with teddy bears for “at least 2 decades”? So in other words the poll was mostly done by snowflake millennials? What a crock, no wonder I have never heard of this clown website.
That is not her real name.
The safe-space snowflake generation at it’s best. The generation that invented ‘adult coloring books’ is playing with dolls into their 30s. Makes perfect sense really. If the real world is bullying you, then why not just come home and cuddle with a toy…for comfort right?
Speaking of religion, liberals aren’t the one’s who believe in fairy tales.
Sure they do; global warming, white privilege, free education…..P.S. I’m no “believer”
+ ‘you can keep your doctor’ ‘I will run the most transparent administration in history’ and ‘Michael and I have a wonderful normal marriage’
Instead of God they worship big government, climate change, political correctness, lust, pride, greed, etc.
Everything a liberal believes in and does is anti-God and pro-Satan from abortions to government dependency to homosexuality. They’re evil. PERIOD.
Add pedophilia, please!
At the Root of All Liberals Core-Beliefs, is ANTI-WASP.
There is no such thing as Satan. Evil resides within man.
But thanks for proving my point. Hope the spaghetti monster doesn’t getcha.
I am a conservative and I don’t believe in any religions but I do believe Liberals are the worst people on Earth.
Well then keep your “limited government” out of their business.
But it is telling that you would choose “liberals” as the worst people on earth. Considering the country is battling terrorism, human trafficking, child pornographers and pedophilia. But sure, Bernie Sanders is the real devil here.
Generally the terrorists,human traffickers,child pornographers and pedophiles ARE Liberals.
And Bernie Sanders is a communist and most people with a brain know how many people have been killed because of communism.
Liberals,communists,socialists are evil,period,
Cite your source. But that might require reading something.
Just look at every criminal in history.Well over 90% of them were / are leftists.
Again, cite your source. A completely baseless comment like this indicates that you either don’t read legitimate sources, are ‘challenged’ or you’re a troll.
I’ve no interest in further exchange in any of those instances.
Google is all you need.Look up any evil person you can think of.
Charles Manson,Jeffrey Dahmer,Stalin,Mao,Hitler etc.
Most of them were leftists.
You can’t handle the truth.
Chelsea Manning. Caitlynn Jenner.
Fairy enough tales for you, Lefty?
Weak.
Sure they do, they worship at the altar of AGW and Transgender ignorance.
Who did they survey, R. Kelly’s harem?
Good luck with all of that.
100% snowflakes.
Nonsense. Just advertising disguised as information.
My dog sleeps with my legs, much better than a stuffed animal.