Teddy bear

A soft stuffed toy shaped like a bear, usually covered in plush fabric and made for children to play with or cuddle.

Theodore Roosevelt: The 26th president of the United States, who served from 1901 to 1909. A 1902 bear-hunting story about Roosevelt inspired the toy’s name.
Plush: A textile with a cut pile that gives its surface a soft, fuzzy feel. Plush is the characteristic outer fabric of many teddy bears.
Transitional object: A familiar object that helps a young child manage separation and develop independence. A teddy bear can provide a portable source of comfort during separation.
Goodnight Moon: A 1947 children’s picture book by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd. Its illustrations include a teddy bear among the objects in the bedtime room.
Morris Michtom: An American shopkeeper who founded the Ideal Toy Company. Michtom and his wife made an early toy bear after seeing a Roosevelt cartoon.
Stuffed toy: A soft toy whose shape is formed by filling a fabric covering with stuffing. Teddy bears are a familiar bear-shaped kind of stuffed toy.
Comfort object: A familiar possession that provides reassurance, especially during stress or change. Children often use teddy bears for soothing and emotional security.
Winnie-the-Pooh: A fictional bear created by A. A. Milne and illustrated by E. H. Shepard. Pooh is a named literary character, while most teddy bears are generic toys.
Margarete Steiff: A German entrepreneur who founded the Steiff toy company. Steiff’s company developed and exported plush bears around the same time the toy became popular.
Polyester fiberfill: A lightweight synthetic fiber used as filling in cushions, toys, and other products. It gives many modern teddy bears their soft, springy interior.

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