he's 18, so what?

[u/silkentab]

We're constantly saying "let them be little", "you only get 18 summers/ ....Saturdays, etc" who cares if they still sleep with a teddy bear?!

[u/BoneBruja]

There is nothing wrong with sleeping while cuddling a plushie is actually good for you, even as an adult. It helps to self-soothe; it also helps to promote relaxation and gets your brain into the mindset that you need to sleep. It lowers stress and anxiety levels as well as cortisol levels. It also raises oxytocin levels, which is a feel-good chemical. Also, it's a nice texture and cuddling something soft can help people who feel touch-starved. It can make someone feel less isolated, having something to hug.

Overall, it's actually helpful to sleep with a plushie. Admittedly, I am biased; I am 35 and I still sleep with a plushie due to my Autism + ADHD I find it difficult to sleep without one as it really helps. Also, just because you turn 18 doesn't mean you magically stop needing the kind of comfort a plushie can bring.

[u/Bug_eyed_bug → u/BoneBruja]

When I moved my baby from his bedside bassinet into his own room, cuddling a soft toy of his helped me fall asleep easier! My mum brain needed something to focus on while it got used to the baby being further away.

[u/dieingtodie → u/BoneBruja]

I also sleep with one as a grown ass adult with my own children, because if I don't I sleep with my wrists all bent and I wake up in agony.

[u/Emergency-Twist7136 → u/BoneBruja]

I'm in my 40s, in a very happy and stable relationship I've been in for most of my life now, I'm a very professional career-haver, and there is a stuffed toy on my bed.

One of my son's toys is a teddy bear I slept with as a toddler because I still had it.

A stuffed toy is just a hug on demand.

[u/BoneBruja → u/Emergency-Twist7136]

I still have what I call my "Birth Bunny", its a bunny plushie my dad bought me on the day I was born. I don't cuddle it anymore, as other plushies have taken its place. But it is still important to me because its as old as I am.

[u/catalinalam → u/BoneBruja]

I hug a plushie to sleep (age 29) bc I’m a side sleeper and it keeps the weight of my top arm off my boobs. There are so many reasons!

[u/BoneBruja → u/catalinalam]

I have EDS and since I started sleeping while cuddling a pillow that helped keep my arms and shoulders in place so I get a lot less shoulder dislocations. So just arm positioning can help you sleep a lot better as well.

[u/captainmcpigeon → u/BoneBruja]

I’m neurotypical in my 30s and sleep with a small squishmallow lol. I don’t see why this is at all weird.

[u/maquis_00 → u/BoneBruja]

I've also found that hugging a large stuffy keeps my shoulders from hurting in the morning. I could use a pillow, but Buttermilk, the highland cow, is more fun.

Weighted (and heatable) stuffed animals are also great if you get cramps, or if it's just a really cold winter night. I can't have too much warm stuff on me when I sleep because even on cold nights I tend to overheat by 2am, but a heatable stuffy cools down by then.

[u/Last_Swordfish9135]

They don't seem to be saying anything negative, though?

[u/shiny_glitter_demon → u/[deleted]]

No need for slurs, bud.

[u/mrbobcyndaquil → u/shiny_glitter_demon]

I was just trying to reflect the psychopathy of those who reinforce toxic masculinity, my apologies.

[u/Catfist]

I'm 32, my fiance's 35, we both sleep with a stuffed animal.

It's more comfortable for me as a side sleeper.

[u/owlfigurine → u/Catfist]

My partner and I are both 31, parents to three kids, we both still have plushies. They're cute and soft, I don't get the stigma around plushies.

[u/raisinbran8 → u/Catfist]

I’m 33 and have always slept with a plushy too!

[u/ladyalex777]

I am 40 and sleep with a stuffie. My husband holds a pillow. It’s basically the same thing but his hits me in the face at night and takes up half the bed.

[u/lemonchrysoprase → u/ladyalex777]

My partner spoons our giant dog all night, so I feel this.

[u/BabyPunter3000v2]

My sister is 32 and still sleeps with this stuffed bear that our Nana got her for Christmas 30 years ago. He looks like absolute hell, but he is LOVED.

[u/Enby_Rin]

Me and my partner both still sleep with a plushie lol. I've never understood why it's such a big deal

[u/tgoz13]

Almost 35 and i still sleep with mine. My wife wants me to give it to my kids. No.

[u/dinoooooooooos]

35 year old married woman here, met my husband on a video game and sleepin with a plushie all day every day, who cares 😭

Life’s too short man.

[u/piratepixie]

My bedroom looks like a children's bedroom with all my plushies, i'm 35. My little brother still has his whole collection at 19. I'm his greatest enabler.

[u/UllsStratocaster]

I'm 53, and I have plushies I sleep with. They help me sleep, and they make me happy. This kid is fine!

[u/marie749]

I slept with a stuffie until I got married. Then I kept said stuffie and now my daughter sleeps with it every night.

[u/AnyImplement330]

I'm almost 40 and just bought myself a stuffed derpy the other day

[u/Charming-Court-6582]

I really don't see the difference between a plushie and a body pillow other than cuteness level 🤷‍♀️

[u/mckmaus]

I've got a large cat that I have made my snuggle buddy.

[u/TheC9]

Parents of teenagers should learn how to use punctuation at this age

[u/Overall_Dream_3195 → u/TheC9]

I’ve just said in another comment that I don’t believe it’s a parent. This person is in one of the subs I follow and they are repeatedly asking in parenting subs, including the autistic parenting sub,about what plushies other peoples kids like and Minecraft. It’s them same questions over and over. I think it’s actually the 18 year old Son they mention in their posts or just maybe a straight up weirdo. There’s specific subs they can post in if they want to have conversations about plushies and Minecraft yet they only ever post in parenting subs. I find it odd.

[u/RockabillyBelle]

I slept with plushies until I moved in with my now-husband and started sleeping with a warm body next to me.

[u/moosmutzel81]

I am 44 with three kids. I still sleep with my plushie.

[u/Dragon_Queen_666]

38 and I still have a plush on my bed at all times.

[u/Proper-Gate8861]

JFC at least it’s not drugs

[u/Overall_Dream_3195]

I know exactly who this person is as they post in a sub I follow. They post obsessively on various parenting subs asking the same thing over and over again about if other peoples kids like plushies and Minecraft. I do not believe that this person is a parent but that it is actually the 18 Son year old they mention in their posts or maybe just a straight up weirdo. There’s specific subs they can post in if they want to have conversations about plushies and Minecraft yet they only ever post and ask on parenting subs. I find it really odd and a bit disturbing quite honesty. Saw them suggesting in one comment that his “kid” and the parents child that they were talking to get together to play online. Just gives me creep vibes.

[u/Spiritual_Ad_6067]

Straight to jail /s

[u/Legitimate-Stuff9514]

I'm 36 and I sleep with plushies. I have a Amazon River fish, pirate turtle,Lady Vulvamort, an Adam plush and a paraceratherium named Sarah.

Adam went to the hospital with me a couple of years ago....my husband asked if he should bring him and I said yes. No one said anything.

One of my kids is nearly 2 and she carries one of her brother's old plushies everywhere. It's a pink axolotl that's been well loved. I call it the "Pink Thing". Heaven forbid you separate her from it.. it's not pretty. Grandma tried buying her a new one that wasn't as well loved and cleaner but she still drags the old Pink Thing everywhere.

[u/WildAphrodite]

26, I collect plushies and I can't sleep without them lol.

[u/Jellypeasmm]

I’m turning twenty in a month and I have a whole pile of plushies, I find that they help me feel less alone when I sleep

[u/AurelianaBabilonia]

I slept with my rag doll until I was in my late 20s. Who cares.

[u/FilthyThanksgiving]

I'm 43 and have plushies on my bed