Confused over the safety of the eyes on a cuddly toy...

[icklemonster]

I had my baby shower this afternoon and girlbean was very lucky and extremely spoiled. I am a little confused though regarding one of the gifts. It is a gorgeous cuddly toy bear but it has those little black hard eyes. I was always under the impression that babies should only be given material stitched eyes. But when I read the tag it is from Mothercare and says 'From Birth'. Does this mean it has been made in a special way so is safe? Do other people give their children cuddly toys with hard eyes - am I just being too cautious?!

Thanks xxx

 

[helena]

I would say its fine. They are pretty strongly attached I am sure. And you would see if baby suddenly started chewing on it and can check its still firm. And she wouldn't chew it for a few months anyway. Newborns can't aim at anything very well. They can hardly see, she will prefer to suck her fist, and even getting that in her mouth is tricky.
I can't see her chewing off toys eyes so I say to not worry. My kids all have teddy bears. Maybe let her have it to play with but not sleep with if you aren't watching.

 

[Stressbucket]

A lot of my friends have been awfully careful about those, but I suspect that the original warning was for button eyes, or sewn-on plastic ones. I'm an adult, and I can't figure out how I would get the hard eyes out of most commercial stuffed toys with just my hands and teeth for the life of me.

I imagine that if you contact the manufacturer, they will explain how they make these, and why they consider them safe, and you can do some searching to see if safety-testing groups agree with them.

And also, of course, newborns don't chew much, as Helena said.

I'd find out what people who know more think, but I think the well-made ones are probably OK. Look into it so you'll be able to make a decision.

 

[PepsiChic]

I dont give my infant children a soft toy. when they sleep they arents suppose to have soft toys, blankets etc

And even awake, at such a young age does not have the hand-eye cooridination to pick up and play or cuddle a soft toy.

By the time baby is old enough, to play with a soft toy, the issue with the eyes is n/a. (unless not attached securely)

 

[Tattoo]

The eyes are probably anchored inside the toy, rather than just being stitched on.

But, personally, I wouldn't give it to a newborn; as PepsiChic said, the advice is to not let new babies sleep with toys (same as no pillows, only cellular blankets etc). Instead you could just use the toys to decorate the nursery (what we've done), or sit them in the cot during the day.

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I would just watch them when they play with it (she wont be grabbing it for a while yet anyway) xx

 

[2016]

I make cuddly toys and those hard eyes are anchored in with a one-way screw on piece. ie. Once you've fixed the eyes in place you cannot remove them without using great adult force and breaking into pieces.

I still wouldn't give my LO any toy to sleep with even with stitched on eyes and would only let them play with one with supervision.

 

[FlowerTots13]

If the manufacturer has said 'safe from birth' then they must have proof to back up this safety, especially coming from a big name as Mothercare.
We've got our LO a teddy, which has nothing attached(no eyes but stitched to look like eyes) but this will be solely for sentimental as a 'first teddy' until LO is old enough to play with it etc.

 

[icklemonster]

Thank you very much for all of the responses The bear is in the corner of her cot, decorating the nursery and she is going to be in a moses basket in our room to start with. I was thinking more once she starts interacting with stuff, but it's good to know they are anchored in and very difficult to remove xxx

 

[XJessicaX]

I cant see how a gummy newborn could chew the strongly sewn on eyes of a teddy. Dont fret!

 

[xpatchx]

Just don't let her sleep with it or gnaw on the face I didn't give Amelia anything unless it was stitched, and any "shaggy" fur wasn't left with her for naps either x