According to research carried out by online bed retailer Time4Sleep, a third of children are unable to sleep after losing their teddy bear, with 30% also left crying for hours after the incident.
Julia Jackson, MBACP Counsellor and Psychotherapist from Align Therapy in Leeds says"Teddy bears are incredibly important to children, providing feelings of comfort and safety and helping them to soothe themselves when feeling fear or distress. Their bond is so strong because a child's teddy provides a link to their parents in times of separation and so, if a child loses their favourite teddy, the emotional impact on them will be significant."
Even though 43% of children own more than twenty cuddly toys, the loss of one teddy bear can still be highly traumatic. When all else fails and you can't get the original toy back, many parents will have tried to replace a lost teddy with something similar, but for many children it's no substitute for the original.
On top of the tears and tantrums, the study found that over 1 in 10 children (12%) have even refused to eat for a short period of time after losing their cuddly toy.
Julia Jackson advises "Parents will need to be kind and understanding, letting their child feel and express their sadness while supporting them through this. Parents can then talk to their children about attaching to another beloved soft toy when they feel ready."
Jonathan Warren, Director at Time4Sleep, said "Losing something you are deeply attached to and that is often a sleeping aid for many children can be a traumatic experience. For adults and children alike, a cuddly toy is not only a furry friend but a safety blanket and something we take comfort in."
Time4Sleep recently conducted a campaign to find the UK's most well-loved teddy bear. To view the gallery of the teddy bears please click here https://www.time4sleep.co.uk/blog/the-most-loved-teddy-bear-competition-finalists/
A Third Of Young Children Left Unable To Sleep Without Their Teddy Bear
Tagged in children Sleep Children's Toys