We have small ones, huge ones, ones that talk.........OK, we have WAY too many stuffed animals for one 2 year old boy. He does not even play with them!!!!

What would YOU do with them? I am having another baby in March, so I guess I could keep a few just in case the next child likes them, but right now they are taking up a LOT of space in our closet.

Maybe put them in one of those Space Bag things...you know it sucks the air out and makes them easier to store.

It may work.

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That is what i was going to suggest. I've heard they really do work and are super easy to use.

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I could go on and on about stuffed animals. My 6 yr old DD LOVES them and had hundreds (no kidding). Our problem is that she really does play with them!

I kept her favorites and we put them in hanging net baskets that I picked up at Walgreens for $5 each. They hang from the ceiling and almost touch the floor. They have 5 different compartments I think. They really hold a lot and don't take up much room. She is very happy with that situation. I can post a pic if you need it (I'm not sure how to post them though...could probably figure it out).

They also make the corner nets that work great for stuffed critters, but we didn't have a corner free, and we didn't want them too high for her to reach when she wanted to play with them.

As for the ones you might get rid of...I suggest taking them to a hospital.

The blood lab is a great place for them...drawing blood is very traumatic for little ones and it always made my DD feel better when she knew she was going to get a prize afterwards.

The pediatric surgery area is another great spot for them. My DD was thrilled when she got a stuffed bear before having tubes put in her ears. It wasn't much, but just enough to make her feel better about the whole situation.

We battle the stuffed animal issue all the time. If DD is going shopping, she always ask for a stuffed animal. I guess it could be worse...LOL

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My only advice is to get rid of some now, before he gets too attached. After a while he'll forget about the ones that are gone. The older they get, the more they want to keep them. I know... my dd's are 12 and ds is 8 and my house is LOADED with the darn things.

you might check the nursing homes in your area, the ones around here have a bingo once a month for the residents, and give donated stuffed animals as a gift. Stuffed animals mean the world to some of the elderly, especially in situations where they don't have a lot of visitors. Just a thought.

Our local high school basketball team has a teddy bear toss one night during the season. The public comes to cheer on the team and during 1/2 time we toss out our stuffed animals into the court. They are collected by the team members and then donated to our local hospital for pediatric patients on the medical floor, emergency room and clinic.

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"God determines who walks into your life…
it’s up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay and who you refuse to let go." - Anonymous

I may not be the best one to reply to this. I can't stand stuffed animals. Thankfully my son has only gotten 4-5. I got a few in my baby shower gifts and it made them look cute... so what I do when he gets one is immediatly put it in my gift cabinet if it is really cute and would go in a baby gift to dress it up a little....if not, it goes into our garage sale cabinet in the garage.

I've heard about how stuffed animals weren't actually good for children....something about them being hard to clean and that they hold in germs. Anyway, I just snatch them away before he has time to get attached. He has a slew of toys he actually plays with and won't take up so much space!

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Mom to Ryan ('06)

Since your son doesn't play with them then I would save some for the next child. Then I would make sure you keep any that are sentimental to you for any reason. Toss any that are tattered or stained and donate the rest. I try to keep the rule of when a new one comes in an old one goes out. My DD still has prob. 30 but she does play with hers.

Since your son doesn't play with them I would get rid of as many as you can. Keep only a few - you WILL get more with the next one, I'm sure!

My oldest son is VERY attached to a certain stuffed giraffe "baby". So my middle son has followed his lead and now sleeps with Cookie Monster, BIG Pooh, a little bear he also calls Pooh, his stuffed giraffe "Raffie" and sometime 2 other Frogs we have.

I had my dad install a shelf above the closets in our boy's rooms! We had stuffed animals above both, but I have since paired it down and stuffed them all in the baby room and put some wooden trucks & cars above the closet in our older boys' room. I still need to cut down, but every once in a while they'll decide they need a new one! I'm gonna have to pair them down while they're not home I think! So if I were you I'd get rid of them while you can!!!

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Stay at home mom to my 3 boys... ages 5, 3 & 1!

I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13