Carrying a stuffed animal

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Does anyone else carry a stuffed animal with them? I'm always afraid people will look at me weird, but having it would make me feel better because it's a point of familiarity when things get to be too much. I take one with me in the car when my family and I go on day trips, but I don't take it out of the car because my sister thinks I'm weird for bringing it in the first place. Any input?

I think it's cute for a girl to do, but a guy would likely get looks, most people would likely just assume that the person is carrying it for child relative. But I would say if you were male it would probably best to ween yourself off that habit, though it be harmless it would hurt him in the end by drawing unwanted stigma, but for a lady I think it should be okay.

I brought my teddy bear to the hospital and everybody was so surprised and so very nice! Definitely a hospital is a good place for that.

It never occurred to me until you asked but, yes, I would like to bring a stuffed animal with me everywhere. I know a woman who carries a Barbie (appropriately clad for the purpose) in her purse, but keeps it hidden.

This is such a wonderful idea you've had - I'll have to get creative and find something I can get away with. Press it against the heart chakra, what a relief!

Carrying a stuffed animal in public (if you're not a young child or in a wheelchair) is considered embarrassing and people will stare and laugh at you. Inconsiderate, I know, but it is just socially forbidden according to NTs. But taking a stuffed animal in the car with you or anywhere that's out of the public's eye but around people who know you well, is OK.

I would take my bear to hospital with me if I ever have to have an operation, but I'm worried about what sort of nurses I get attending to me. My grandmother was in hospital once, and she had dementia, and was feeling emotional and worried before her operation, and her sister told us that the nurse on her ward was rather insensitive and told my grandmother to "stop being silly", and didn't comfort her or care about how she felt at all. So if some nurses can be critical like that to an elderly lady with dementia, then I could get a nurse who's critical about me taking my teddy bear with me to hospital. I don't like people criticising my choices.

What makes me happy is more important that what society thinks, but unfortunately there's too much stigma for adults to be carrying a doll or stuffed animal with them in public. They think you're mentally disabled.

On other hand, most sellers don't seem to mind when I've admitted that I'm buying the toy for myself and not for a child.

As a teenage girl Ive never had any trouble with it.

My friend and I once did a photo challenge with a stuffed bear. Took it everywhere to take pictures of it and never got any odd looks. Did the same thing with a tiny unicorn once too.
My friends and I in general have bought cute souvenirs and stuffed animals and toys while on vacations and places and carried them and not cared. Disney world doesnt count however everyone is a kid there lol
I bring my stuffed animals to sleepaway camps, school field trips, and vacations. No other kids ever thought I was weird for bringing them.
I also have keychain animals hanging off my suitcases and backpacks and no one has ever found that odd.

I've seen a lot of college and uni kids with stuffed animals, often tied to the back-pack. But I don't think you could carry one in an office.

I'm retired but don't want to look foolish, so I found something I could use. A smallish stuffed whale with a scarf that says, "Save Whales - Less Plastic." There! Once it has a purpose it seems better.

I live in Montreal, on the St-Lawrence River, and periodically a dead right whale fetches up dead from starvation because its stomach is crammed so full of plastic it can't take food. That really bothers me. I wouldn't mind sending a message on a stuffed toy.

First off, since this was your first post - welcome to Wrong Planet.

As Joe90 said

It's nice to hear other people's stories and perspectives on the subject . I ask because I'd been having a few bad days, and wanted to know if anyone else did this to feel better.

As far as my own experiences go, when I was in high school there would be challenging times when I'd bring one with me if I felt I'd have a particularly rough day, and it seemed to go well. I usually only brought small one's, like a small plush Tsum Tsum, or one no bigger than maybe a hand.

There was one day, though, where I carried around a stuffed shark that was just a but bigger than my head, and people( students and teachers alike) were very kind about it, though that could have been influenced by the fact that I had a reputation for being particularly soft spoken and timid, which looking back could have given them reason not to say anything harsh.

That being said, I've actually not had many (if any at all) negative experiences regarding this, and I've never had anyone really judge me about buying one for myself (one or two thought it was nice, the rest didn't seem to really care). The only real negative influence I have is my sister. My mom doesn't seem to mind, and if anything my dad encourages both me and my sister to hold onto any childlike wonder.

A female buying a teddy bear is OK, or having a small teddy on a key chain or something, but just walking along a street as a childless person with a cuddly toy tucked under your arm is usually asking for ridicule. My mum stopped me taking my teddy out in public with me when I was 8. I don't know if 8 is too big to carry a teddy bear around or not, unless you're at a funfair and your parents have won a soft toy but I'm talking about taking out a soft toy from home to the shops or to school. I took my teddy to school when I was 4 and 5 and maybe 6 sometimes, but after that I stopped and so did the other children, although it's still socially acceptable to play tea parties with your soft toys at that age.

I once gifted a friend with a sports logo "muff" (hand warmer) - the team is its own justification.