Our Favourite Jellycat Friends for the Nursery

Jellycat Bashful Woodland Bunny Kids Stuffed Animal sits on a white upholstered rocking chair with a beige waffle through in a nursery by Crate & Barrel with a floor lamp, a cactus in a basket, and the edge of a wooden dresser showing as featured in a post on HGTV Canada of Our Favourite Jellycats for the Nursery — Crate & Barrel

OK, we admit it — purchasing those first few stuffed animals for a new baby may be as much for us as it is for them. Thanks to the design (and marketing) genius at London-based Jellycat toy company, there’s something for everyone… and every age. As Jellycat celebrates its 25th year (with stores in 77 countries!), the appeal of their super-soft stuffed animals and unconventional “amuseables” continues to grow.

We’ve picked out our favourites, ideal for a new nursery or as a gift for the latest addition to the family. These particular designs are safe for newborns, having been tested and meeting the European Safety Standard for toys. But always check the label to confirm, and stay away from other stuffed animals with clothing, buttons or stringy fur.

(Also, these adorable critters are for cuddle time outside of sleeping hours — Health Canada recommends cribs remain empty except for a snug, fitted sheet.)

Jellycat White Bashful Bunny Kids Stuffed Animal sits on a wooden dresser with a diaper changing station, a white lamp and a round wall mirror in a nursery by Crate & Barrel as featured in a post on HGTV Canada of Our Favourite Jellycats for the Nursery — Crate & Barrel

1. Rare Rabbit

So here we go! Starting with a cult classic, Jellycat Bashful Bunny wins over baby-expecting buyers with its long, velvety ears and cute bobtail. Bashful Bunnies, along with the rest of their rabbity rabble, have become a core pillar of the Jellycat universe. From tiny, pocket-size pals to enormous behemoth bunnies, there are over 65 different rabbits in the range, hopping around in a rainbow of colours and patterns.

Jellycat Bashful Bunny, Crate & Barrel, $40.

Jellycat Amuseable Pear stuffy sits on a white background as featured in a post on HGTV Canada of Our Favourite Jellycats for the Nursery — Jellycat

2. Perfectly Pear Shaped

As part of their anthropomorphized food-and-objects’ Amuesables collection, this smiling green pear would be a perky addition to a nursery. Fill a floor basket with soft, snuggly fruity friends now and you’ve also got yourself a future food-vocab-expansion activity. Going beyond the orchard, you could do a whole grocery shop at a Jellycat store — pick up a croissant, eggs and veggies!

Jellycat Amuseable Pear, Little Canadian, $33.

Jellycat Odell Octopus sits on a child’s head in front of a wall of filled book shelves styled by Dilly Dally Kids as featured in a post on HGTV Canada of Our Favourite Jellycats for the Nursery — Dilly Dally Kids

3. All Hands on Deck

Arguably one of Jellycat’s strengths is selecting animals and items that aren’t typically deemed “cute” and turning that narrative on its head. Their Odell Octopus has been so successful that they now make it in three different sizes in a whole slew of seaworthy colours. Plus, there’s even a matching book, If I were an Octopus. So whether your new nursery is nautically-themed or you just have a soft spot for sea creatures, there are plenty of fish in the Jellycat sea.

Jellycat Odell Octopus (Large), Dilly Dally Kids, $69. If I were an Octopus book, Amazon, $24.

Jellycat green Bashful Dragon stuffed animal sits on a white background as featured in a post on HGTV Canada of Our Favourite Jellycats for the Nursery — Jellycat

4. That’s Fire

With its stubby, suede-like wings contrasted by super-soft, pale-green fur, Bashful Dragon is a Jellycat legend. So popular was this small-but-mighty mythical beastie that they expanded the range to include five cheeky sizes — Small, Medium, Huge, Really Big and Giant. There’s a whole host of other legendary characters, including unicorns, pixies and even the Loch Ness monster, that will tickle your fantasy fancies.

Jellycat Bashful Dragon (Medium), Baby Charlotte, $37.

Jellycat Rock-a-Bye Mouse sits in front of a soft cloth sleeping basket on a white background as featured in a post on HGTV Canada of Our Favourite Jellycats for the Nursery — Jellycat

5. So Sleepy

Babies love taking care of babies, and this perpetually sleepy pipsqueak needs tucking in and rocking. Safe for newborns, cute for cooing crawlers and engaging for try-everything toddlers, this sweet, soft toy has a long shelf life. Also, with its white petal ears, cocoa-coloured onesie and dove-grey corded bassinet, Rock-a-Bye Mouse is a neutral-palette lover’s dream.

Jellycat Rock-a-Bye Mouse, Princess and the Pea, $39.

Jellycat Huddles Kangaroo hold its joey while sitting on a white background as featured in a post on HGTV Canada of Our Favourite Jellycats for the Nursery — Jellycat

6. Roo and You

In this adorable, two-for-one Down Under deal, we get two Jellycats in one — a mama kangaroo with a tiny joey in her pouch. The baby pops out to play, and then hops back in when it’s time for a rest (if only it were that easy for human babies!). Silky, oatmeal-coloured fleece, leaf-fold ears and that distinctive long, thick tail all add to the appeal of this double-the-delight deal.

Jellycat Huddles Kangaroo, Snuggle Bugz, $59.

Now, you’ve seen ours — tell us, which is your favourite Jellycat? And, no, you don’t have to pick just one… we didn’t!