Best cuddly Elmo doll and where to buy?

[anamika]

DD is in love with Elmo (even before she watched the show - what kind of research did they do to make him so attractive to kids?)
Anyway, I'm looking for a cuddly Elmo doll that she can carry around. Is 13" or 25" better for a 2 yo (31" ht)?
I have only looked in Target so far and they didn't have it. So I'm a bit stumped. I thought all US stores were required to carry them by law (just kidding!!). Amazon has it but they sell through another store so I have to pay shipping even if my order is over $25(which I hate).
It can't be that hard but I don't want to spend a lot of time going to all the stores around here. What B & M stores carry them and also what is a good size for DD?
TIA for your help,

[mudder17]

Okay, most of the larger Elmo dolls drive me crazy because they have sound with an annoying voice! My friend found a ... 6 inch? Elmo doll from a local gourmet food store and Kaya LOVES it. It's so easy for her to carry around and actually, her two 6" dolls are the ones that she carries around as well. She's 2.5 years old and 35", FWIW.


Eileen

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33734.gif 29 months...
http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/catcatcvi20040222_-6_Kaya+is.png
http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/p/dev317pp___.png
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33732.gif for Leah

[Corie]

Usha,

You might want to check at Build-A-Bear Workshop. I know
that they used to have Elmo. (not sure if they still do)

But, that would be fun to take your daughter to Build-A-Bear
and she can help make Elmo.

Here is a link to their website showing the store locations.
You can call the nearest location and ask about Elmo.

Also, I think there is a Build-A-Bear coupon in the
Bargains section.


http://www.buildabear.com/aboutUs/contactUs/findastore/

[anamika]

Thanks both. I like Elmo's giggle but listening to it all day would drive me around the bend.
Eileen, I thought 6" might be too small but I'll keep it in mind.This is why I was hoping to see it in person.
Corie, that's a great idea. There isn't one very close by so we might have to make a trip of it. If I can't find one in a store, this is what we will do.
Thanks,

[momma_boo]

I was at Toys R Us this weekend and they had these sesame dolls for "babies" which were pretty soft and machine-washable. They definitely had an Elmo one. I honestly am not too sure how big it was, but it was less than 12" I think. It was really cute and (no electronics!).

[calv]

good luck finding one. we got him before he was officially retired. Now I wish I had gotten cookie monster.

BTW, if you do go to BAB, make sure to print off the coupon from the bargain lounge ;)

[Ceepa]

This is the one we bought for DS. It's about 10-1/2 inches tall, very soft, machine-washable and it's mouth-friendly (no peices to pull off or swallow). The body is a smooth fuzzy material. Ours came from TRU.

It's called My First Pal:





http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/35043.jpg

[ellies mom]

We got ours at Borders. It is about 12". We bought ours a while ago but I still see them there.

[lilycat88]

We have the "floppy" Gund one. Very soft and DD loves it. I just saw them at either Penneys or Kohls this past weekend.

Jamelin
Mom to Susanna born 6/29/2004

[Corie]

Usha,

Just make sure you call Build-A-Bear before driving all
the way there!! I would hate for them not to carry it
anymore!

[stillplayswithbarbies]

http://www.kidsurplus.com has the soft Gund Elmo and all the other Sesame Street characters too.

[mykidsmom]

I recently had the same problem. My dd fell in love with her mechanical hokey pokey elmo doll and suddenly wanted him to sleep in her crib with her. It was pathetic watching her try to cuddle this hard mechanical doll, so I set out to find a soft Elmo. I went to TRU and was so disappointed they did not have any except for a crappy looking foam type doll. I ended up ordering from Amazon who ended up linking me up to Baby Age who sent the order. It was expensive for the shipping, but we were desperate for this doll. Plus I wanted a Gund since they are known for good quality. I think I paid $13.99 plus $6ish in shipping for the 13" doll. My dd LOVES it so it was worth it!

[anamika]

Thanks for the reminder, Corie. How did you know that that was exactly what I was planning to do - drive all the way there *without* checking if they had it?

[anamika]

- only another mom can know how important these seemingly trivial things are and to what lengths we will go to make the little ones happy.
I will try Borders, Penney's and Kohls.
The Amazon Gund one will be my back-up - I hope it stays in stock while I go hunting.

[Corie]

Because I would have packed both kids up in the car and
done the exact same thing!!! :)

[kboyle]

oh, the Gund Sesame Street plush guys are TO DIE FOR!!! they are SOOO soft and cuddly and the perfect size for a toddler!! Charlie has the cookie monster and I was going to get max the elmo last week at the bookstore (Joseph Beth) but i didn't end up getting anything since max had a melt down and i had to pick charlie up from his class.

i know that they don't have the build-a-bear elmo anymore, but that thing is HUGE, soft, but HUGE!! I think they have Cookie Monster right now. we also have the SUPER HUGE ones that they sell at TRU, i think it's bigger than Max :)

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/35064.jpg
(left:build-a-bear, center:Gund, right: SUPER HUGE TRU)

[lisajay]

I 2nd the recommendation for the MY FIRST PAL. It's machine washable(very important...think stomach bug!) and very cuddly. It's actually the perfect size. It doesn't take up alot of room in a diaper bag, when she grows tired of carrying it. Also, since my dd has gotten bigger, I'm glad it doesn't take up too much room in her bed too. It got to the point where she had so many "friends" in with her she couldn't get comfy. Oh and you definetly don't want it to start "talking" in the middle of the night if she rolls on it.

I believe ours was found at a supermarket in the toy section.
If your child becomes really attatched to it, it's not a bad idea to pick up a spare in case it gets lost.
I heard of a woman whose daughter had a special "lovey". After carrying it around for along time it would get worn out. or lost. At which time the "lovey" would take a trip to the "salon" for a makeover. Apparently she had cleared out the store and had a nice hidden stash in the top of her closet. Smart Mommy. Although I wonder if my dd would have fallen for that.
That also makes me think of the car commercial where it opens to a woman abusing a new teddy bear with her minivan. At the end of the commercial the mom picks up her dd and says "look who I found". Anyone catch that one?

LJ

[kboyle]

i LOVE that commercial!! i think it's for a minivan's sto n' go storage. she runs the poor bear over, beats him, rubs him in dirt, that commercial is hilarious!

[anamika]

Hi all,
I went to Kohl's last weekend and found a stuffed Elmo for $10. It's not very plush and it's not washable. However, I made the big mistake of showing it to DD (I wanted to see if the size was right) - doh!!(banging head on keyboard). Well, of course, he has traveled home and everywhere else with us since. We had to wrestle it from her to get it scanned so we could pay for it.
I'm still planning to buy a more plush and *washable* one and maybe retire this one, if she'll let me.

PS - that commercial cracks me up too.

[morgan47]

I found a great soft Elmo at JC Penney's. It's not too big, maybe a little more than a foot tall, fuzzy, and very cute. They also had Cookie Monster and some other characters.

Talk about the lengths moms will go to: despite being very careful about always putting Elmo away, our dog got ahold of him and, well, dismembered him. So I went back to Penney's and bought not 1, but 2 more Elmos, just in case. If something should happen to Elmo #2, Elmo #3 is waiting in a safe place for his turn. If we ever need an Elmo #4 then we're all in trouble.

[jse107]

We really like the "My Pal" version from TRU. Owen got Cookie Monster when he was born and he loves it. It's just the right size and can fit in his diaper bag. I'm contemplating getting him the Elmo one now. And, as others have mentioned, the "washability" is key!

[DrSally]

I agree, what research do they do to make him soo attractive to babies? Every baby I know loves Elmo or Melmo as my nephew says. Thanks for all the suggestions, I will be going to JCpenny to look for 1 (or more) soon!

[lisajay]

Aaww. Melmo, I remember when my dd used to say that. They grow up so quickly.