Bearaby’s New Weighted Stuffed Animals Are Made for Grown-Ups—Here’s an Insomniac’s Honest Review

• Aesthetics: 20/20
• Quality: 20/20
• Functionality: 15/20
• Comfort: 19/20
• Value: 16/20

Total: 90/100

ICYMI, weighted blankets are all the rage. Everyone I know seems to be obsessed with them. My friend even burritos herself up in mine on the reg, unprompted and uninvited. (But I love her anyway.) One popular brand on the market is Bearaby, and here at PureWow, we’ve been big fans of the brand’s cotton weighted blankets for a while. Last year, I even named their blanket one of the best sustainable products of the year, due to their impressive sustainability initiatives. So when the company launched a line of weighted stuffed animals ($99), I was intrigued. After cuddling up to an adorable dog named Darcy for a few weeks and consulting a sleep expert on the benefit of weighted sleep aids, here are my thoughts.

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Martin Seeley is the CEO and sleep expert at MattressNextDay, an online bed retailer based in the United Kingdom. Seeley has been in the industry for over 30 years, attending trade shows, conferences and keeping abstract of the latest research. He has been cited in publications such as Men’s Health, Daily Mail, The Sun, The Independent, Forbes and GQ.

Bearaby’s adorable line of weighted stuffed animals are available in seven iterations with their own personalities:

• Benji Bear: Loves tap dancing, underwater basket weaving, Napperhood’s resident baker
• Remi Rabbit: Loves quilting, gardening, practicing handstands as Napperhood’s resident gymnast
• Elli Elephant: Loves synchronized swimming, snorkeling, painting murals as Napperhood’s resident artist
• Daisy Dino: Microinfluencer, loves brush pens and taking walks
• Darcy Dog: Works as a consultant, loves geocaching and trading trinkets
• Suzy Sloth: Works as an accountant, loves tai chi and latte art
• Cody Cow: Works as Pilates instructor, loves sourdough and Pinterest boards

All stuffed animals weigh 3.5 pounds and arrive in simple (and eco-friendly) packaging. Because I’m a Jane Austen fan, I naturally gravitated towards Darcy Dog. (I also thought my existing teddy bear, Bartholomew, would be jealous if I opted for Benji Bear.) Each stuffed animal is filled with Bearaby’s tension-melting Terraclay encased in a cotton knit. All of them are machine washable—just make sure you put them in a laundry bag and dry on low. Seeley adds that best practice is to wash your stuffed animal every two weeks or so.

Honestly, I’m a tough crowd to please because I have borderline clinical insomnia, per a sleep diagnostic test that I took. I’m also currently dealing with some other health issues that make falling asleep—and staying asleep—difficult. That’s a tall order for the humble Darcy Dog. While I can’t say that he helped with the actual falling/staying asleep part of the equation, his 3.5-pound presence was gentle and comforting—and noticeable when he’d inevitably be strewn elsewhere in the middle of the night.

Per this 2013 study, having a “huggable device”, as researchers coined it, was found to significantly reduce cortisol levels. Seeley also notes that weighted sleep aids could impact the following:

• Anxiety Relief: “These toys work similarly to weighted blankets by providing deep pressure stimulation. This gentle weight mimics the sensation of a hug, helping to calm heart rate and breathing—particularly beneficial for those who experience anxiety or restlessness at night.”
• Improved Sleep Quality: “Establishing a consistent bedtime routine is crucial for signaling to your brain that it’s time to rest. Incorporating a weighted stuffed animal into this routine can create a sense of predictability and comfort. For added relaxation, you could spray your soft toy with a calming scent like lavender or chamomile to enhance its soothing effects.”
• Comfort and Nostalgia: “Soft toys often evoke positive childhood memories, offering reassurance and a sense of safety. This psychological comfort can make it easier to unwind after a long day.”
• Sensory Comfort: “The texture of these toys can be particularly soothing for individuals with sensory sensitivities. Their tactile nature helps with self-regulation and reduces pre-sleep anxiety.”
• Loneliness Reduction: “Finally, soft toys can provide a sense of companionship, alleviating feelings of loneliness that might interfere with sleep”

Bearaby’s weighted stuffed animals are definitely on the pricier end as far as weighted stuffed animals go, and the weight options are limited to 3.5 pounds. That being said, those who appreciate Bearaby’s sturdy, distinctive design; want a lighter and more portable stuffed animal and value a brand with sustainability commitments will appreciate Darcy Dog and his friends. Personally, of all the weighted stuffies I’ve seen on the market, I like Bearaby’s because they’re suitable for both adolescents and adults, and have design sensibility that both appeals to the need for something cute, while not clashing with your grown-up decor the way a juvenile platypus, goose or polar bear might. While $99 is steep, Bearaby’s stuffed animals will grow with you and your family, instead of being outgrown—and that’s no small feat.