What exactly are comfort objects?

As the name implies, comfort objects are things that offer solace to babies and young children to make them feel secure and at ease. Although they are typically cuddled at night, they can also calm kids throughout the day. These items are also referred to as “loveys” or “transitional objects” since toddlers develop strong bonds with them (because they help children transition from being a dependent baby to an independent older child).

The starting point for my story would be before the 1950s. Only in the 1950s did comfort items in Western culture start to be seen as having a good influence on children. And then now, many people have comfort toys and it is something not to be ashamed of.

And that is why I wanted to talk about this. There are still people who are ashamed of having a comfort object. In 2019, the Philadelphia Magazine published an article titled “Millennials! Get Over Your Blankies and Stuffed Animals and Grow Up Already!.” In the article, Sandy Hingston wrote that she is “consumed with worry over what will happen when procreation collides with the millennials’ impetus for self-gratification, if that’s the proper term to use for sleeping with a stuffed animal.” I do not agree with the article and think that it is ridiculous. Since adulthood is the longest phase of our life, we should look for comfort in things regardless of their target age group. Although they don’t always express it, I think a lot of people concur with this viewpoint. I think grown-ups have always enjoyed the silent and soft companionship of stuffed toys, and they need to stop hiding it.

Kids’ Stuff: Toys and the Changing World of American Childhood by Gary Cross

The book I chose from the PSU library is called ‘Kids’ Stuff: Toys and the Changing World of American Childhood’ by Gary Cross. Cross contends that contemporary toys and shifts in toy preferences are manifestations of toy manufacturers’ marketing methods, evolving manufacturing techniques, and their early identification of toy buyers and their motivations. According to Cross, up until the 1960s, parents bought toys for their children because they reminded them of their own childhoods and stirred up nostalgia. I think this book can be a reputable source as it can relate to the increasing production of comfort toys and the innovations for it.