How to Choose a First Teddy Bear: Steiff, Putty and Personalised
By Bumbles & Boo | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: Buying Guides
Pick a first teddy bear by sleep role, fabric feel, size and gifting needs. Compare a Steiff musical bear, soft Putty plush and a personalised option.
Quick answer
Choose a first teddy bear by its main job: a Steiff Sleep Well Pink Musical Teddy Bear if you want a sleep-time companion with heirloom-quality craftsmanship, a Putty teddy bear if you want an ultra-soft, neutral-coloured cuddle for a newborn, or a personalised teddy bear gift if the bear is meant to mark a birth or first birthday.
Match the bear to its first job
A first teddy bear often serves one of three roles: a sleep aid, an everyday cuddle companion, or a keepsake gift. The role should drive your choice more than the bear’s colour or price. A musical bear suits a bedtime routine, while a soft, floppy Putty bear is easier for a newborn to hold and for parents to wash. A personalised bear is less about daily play and more about marking a moment.
If you are buying before the baby arrives, resist choosing the largest bear. A medium bear is easier to store in a hospital bag or nursery basket, and it can move from cot to pram without dominating the space.
Fabric feel matters more than colour for a newborn
Newborns explore with their cheeks and hands, so the surface texture matters. Putty plush is described as super-soft with a textured fabric, which makes it a strong candidate for a soft teddy for newborn cuddles. A floppy body style also lets the bear rest against a parent’s arm rather than sitting stiffly upright.
Check the care label before you commit. The Large Putty Cream Teddy Bear by Mary Meyer is listed as machine wash, air dry, which is a practical advantage for a bear that will be dragged around. If a bear’s care instructions are not supplied, treat it as spot-clean only until you confirm otherwise.
Use the teddy bear size guide to avoid a mismatch
The catalog gives two useful anchors: the Personalised Medium Seafoam Blue Putty Teddy Bear is 43cm, and the Large Putty Cream Teddy Bear by Mary Meyer is 20 inches. Those are different measurements in different units, so convert before comparing: 20 inches is roughly 51cm. That makes the cream Putty bear noticeably larger than the medium seafoam bear.
For a newborn, a medium bear around 43cm is easier to tuck beside a changing mat or into a pram. A larger 20-inch bear suits a toddler who wants something to hug with both arms, or a display piece for a nursery shelf. The Steiff Sleep Well Pink Musical Teddy Bear’s dimensions are not supplied, so check the listing if exact size matters to your cot or shelf.
Decision rules for your first teddy bear
- If the bear is for sleep: Choose the Steiff Sleep Well Pink Musical Teddy Bear when a musical element and heirloom-quality craftsmanship matter more than machine washing. Keep in mind that its exact size is not supplied, so confirm dimensions before placing it in a cot. Check the music mechanism and any small parts against your safe-sleep setup.
- If the bear is for a newborn cuddle: Choose a Putty teddy bear in a medium size, such as the 43cm Personalised Medium Seafoam Blue Putty Teddy Bear, when you want a soft teddy for newborn contact. The seafoam colour is a neutral alternative to traditional pink or blue. Medium beats large for pram and nursery-basket use.
- If the bear is a keepsake gift: Choose the personalised teddy bear gift option when the bear is meant to mark a birth or first birthday. Personalisation turns the bear into a named keepsake, but it may limit your ability to return or exchange it, so confirm the spelling before ordering. Order personalised bears only after the name is final.
- If the bear must survive daily mess: Choose the Large Putty Cream Teddy Bear by Mary Meyer when machine washability and a floppy, weighted body are priorities. Its 20-inch size suits a toddler more than a newborn. Air dry rather than tumble dry to protect the plush.
Product facts to compare
- Personalised Medium Seafoam Blue Putty Teddy Bear (43cm): Medium 43cm seafoam blue Putty bear with a personalised option and super-soft textured fabric. A good middle size for a newborn gift that can be personalised without becoming too large for a pram or nursery basket.
Personalised Medium Seafoam Blue Putty Teddy Bear (43cm) - Steiff Sleep Well Pink Musical Teddy Bear: Steiff Sleep Well Pink Musical Teddy Bear from a brand associated with quality since 1880. A better fit if you want a sleep-time bear with a musical element and a keepsake feel rather than a purely washable everyday plush.
Steiff Sleep Well Pink Musical Teddy Bear - Large Putty Cream Teddy Bear by Mary Meyer: Large Putty Cream Teddy Bear by Mary Meyer, 20 inches, floppy body, beans for weight, machine wash and air dry. The washable, weighted floppy design suits a toddler who drags a bear around and needs it cleaned often.
Who each first teddy bear suits
Best for
- Parents who want a sleep-time companion with a musical element and a keepsake feel
- Newborn gifts where a soft, neutral-coloured medium bear is preferred
- Birth or first-birthday gifts that need a name added
Not for
- Families who need a fully machine-washable everyday bear for a messy toddler
- Buyers who need an exact cot or shelf size and cannot confirm the Steiff bear’s dimensions
- Anyone who may need to return the bear after a name has been added
