Take care of your inner child with a cuddly toy...
I was a great lover of stuffed animals when I was little. I loved their reassuring presence, their gentleness, the way they could hear everything without ever judging. Looking back, I think it's no coincidence that, years later, I started making them with my own hands. Each little felt animal I create somehow comforts the little girl I once was. It's as if, through them, I'm taking care of my inner child.
Today, I realize that I'm not the only one. Some of my customers buy my felt animals not for their children, but for themselves. Adults, often very “serious”, who are attracted by a felt animal... a horse, a bear... and end up telling me: “Actually, it's for me. And every time, I feel I'm witnessing something precious: permission. Permission to do something good for no reason, no obligation, just because it's sweet.
We think that toys and stuffed animals are “for children”. Yet the act of buying a stuffed toy for oneself, as an adult, says something quite different. It speaks of the part of us that needs to be reassured, comforted and held. This part didn't disappear with our childhood: it's simply hidden under responsibilities, obligations, work, to-do lists. When an adult chooses a cuddly toy, he or she is reaching out to this part, often forgotten. Taking care of your inner child is not an abstract concept reserved for self-help or psychology books. It's very concrete. It's saying to that part of us: “I see you, I hear you, what you feel counts.” A stuffed toy can become a support for this. It gives tangible form to our most intimate feelings. You can put it on your desk, take it everywhere, keep it on your bedside table, snuggle with it on those late nights. It's no longer just an object, it becomes an anchor.
There's also something deeply soothing in the very contact with the material. The gesture of holding a felt animal in our hands, feeling the warmth of the wool, its light weight, is comforting: our breathing calms, our shoulders relax, our inner rhythm slows. The nervous system reads these signals as clues that “all's well, you're safe”. It's the same logic as snuggling up under a heavy blanket or stroking an animal. Touch opens a path to soothing.
In our daily adult lives, a stuffed toy can act as a little island of security. For some people, it helps them fall asleep, especially when anxiety or thoughts swirl around them at night. For others, it becomes a silent companion in times of transition: a move, a break-up, a bereavement, a change of job. It doesn't “fix” everything, of course, but it does offer something familiar to hold onto.
What really moves me is observing the extent to which these objects resonate with life stories. Each time, it's not “just” a purchase, it's a powerful symbolic gesture.
«Since I discovered them, Manon's toys have been my first choice whenever I have a birth gift to give. I've also spoiled my children, of course. But there have been times when I've come across some of her creations that spoke to the little girl I once was. And who would have LOVED to have them. The little mummy and baby hedgehog duo, for example. So I didn't hesitate and gave myself this little treat. They're on my desk. Like a daily reminder of childhood and its poetry. I just love them!»
«I immediately fell in love with Manon's felt animals. Maybe it's because they touched a part of me in exactly the right place. A place that speaks of childhood, of softness, of beauty, a place that needs to feed deeply on beloved objects in a close environment. These objects reassure me and make me feel at home. The little grey horse accompanied me to my office, where it sat on a small piece of furniture for a long time before landing in the hands of my tiny baby. At first, I felt a little sorry to entrust him with my object, my toy, but in fact, what a joy to see him love it as much as I do!»
«After a burn-out, I realized that I hadn't listened to myself enough all these years. Buying a friendly little felt fox made by Manon was like mothering myself, taking care of my inner child. I put it on my desk, next to my computer, as a reminder not to mistreat me at work...».»
The fact that my little felt cuddly toys are handmade adds an extra dimension. In every stitch, there's time, attention and love. Many people tell me that they feel this intention, that they wouldn't have the same relationship with a mass-produced object. Offering your inner child a unique object also means saying: “You deserve something precious, something singular.”
I like to imagine that, when someone adopts one of my little animals for themselves, a kind of silent dialogue begins. The adult goes on with his or her life, with all its demands and complexities. But somewhere, on a shelf or in a bed, a little felt being reminds him every day: “You also have the right to be vulnerable, tired, tender, playful.” And perhaps by seeing this reminder, the adult begins to treat herself a little more gently. Giving yourself a cuddly toy as an adult is not a refusal to grow up. On the contrary, it's a very mature way of recognizing that there are many different ages within us, with different needs. You can pay your taxes and still marvel at a cute little object. You can run a business, have children and projects, and still need something soft to hold close to your heart. You can be solid and still seek comfort.
When I think back to the little girl I was, surrounded by stuffed animals, I think she'd be very moved to see what I do today. She'd feel less lonely, less “weird” for loving these silent companions so much. And somehow, every time an adult treats himself or herself to one of my animals, I get the impression that our inner children are winking at each other from a distance. As if to say: “We're still here. And this time, we're going to take care of ourselves.”
