The 10 Best Plushies For Your Crushies

For a gift that feels grown-up but still begs to be hugged, the GUND Cozys Cow is the safe bet. GUND has made stuffed animals for more than a century, and this cream cow has blue patches, floppy limbs, curly fur and soft faux-suede horns. GUND rates it for a gentle machine wash on a delicate cycle, handy for gifts that gets carried everywhere. The catch is the price for its size, and curly fur can mat after heavy cuddling.

The Aurora Mini Flopsie Ginger Cat is the low-risk choice when you want to say something small. Aurora has sold its floppy, bean-weighted animals for decades, and this orange tabby lies flat with its legs stretched out, so it settles nicely on a desk, a shelf or a pillow. The striped fur is short and soft, and the face is detailed without looking babyish. It's small for real cuddling, and the pellets inside make machine washing a bad idea.

Turn the TeeTurtle Reversible Octopus inside out and a smiling pink face becomes a grumpy aqua one, which makes it a playful way to tell someone how your day is going. The flip toy took off on social media and was a Toy of the Year finalist, and it rides along in a backpack or sits beside a monitor without fuss. It's palm-size, so it works as a token to keep nearby rather than something to hug at night.

Capybaras are an online favorite for their calm look, and the Ditucu Capybara hugs a pink tulip to its chest with a small flower on its head. That built-in bloom does the talking, so it suits a first date, Valentine's Day or an apology. The fabric is short and velvety, and the round, pear-shaped body doubles as a small pillow. Ditucu is a young seller without much history yet, so check the seams and the tag when it arrives.

A basket of smiling dumplings, each with its own face and one in sunglasses, makes the Relatable Emotional Support Dumplings a gift that gets a laugh first and a hug second. They come from the plush arm of What Do You Meme?, the party-game company, and the takeout-style basket keeps the five pieces together on a shelf. The dumplings are small and loose, so keep the set away from toddlers who put things in their mouths.

Half duck, half peeled banana, the PEACH CAT Banana Duck is the kind of odd joke that turns into a nightly pillow. The long body tucks under an arm, the white fur is soft and fluffy, and the orange feet and bill are soft fabric rather than hard plastic. It comes in several lengths, from a desk buddy to a full body pillow, so you can match the gesture. The white fur shows dirt quickly.

Round as a dinner roll and spotted like a harbor seal, the MerryXD Chubby Blob Seal became a meme before it became a bedroom staple. It squishes under a head like a pillow, then holds its round shape, and the gray spots and tiny flippers make it look more like the real animal than a cartoon. It comes squashed flat in a vacuum bag and needs a day and a few shakes to puff back up.

Made to sit in the palm of a hand, the Aurora Palm Pals Belle is a white cow with strawberry-pink ears, hooves and a round pink belly. Palm Pals are a collectible line, so one makes a sweet first gift or a running joke to add to. The fur is smooth and velvety, and its age rating starts at birth. On its own it can feel slight, so tuck it into a card or a bigger present.

For someone who prefers real animals to cartoon ones, the Douglas Spunky Hedgehog gets the look right, with two-tone tipped fur that mimics spines and a pointed cream face. Douglas, a New Hampshire toy company, has made lifelike plush for decades, and this one curls into a ball that fits in two cupped hands. Douglas recalled some other plush animals in 2017 over loosening eyes; this hedgehog wasn't named, but bead eyes make it a poor pick for babies.

On a cold night, the Marysun Highland Cow goes in the microwave and comes out as a warm, weighted lap buddy. The seller says to heat it in short bursts of no more than a minute and a half, and the heavy filling gives it a settled, calming feel. The shaggy cream fur looks like the real breed but can tangle with handling. Check the warmth on your wrist before handing it over, and keep it away from babies.