By brand
Steiff
Steiff is the German maker behind the original teddy bear, and the range here covers classic animals and licensed pieces. These are the plush toys that get kept rather than worn out, and many come with the Steiff ear tag.
Charlie Bears
Charlie Bears are hand-finished bears with jointed limbs and a face of their own. Bearhouse pieces are unjointed and better for young children, while the Plumo, Signature and Isabelle lines are made for collectors. See the full Charlie Bears range.
Jellycat and character plush
Jellycat, Sanrio and the character brands have their own collections, because the buying decision is usually about the character rather than the size. Start with Jellycat if you want the softest option, or Sanrio if you are buying for a Hello Kitty or Cinnamoroll fan.
By age
For under three, choose a one-piece plush with embroidered or soft eyes, no buttons and no loose ribbon. For three to eight, medium plush with a washable surface works best. For older children and adults, size and brand matter more than safety features, and the larger collector pieces come into play.
By size
Small plush under 20cm suits a bag or a shelf. Medium pieces around 25 to 35cm are the usual gift size. Large plush from 45cm up is a cuddle or a display piece, and it is worth checking the height in centimetres on the product page before ordering, because product photos flatten scale.
Materials and care
Most plush here is polyester fibre with a surface made from plush, terry, mohair or alpaca depending on the brand. Surface clean with a damp cloth and mild soap for small marks. For a deeper clean, check the care label first: machine washing is fine for many children's toys, but mohair and alpaca need hand washing and air drying.
Why buy plush from OCARE
We keep more than 200 styles in stock rather than a handful of seasonal pieces, so the size and brand you want is usually available. Stock is authentic, orders ship from Auckland, and the collection is sorted so you can compare brands without opening ten tabs.
