Desperately seeking stuffed animal exterminator

[hintonlady]

Having 2 young daughters has made my home susceptible to the infiltration of fuzzy bunnies, cuddly bears and huggable baby dolls. I need help desperately to prevent further spreading of these awful things. We allowed one or two in at first because they are so disarmingly cute. Be warned, don’t let button eyes, floppy ears or the soft fur fool you. These creatures are a menace.

A couple holiday additions like a gingerbread man and a teddy bear with red and green plaid bow quickly reproduced. By Easter they were proud parents to a litter of bunny rabbits in a variety of outfits and colors. These little beasties are very prolific and have a year long breeding season that usually coincides with ALL holidays and birthdays. Occasionally a lone little blessing arrives “just because”.

My home is now overrun with the offspring of the survivors of the last thrift store round up. There is no more room on the shelves, toy boxes or on the bed. I’m afraid my toddler will suffocate under them at night. I have no more room for dustables or pickupables. Aka: more junk I have to corral every night.

Furthermore I have one of the great mysteries of man to unravel, why on earth does anyone need a stuffed Jerry Garcia doll? Is it some ancient curse? Yes, his little beard and glasses are cute, but seriously? What kind of pretend dress up tea party is he going to be the guest at?

I know I am guilty of bringing home a few Elmos, much to my daughters delight. I’m not innocent in all of this. I am guilty and prepared to deal with the consequences. I need a stuffed animal exterminator, someone who can not only prevent further breeding but can also lay out those sticky traps just in case any more of these dreadful fuzzy things try to sneak in.

Thanks in advance.

[BusyBees2]

Will you share the name & # of the exterminator when you find him? I think he needs to come to my house too!

[shanzone2001]

I laughed when I read this thread because last night I told my daughter to get rid of some of her stuffed animals and she told me, "They are not called stuffed animals. They are called plush pets."
Alrighty then!

[HOTW]

Carry a newspaper with you at all times and when tempted take it out roll it up and smack yourself on the head! LOL BTDT....

[Reb]

You can contact your local Police and/or Fire Department and donate them. We call them "trunk buddies". When there is an incident where young children are involved, it's always nice to be able to offer a little consoling, or something to hug. I believe hospitals might even take them, granted, they should be in good condition. Reb

[soulsurvivor]

Oh my goodness, it's not just little girls, as we have a litte man farmer that takes his house/barn duties very seriously. He's got all the stuffed farm animals he can carry and he's always looking for a place to pen them up and feed em. It's a poor substitute for the real thing, but it's the best we can do right now. I think we've finally convinced him the commode isn't a farm pond.

[MO_cows]

The best exterminator I know of for stuffed animals is a puppy, but it's a brutal way to go.........

[hintonlady]

Originally Posted by soulsurvivor

I think we've finally convinced him the commode isn't a farm pond.

[joyfulheart]

I wait till the kids go to bed or school and do a toy-ectomy.

NOBODY knows what happened.... it's a mystery! (I'm not telling!)
(only the favorites are invited to stay)

I cant tell you how many times a YEAR later, they will ask-- hey where's that toy....? LOL
I tell them to go search their room. mwahahahahaaaa

[mommathea]

I refuse to let a stuffed animal in the house - they're not potty trained don't ya know.

If the kids get a stuffed animal I tell them they can keep it, or they can get rid of another. One in, one out. And stuffed animals are donated to the police department, or to the battered women/children's home near us.

[DW]

Just HAD to respond after you mentioned Jerry Garcia...I felt the same as you BUT last time at my sister's...she has one in her livingroom! LOL We are not alike. My son is 23 and, yes, we suffered many years. I do have out 3 critters:wool duck handmade son gave it to me (I collect ducks), PO teachers bear f/son, again, one bear I made f/mother's old fur coat (she's been gone yrs). I have one suitcase of sons favorites. The little bunnies are w/Easter decorations, kitties are w/summer dec w/red, white & blue scarves. I have a couple w/xmas dec, too. I don't give them as gifts to small children and I have this nephew w/too cute daughter that says NO toys, please! I wonder when adult children decide they can get rid of this stuff?! You have a ways to go.

[Cheryl in SD]

Another good home for these are abused women/children centers & homeless shelters.

You just gotta be smarter than your kids.

Kinder Minor: "Daddy, I really, really want that bear. Can I have it?"

Me: "I'm sorry darlin', but you have so many stuffed animals on your bed now there's no room for you to sleep!"

Kinder Minor: "Wahhh!"

Me (appearing to reconsider): "Well, how about we do this? If you really, really want that bear you come up with three stuffed toys you already have that you're willing to let some other little boy or girl have for their own. Then you can have the bear."

Kinder Minor: "OK!"

Three stuffed toys out, one in. It's a gradual thinning of the herd and they get to do the culling.

The Kinder Major on the other hand is now older and wiser and saw through that right off. But seeing as to how she's been complaining about having to sleep with the herd in their room she ain't lettin' on. With her it's books. But there we simply adopted the policy my wife uses on ME. "I won't give you books for Christmas until you make room on the bookshelves for them." Heck, what a deal!

Now with the wife it's her addicti... I mean her electronics. "That's a lot of money for a new smart phone! What's wrong with the one you have now?" then the horse trading starts. She got her phone, I got my incubator.

Except for the youngest (maybe her too by now) we all know the score. But it works so no one's complaining.

[newfieannie]

that's right they are called plush pets and i'm over run myself. my friend dropped by a few days ago with 2 where she was cleaning out her place and she was wanting me to put them in the refuse. she didn't know i collected them. they were talking and dancing i think. anyway they have found a home on my bed.~Georgia.

[Ohio dreamer]

My kids are allowed one for every year they are. My 8 yr old is allowed 8 and my 12 yr old (who has never had an interested in plush pets/stuffed animals/ect) is allowed 12. That was a VERY helpful rule when they were preschoolers.

[ronbre]

may I suggest that you talk to your child about kids in hospitals or about kids in car accidents, and ask if they might want to give some of the nicer not loved as much ones to the local hospital, emergency room or police department

cops will carry a few in their trunk of their cruisers to give to children in accidents or that have to be removed from a parent, emergency rooms can have them on hand for scared injured children..etc..

[Melissa]

When I taught preschool, I would cut them in a stategic place, take out the stuffing from the body and maybe the head depending on how it was made and use them as puppets. Kids love puppets and it made them more interactive as well as taking up much less space.

[dragonjaze]

but!!! You have to have enough stuffed animals and dolls to line the edges of the bed with, for protection from the thing under the bed, and the ghoulie in the closet.

or was that just me?

Every toy had it's assigned spot at night, all lined up around the edge of the bed. Superman was on the corner nearest the closet...

[gone-a-milkin]

I have found that a small terrier puppy makes short work of any and all stuffed animals.

[whiskeylivewire]

My kids are playing with some of mine that I refused to part with lol. One is a little pink gingham doll with a rattle in its head that my parents bought me as a guilt present when they took the boys to see Star Wars when it came out...10 days after I was born. So I got a little doll and the boys got to say they saw Star Wars when it came out...in the theater.

Hmm maybe I should guilt my parents about that again and get some more potting soil and strawberries out of them