Cuddling with Stuffed Animals is Equally Satisfying as Cuddling with People

[RK800]

I can understand where you're coming from OP.

For me I dang near have an emotional attachment to my body pillow, blanket and stuffed crocodile (it's a Zoobies, a pillow, blanket and plushy all in one) and I also have my big ol' 65+ pound dog who I love to bits.

As far as cuddling with people go, well for me that's few and far between. I don't currently have anyone I trust that much.

[Guest]

I love me some cuddles from people, stuffed animals, and animals, and when I'm feeling like crap I like cuddling with a heating pad ;)

[QueenWS]

I don't agree with you, when I was young I'd sleep with stuffed animals and they'd always either end up on the side of the bed or on the floor. When cuddling someone my body doesn't move as much as I do because I'm being held. Big stuffed animals stand too much in my way haha. Nothing beats human warmth for me. But it's quite interesting that someone thinks the opposite way. I don't get any cuddles anymore, I do miss it but I don't have a man.

[Philip027]

Generally speaking, no, I don't agree. I've had the chance to do both, and they don't compare... at all.

However, I recently received a cuddly friend in the mail from the love of my life (someone who's already an avid collector of such things), which she sent to me with the hope in mind that I'd be able to keep it close to me at night as if I were keeping a little piece of her by my side. And in this particular case, it works very well. :3

So for me, it comes down to emotional attachment. If I'm cuddling with someone, I likely feel very attached to them. I don't get that sort of attachment with inanimate objects, but this has been a rare exception.

[Archon]

Cuddling with stuffed animals is way more satisfying for me than cuddling with people. A hug from a friend is good but I never got anything out of cuddling with another person. It just feels awkward to me. I really like having a stuffed animal or a blanket or a pillow to hold on to, though. For some reason I get a lot of emotional warmth from having a fluffy object like that.

[Schrecken]

I'd have to say no, but for me there are intermediate ways of getting this need met if you don't have a person available or don't want one. IMO there are few things more relaxing than having a soft, warm kitty cat purring away on your chest or lap, like this:

While pets don't have arms they can put around you, they can indeed fill the need for a nice warm body to be close to. But I do sleep with a body pillow, mostly to help with my back, since I'm a side sleeper, and it does feel nice to snuggle down into my bed and wrap myself around that pillow. When I was a child I did have plenty of stuffed animals that I'd sleep with, and those served similar purposes. That said, they are no substitute for a living thing.

As for people, I've only had recent experience with that, and it took me quite a while to get used to it. The first time I cuddled with my boyfriend I was like a deer caught in the glare of headlights - I just kind of froze, not knowing what to do because I had never had any serious physical contact with any human being since I was a child. But there is no compare to a non-living thing, and it is also a bit different from cuddling with a pet. I used to think I got hot when my cat sat on me, but I didn't know hot until I was snuggled up against another person and started sweating buckets. That's one of the downsides of it - and perhaps an upside to a pillow or stuffed animal. But still, it is nice to be able to doze off in someone's arms if you don't overheat. It took a while before I was comfortable enough to do that, as I wasn't sure I could trust him not to try and take advantage of me sexually if I fell asleep. We cuddled naked a long time before we ever had sex.

[Perseus]

I think stuffed animals were mostly made for cuddling.

[Relz]

I don't really enjoy cuddling inanimate objects. They're not warm. Just room temperature and a little too squishy.

My preferred cuddling objects: Dog >>>> Human (immediate family only) >> Stuffed toy

[PastryBubbles]

I personally disagree with the title.. It helps if what you're cuddling is actually living, breathing, and thinking.. Plushies, blankets, and the like are okay, but for me, nothing beats a person.

[Cazz333]

No, prefer people. However stuffing a memory foam pillow between my knees makes sleeping on my side a lot easier. I have better quality sleep as I don't roll on my back then other side then back then same side ad nauseam.

[nicknack12]

I find that cuddling with people is much more fun than cuddling with stuffed animals or a body pillow because a person is warm and can hug/squeeze you back. That being said, it really doesn't get too fun after a while, and it will totally wake you up if you're trying to sleep like that

[Flyaway4me]

I feel as if cuddling with a stuffed animal is not as satisfying as with a person for me. It gives me a sense of security and comfort, but not compared to when I'm cuddling with a person. With a person, I feel a great connection while cuddling. It makes me feel safe and loved. A stuffed animal is like eating a bran muffin when you would be eating a cupcake in my expirience

[Malony]

I've been cuddling with stuffed animals, while I'm sleeping, for over 30 years now.

It's very rare that a guy ends up in my bed. But when that happens snuggling up to him is nice for a few minutes, but then it becomes too hot and uncomfortable for me and I have to move away anyway.

I must like people a lot to hug them and most of the times I don't feel much doing it. Snuggling up to a boyfriend while watching tv or something is quite nice, though.

[FabulFuz]

I think both things fulfill different needs for me.

I love pillows and stuffed animals, blankets, big poofy comforters, etc. I can't sleep without my body pillow. But I also love doling out and receiving physical affection from people that I trust. When it comes to people I think good hug sessions are more satisfying than cuddles; humans are full of hard angles (read:bones) and sweat when they get too warm.

Human contact is something for when I want that feeling of reassurance and security that yes, I have a social net and people who actually care about me. Pillows and stuffies are for when I'm alone and I need something to curl my self around, or those moments when I lose faith in humanity and take comfort in something that won't hurt me.

[Skycaptain]

Firstly I have never, even once shared a bed with a human. Secondly I have never had an intimate cuddle with anyone, and the thought of doing so terrifies me. A simple fully clothed greeting hug from a family member makes me feel uncomfortable. However, there are times when I just want something in my arms at night. For me a pillow is the perfect item. Sometimes the duvet, but only for so long or it gets cold. Yes I can see where stuffed animals enter the equation, but at 43 I would hate for family to find a stuffed animal in my bed. I am not yet confident enough about my being not a stereotypical male but more agendered for that yet

(the avatar Ted is only 15cm tall and sits on a shelf)

I don't think I am alone in being touch repulsed so something inanimate may be the only things we can snuggle with.

Edited by me as I had to stop half way through the post