$100 for a Used Blankie?

on February 11, 2009 at 10:32 AM

Photo by ddpool

Cute, but not my son's Yellow Bear!

Would you pay that?

I would. I'd pay double or triple that (can someone loan me?) if I could find a replacement for my son's particular lovie, his Yellow Bear. He's not lost, but this once soft and plush stuffed animal is so worn, dirty and disintegrated that I'm surprised he hasn't given up the ghost already.

I've exhausted all my leads to find another Yellow Bear (my son's name for him). I looked at the Carter's website and even wrote an e-mail to their customer service department.

I've done dozens of web searches, but not having the exact name that came on the bear's original tag, I've come up empty.

I even tried the Lost Lovies group here, and eBay a while back. No luck there, either, but I do know that many moms have found lost lovies on that site. Parent Dish says there's actually a blankie black market of sorts on eBay!

The writer of the piece did a quick search on eBay. A Carter's baby security blanket lovey bunny sells for $59.98. The seller reminds buyers the bunny blanket is "hard to find." A super soft pink sleeping cat goes for $49.99.

As she says, "it's not that these are special loveys in high demand, it's that when a parent does need one, they need it desperately. And will pay anything for them!"

I may indeed be crazy to consider paying that much, but what about you?

About the author Cynthia Dermody

is The Stir's Managing Editor who has trophies in her home for her skills at the Irish Jig. She makes cupcakes with as many fattening ingredients as possible, doesn't comb her hair for months at a time, and was probably a faerie in a former life.

Filed Under: bedtime, toys

Comments (12)

Jenniy

on Feb 11, 2009 at 11:23 AM

My youngest song is HIGHLY attached to his blankie, it's his comfort when he needs to go to Riley and get a CT Scan, or when he's at the Dr's office getting poked and measured, he cuddles it in his sleep and I have to sneak it away from him to wash it, even then he wakes up wanting it. He goes through so much with the Doctor's visits and such that I would pay anything to get him a new blankie if he needed it. I've called Carter's about it and they said that they stopped making it already and told me to try Ebay for a "back up"

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lilbeansmommy

on Feb 11, 2009 at 11:38 AM

I had to pay 50.00 for a Chosun Puppy from J.C. Penny- new the thing was probably around 8 to 10.00 and the only place I found it was Ebay- it was used and when I received it, it had pink sticky stuff in the fur. Needless to say, what else can you do- you have to replace the lost lovey. Thankfully- the washer cleaned it right up. I had called the J.C. Penny- all the outlets, stores, and even the maker oversea's nobody had it.

sadsmile

on Feb 11, 2009 at 11:56 AM

I have been there and found alternate(different and inexpensive) replacements and the kids have learned disappointment and how to move one which I think is a valuable lesson to learn at any age. Those prices are black mail! I think kids need to learn that nothing lasts forever and they can get past it and be happy. Happieness can be a decision and a choice you put into action and not just an instant reaction to something.

absmama

on Feb 11, 2009 at 12:07 PM

Not that I don't love my kids, but I wouldn't. Disappointment is a part of life, and children need to learn that they can't always have everything they want.

jms124

on Feb 11, 2009 at 12:14 PM

I don't think I'd pay that much for a replacement lovey. I would, however, go get fabric and make them one similar.

sandraberke

on Feb 11, 2009 at 12:47 PM

my oldest Riley has recently taken a fondness to her stuff giraffe that i got her when she was born- i however planned ahead for the future. when i bought the stuffed animal i bought more than one. i do this with all my kids favorites..i buy more than one sometimes more than two.that way i am not stuck in the situation like this. so there are like 20 different giraffes around my house-

madamekatekate

on Feb 11, 2009 at 3:14 PM

I'd never pay that much for a replacement. Of course, I'd find some sort of substitute for my child but not a $100 one...That's just silly if you ask me.

And some may say "Well, if you knew the kind of mood it puts the child in, you wouldn't say that." to which I respond yes, i do know. My daughter (who has recently given them up on her own) would only ever take one kind of binky (gummi. it was the kind they gave us in the hospital) We had just the orange one from the hospital and a million other brands that were gifts. One day I lost that beloved binky...It was gone for a month and a half. During that month and a half getting alaina to sleep comfortable was hell. She didn't want to drink, she just wanted her binky and she would rarely take another as a substitute. It was really rough but we managed.

When I found it and gave it to her her face melted with relief. We then went ahead and ordered some more since soon after we found a hole in the orange one (she didn't have teeth yet so I've got no clue, lol)

Mommy2Bears

on Feb 11, 2009 at 3:37 PM

$100? Absolutely not! Both of my girls have BiBi's (blankets) and they are attached desperately to them but one day they will let them go. If they get lost before they are ready I will find a reasonable replacement.

dawnjohnson5

on Feb 12, 2009 at 12:02 PM

I definitely would. I am trying to find a back up "nigh nigh" as we speak. Her "nigh nigh" is a white Carters blanket with blue flowers on it.

scratch_n_sniff

on Feb 12, 2009 at 8:25 PM

No. I'd pay up to $30 maybe, but no way would I pay $100. My daughter lost her beloved duck when she was 2 and she was able to get over it. My son, who is now 3, has a puppy that he has had since the day he was born. He has it with him 24/7. If he does lose it (we've already had close calls) he may need to move on.