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Cuddle
Control Late one night, I crept into my children's room for a final good-night kiss but missed my mark. Sitting down amid all the stuffed animals on my toddler's bed, I planted a smoocher on a big furry seal instead of on my child. The next day, I announced to my kids that we were going to have a Great Stuffed Animal Fest. We would clean, organize, repair, and even (gasp!) toss some of the dozens of plush pals that were bulging out of closets, spilling off beds, and cluttering floors. Here are some to the secrets I discovered that can help you, too, bring order to your child's stuffed-animal collection. 
Clean When a beloved doggy or bear gets grimy, perk it up with these clever cleaning techniques.
1. GIVE A SPONGE BATH
>> What you need: Delicate laundry detergent and a new sponge or a clean white washcloth.
>> How to proceed: Put the laundry detergent in a basin with lukewarm water and stir it up to create lots of bubbles, says Chasey Harrison, a teddy-bear-repair expert in Whittier, California. Then, with the damp sponge or washcloth, use the suds to gently dab the toy clean. Rinse the sponge or washcloth after every few pats, and be careful not tho let the animal get too wet. Allow it to air dry for at least a day.
2. DRY-CLEAN A CROWD
>> What you need: A large plastic bag,1/2 cup baking soda, and a soft brush.
>> How to proceed: Place two or three stuffed animals in the plastic bag, then dump in the baking soda. Close up the bag and shake vigorously for about a minute. Retrieve the stuffed animals and, over a sink, brush the fur to remove the dust, dirt, and baking soda. For larger animals, use a hand vacuum.
 | Teddy Takes a Spin
Toys labeled "machine washable" can be cleaned on the gentle cycle and dried on a low-heat setting. The trick is getting your child to part with his pal. When You're really attached to a stuffed animal, separating--even to toss it into the washer--can be difficult,"' says child-development expert Kathy Hirsch-Pasek. Make wash day special by letting your child help. Play it up as an adventure: "Teddy's going for a ride in the washer! Won't that be fun?" Another option: Do it at night, when your child is asleep. |
| Toss (Without the Tears) It can be tough for a child to part with a cuddly stuffed animal--even one he hasn't played with in yiars. "If your child is really reluctint to get rid of any of his animals, be sensitive to his feelings," says Eileen Koff , a professional organizer in Stony Brook New York. |
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 | * To help him figure out who goes and who stays, have him identify his favorite critters. Ask him: Which ones are your best friends? Which ones don't you like?" this will get him thinking about the toys he can live without," Koff says. | * One way to make it easier to say goodbye--and to teach your child about compassion in the process--is to donate plush toys to a charity. Tell him how happy his animals will make someone else, and take him with you to deliver them to a homeless shelter, a day-care center, or a program for underprivileged kids. Call ahead to ask whether these places accept donations of plush toys; many don't.) Or check stuffedanimalsforemergencies.org, a Website that pairs stuffed animals with kids in need. | * Before donating--or even dumping--a stuffed animal, take photos of it and make a scrapbook for your child, to preserve the memories. And if you meet with extreme resistance to saying a permanent goodbye? Don't push it--and definitely don't try to sneak the toy away. |
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