DD's lost toy

notanewuser

I know there are far worse problems in the world than this, but I'm feeling like the worst mother in the world and am struggling to get to sleep. And I'm sure it's happened to lots of people do you might just be able to calm me down.

Okay. DD has just turned 2. Since she was about 6 months we've done a music class which involves a soft toy character. Of course I bought her one. And she adores it. We still do the class once a week, but the toy is played with all the time, taken to bed etc.

DD and I were out this afternoon, and she had this toy in her buggy with her. All fine, came home, made dinner, bedtime comes and she wants the toy. Can't find it anywhere. I can't remember whether she was holding it when I put her in her car seat, but as there's no sign of it I guess not. We were at an outdoor shopping park so no obvious place for anybody to hand it in etc. So odds of getting it back are around nil.

Now, I can distract her over the weekend, but when we go to the music class she's going to want the toy. And I won't be able to give it to her. They do sell them, but they've had a make over in the last year and they're now quite different so it might be £25 worth of toy rejected immediately.

She's going to be _so_ upset, and she's such a sweet, lovely, non-whingy little girl that I won't be able to bear her being upset and me not being able to fix it.

So, any ideas how to handle this?

windchime

This happened to us with my Grandsons toy, Daughter retraced all her steps and asked in shops and Ducky was recovered, Grandson is six now and still has toy. Best of luck hope toy is recovered.

marleyboy

Its worth a shot if you cannot find it to check ebay, theres a possibility an identical replacement is on there.

Our Son lost his critter, which was to him irreplaceable, ebay proved a godsend in finding a replica thats no longer made.

Good luck OP.

pandora205

Maybe try Ebay for a copy of the original? Or would the music teacher know where one could be obtained? Failing that maybe take her to find a new toy that is quite different and let her choose.

bylromarha

Lots of hugs needed to get through.

Immediate - I would tell her a story of how the toy has gone on holiday to visit another little girl and help her sing and play instruments.

I would also do a big retrace of steps and leave your phone number with the outdoor shopping centre customer service office and with the shops you visited.

And as a parent, use it as a learning experience that you can't take away all their pain and hurt, all you can do is be there with them through it and bear it with them. You can't fix everything for them. I wish you could too!

Rebecca01

This happened to me to. I found another one on ebay. DD was two at the time . I found one on ebay and ordered two, just in case. She was upset but I said bunny had gone to visit Grandma.

I again lost bunny a year later when she was three. She would not accept the spare bunny, I had hidden in the cupboard for a year. Hers was somewhat dirtier by this point.
Like others have said, I retraced my steps and later that day found bunny stuck to a fence post. Phew!

I know like you say, there are greater problems in the world and its only material but it does break your heart to see your child , so upset over the toy they love and to them could be real.

I hope you find it.

kazwookie

Contact the outdoor shopping park, and ask them, all sorts of stuff gets handed in.

sarah_ace1

find your local 'for sale free and wanted' page on facebook and post there. this has been successful in the past with lost belongings. also your local 'lost and found' page.
you could appeal through your local paper too

FBaby

Just to say that your DD might surprise you and not be as upset as you are anticipating. She be upset but only for a few seconds and then be delighted with something else.

It happened to my DD and I thought the world had ended. She was a very poor sleeper, and would not close her eyes with her toy so was absolutely dreading the coming nights. I explained to her that it had gone to another baby who needed it desperately and that it meant she got to chose a new one of her choice. She shed a few tears but before I knew it, she wanted to go and get another one and as soon as she picked one, the old one was forgotten. I was totally surprised, but now see how it does match her personality, always looking ahead however attached she is to things.

Metranil_Vavin

Oh I feel your pain OP.

My son has a blue teddy that someone bought him when he was first born, and amongst all the soft toys he received, Teddy is the one he adores. He won't sleep at night without him.

OH doesn't like us taking Teddy out in case he gets lost, but it is taken to nursery with him and I do worry that one day it'll go missing.

Try ebay as others have suggested, and perhaps try and retrace your steps? You often see dropped childrens toys placed on walls - they have no value to take really.

Good luck.

Metranil_Vavin

..in fact just reading this thread has spurred me on to go onto ebay and buy a replacement blue teddy!

M&S don't sell them anymore, but luckily someone on ebay had a few.

Hope it all works out OP.