Do you remember your first teddy bear? Mine was blue and very soft. It has been my comfort and joy for many years. If I had a bad dream, I hugged my teddy for reassurance.
My boys used to love their teddies as well, especially Eddie. He was obsessed with teddies, at some point we had a collection of over thirty teds of all sizes and brands.
Some of them were gifts from friends, some we bought in the specialist teddy bear shop or rescued in the charity shops.
I bought this Merrythought teddy bear, when my elder son was in primary school. Its cheeky grin lights up the book shelves where he's usually found.
The blue teddy bear from Merrythought joined our home, when Eddie was born. We have a shop in town called Teddy Bears of Witney. It's a total treasure trove and a museum of teddies.
With years, I have reduced the amount of soft toys in the house, but left a few as precious mementos of my boys' early years. We have an old (properly vintage) teddy which belonged to my husband, when he was a baby.
We even have a Paratrooper teddy, which we bought while visiting the barracks in Pisa where my husband served with the paras.
As the nation celebrates National teddy bear day today, we look back at some of the iconic teddy bears through history, exploring how our favourite characters have made the jump from the big screen to the cuddly toy that we snuggle up to when we head to bed.
Baby Thingz have done a research on the topic and with their permission, I'm sharing some of the interesting facts about the most iconic bears in literature and TV.
If someone asked you who is the most famous teddy bear of all, who springs to mind?
1. Winnie-the Pooh or Poor Bear as he is also fondly labelled, has been around for almost 100 years, having been created by author A.A.Milne back in 1926.
The Hundred Acre Wood inhabitant who has a yearning for all things honey is the lifelong friend of Christopher Robin and is one of the UK's most treasured teddy bears. A classic in teddy bear circles, he'll often be seem alongside fellow characters Eeyore and Piglet.
2. From simple origins - a comic strip in the Daily Express in 1920 - Rupert Bear went on to become a staple of children's culture when The Adventures of Rupert Bear TV series launched in 1970. Known for his eloquent accent, Rupert is also a style icon, thanks to his yellow checked trousers and matching scarf paired with a fetching red jumper that he wore for all of his adventures. He'll celebrate 100 years in November.
3. If you were born in the 1980s, you probably know all about Care Bears, our cuddly friends who lived in the clouds. The original line up featured just 10 bears, but multiple relaunches of the cult show have seen more than 30 different bears introduced.
The plush toys were developed with feelings emblazoned on their chests, with hearts, smiley faces, and rainbows indicating various emotions.
4. Yogi Bear
The Jellystone Park native, based loosely around Yellowstone National Park in the USA, first appeared on TV screens in America in 1958 as a guest on The Huckleberry Hound Show, but such was his popularity that just two years later the Yogi Bear and Friends show was spawned. His "Hey, Hey, Hey" catchphrase was voiced by Hollywood star Dan Akroyd when he hit the big screen.
5. Paddington Bear
One of the most nostalgic bears in history, Paddington was introduced to the world in 1958 in Michael Bond's book A Bear Called Paddington. With his customary blue duffle coat, Paddington arrived in England from Peru and has been entertaining children through the decades with his hapless adventures, getting into just as much trouble as Dennis the Menace.
The Adventures of Paddington TV series was launched in January this year as Gen Z was brought up to speed on the wonders of this furry friend.
6. Chiltern English
One of the original teddies, the Chiltern English teddy was first launched in 1915 and continues to be a comfort for youngsters across the UK. This classic can often be found in baby pushchairs on walks to the park, and such is the sentiment towards them that they often fetch three-figure sums at auction. Most people that own these vintage bears will only know too well about repaired eye sockets and patchwork elements that have helped them restore their childhood favourites.
7. SuperTed was a hit with 90s kids as he shared one of their biggest fears - a fear of the dark. first appearing in a series of books, SuperTed was adapted into a cartoon, becoming the first British animated series to feature on the Disney Channel.
This everyday bear might have bypassed the history books after being discarded in a toy factory, but a visit to Mother Nature resulted in him receiving superpowers that allowed him to transform into SuperTed!
8. Brother Bear
This Disney animation bear has risen to fame since the Millennium with the moarl of the film drawing on brotherhood, and mutual respect. A great lesson for children and adults alike, Brother Bear hit our screens in 2003, with a sequel going direct to video in 2006. In the film an Inuit boy called Kenai is transformed into a bear after seeking revenge when his brother is killed by a bear. We'll have to wait and see if brother Bear can stand the test of time and become a household name like Rupert and Winnie though.
What other famous bears and teddy bears might be mentioned? My elder son loved a book about Corduroy Bear.
Then there's posh carefree Sebastian Flyte with his Aloysius teddy bear.
Mowgli and Baloo.
A sad bear from We're going on a bear hunt.
Jill Murphy's Bear family.
Umka, an adorable polar bear of my childhood, from the beloved Soviet animation.
Brave and unique Yanka the Bear from The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson, inspired by the Russian folk tales.
On this National Teddy Bear Day, dig out your most cherished cuddly toys and join the conversation on social channels using #teddybearday. Relieving our childhood will often bring up memories of various toys and gadgets, but when you really home in on your most treasured moments, they'll usually involve a cuddly toy or teddy bear along the way.
Did you have a favourite teddy?
This post has been written in a creative partnership with Baby Thingz (there is no payment to declare).
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