Ask the Sluts: Who are our favourite cuddly toys?

Everyone has a favourite fluffy toy. One that you'll cuddle when you're sad. The one you grab when you're sick, and one that has to go with you wherever you move. He (or she) takes pride of place in your room, and you always call them by their name. They might be a little bit childish, but they're very important, those cuddly toys.

Sian: When I was little, it was a little monkey called Minky, but he was loved so hard that he fell apart and even several needle and thread operations couldn't save him. Now, I have a lot of love for my cuddly stingray (I know). He's cushion sized and perfect for hugging. He's called Urwin. Completely harmless, I promise.

Carrie: Now, let me recount to you a story. When I was about six or seven, I had a small army of cuddly toys. Each night I would carefully arrange all 25 (or so!) of them in my arms and sleep with said arms wrapped tightly around all of them. My parents, somewhat dismayed by this clear and apparent showcasing of deep-seated insecurity, sat me down and told me they "wanted me to see a counsellor". "Why?" I asked. "I need to hold them like that in case there's a fire so we can all get out."Ah. The logic of a child. So, I guess, I couldn't pick one. Although my counsellor Sarah was very nice. and taught me to make the most killer nut roast I have ever tasted.

Michelle: When I was wee bairn my godmother sent me a beanie koala bear from America that she bought on the very day I was born. That koala, who was eventually named Toby when I was old enough to talk, and I were inseparable. I still have Toby, although I no longer take him everywhere with me. In fact I don't even get to cuddle him that much any more as he is a bit too delicate these days. The years have not been as kind to Toby as they have to me. But in fairness I haven't lost an eye or had to have any of my limbs sewn back on by a ten year old.

Sel: When I was seven, I got a puppy. Not an actual puppy - I don't particularly like dogs - but a Pound Puppy. He is called Spotty and he has 27 spots. And a tartan collar that my mum made for him when his original collar broke. No puppy has ever been so loved and although I've passed on other cuddly toys to my children, Spotty is all mine.

Gemma: I had a Mimmy. Mimmy was a cross between a bunny and a blanket (basically a patchwork circle with a rabbit head) and I carried her everywhere. Apparently 'Mimmy' was my word for bunny when I was tiny. When Mimmy went to the great binbag in the sky loft she was subsequently replaced by Snowy (white bear) and Cinnamon (huge brown bear).

Sarah: When I was a kid in a pushchair, I had a terrible habit of stealing things in shops and shoving them under my bottom in shops. My mum would get me back to the car and lift me up to find an array of silky size 6 knickers underneath me, that I had grabbed off the rails. One day I managed to grab a furry rabbit and it became my cuddly toy of choice, and still has pride of place on my bed. I’m not sure if it’s a he or a she, but it’s called Hoopi.

Monkeys, stolen rabbits and a counselling session. All entirely normal. Who were your favourite cuddly toys?

Flickr image from dustpuppy's photostream.