Slumberkins Review

Stuffed animals are a dime a dozen—at least they are in my house. Not many of them offer benefits beyond being a soft and snuggly childhood memory. However, Slumberkins, a company that got its start on ABC’s Shark Tank, offers benefits beyond cuddles for both kids and parents.

Slumberkins’ wide variety of adorably soft stuffed animals teaches social and emotional skills to young children. I spent a couple of months testing Slumberkins out with my 4-year-old son, specifically, the Dragon Kin, which promotes creativity and comes with an accompanying book and affirmation card.

While he’s not quite as obsessed with it as the pile of Squishmallows all over his bed, the Dragon Kin Slumberkin is quickly earning a top spot as a favorite in our household.

What are Slumberkins?

Slumberkins is designed to teach kids skills, like routines and self-confidence, and help them through hard times, like grief and loss, through creative and mindful books, stuffed animals, and affirmation cards.

Slumberkins are intended for ages 0 to 3, and ages 4 and up, depending on the option you select, and the “creatures” come in three types and sizes.

The Kin and the Snuggler are both 14 inches tall. The Snuggler doesn't have as much filling as the Kin, and takes on a flatter shape, similar to that of a blanket a child might carry around. The Kin is fuller, more like a traditional stuffed animal.

There’s also the Mini, which varies in size from 5 inches to 7.5 inches tall.

All of the board books, which are also available to purchase separately, are sturdy and come in several sizes.

On the Slumberkins website, you can shop by creature type, theme, product type, and age. Bundles are also available.

Shipping is free on orders of $75 or more, and Slumberkins offers free return shipping on all U.S. orders within seven days of your delivery date.

Slumberkins are also available on Amazon and children’s boutique stores.

What we like

Slumberkins are luxuriously soft and cuddly

Not all stuffed animals are made the same, but I found Slumberkins to be one of the softest around. The feel of Slumberkins is soft and silky, and similar in touch and feel to one of my favorite stuffed animal brands, Jellycat.

Slumberkins are stuffed with a hypoallergenic fiberfill and are made from a 100% polyester material. My son immediately hugged his Slumberkin and rubbed it all over his face, enjoying the extreme softness. The Dragon Kin he has is very plush and cuddly, and it also comes in a Kin version, as well.

Slumberkins promotes social and emotional skills for kids

Slumberkins aims to promote social and emotional development through adorable plush stuffed creatures, books, and, in some cases, an affirmation card. These tools help teach kids skills in core categories such as authenticity, change, grief and loss, self-esteem, routines, building connections, and more.

As a parent, I find each of these themes is important to the healthy development of growing minds. Sometimes we don't always know how to talk to our young children and teach them about these important internal building blocks. Slumberkins helps bring these big—and sometimes unwieldy topics—down to a child's level and helps caregivers teach kids these foundational messages in fun and imaginative ways.

My son absolutely loves the book and loves seeing his Slumberkin featured on each page. He asks to read the book several times a week since we've had the Dragon Kin and holds him close while I read the words on each page, sometimes even acting out what he sees in the book's illustrations.

As a mom, I love that the book teaches him to explore his own creativity and inspires him to dream. We have a lot of children's books in our home, but none with such a direct connection to a tangible stuffed animal or toy that he enjoys.

Slumberkins makes a fantastic gift for kids—and parents

Shopping for kids can be hard, but Slumberkins is one of those gifts that will be well received no matter what’s on their wishlist. Whether you’re shopping for your child’s daycare classroom or the new parent in your life, there are plenty of styles and themes to choose from that will make the perfect gift.

Parents will love it, too, since Slumberkins comes with not only a stuffed animal, but a book, too, to encourage a love of reading for your child.

What we don’t like

Slumberkins are air dry only

I washed the Dragon in the washing machine but was bummed to find out that the stuffed animals could not be placed in my dryer.

This isn’t a make or break for me, but it is something to be aware of, as air drying isn’t exactly a quick process. My son patiently waited for his Slumberkin to air out but it did take a full overnight for everything to properly dry.

If you plan to clean your Slumberkins, make sure to do it while your kids are at school or purchase a back-up to have on hand while the other is “taking a bath,” as I told my son.

You may experience longer than average shipping during the holiday season

This isn’t a gripe, but more of an FYI to make sure you place your order well ahead of time if you’re giving Slumberkins as a gift.

We found a few reviews that noted longer than usual shipping times in the month of December, when there are likely more orders than normal.

We didn’t experience any shipping delays but it is something to be aware of. We think Slumberkins makes a great gift for little ones, so if this is on your list for the holiday season, our advice is to order sooner rather than later!

Should you buy Slumberkins?

Yes, this makes a fantastic gift for any young child

Slumberkins are a huge hit in my house and I can’t recommend them enough. While they are more expensive than a traditional stuffed animal, the quality is superior and high-end, and there’s no doubt your little one will enjoy their favorite creature for years to come.

Slumberkins also makes a fantastic gift for kids and parents alike. There are many different creatures and themes to choose from that just about any child can benefit from. The positive messaging behind each creature is unique and helps foster confidence and conversation within families, or in the classroom.