Sesame Street Friends 8-inch Elmo Sustainable Plush Stuffed Animal, Kids Toys for Ages 18 month

I'm nanny to a 2-1/2-yo boy who eats, sleeps, and plays with Elmo. I bought the first one when he saw Elmo on a shelf in Walmart. Then I ended up buying a couple more in case of emergency, and then a couple more. Which was a good thing, since the plastic eyes on the toy are not of the best quality ... and after several months of hitting every step in the house as Boy went up and down stairs while learning to walk, the eyes broke in half top to bottom. So now we have two "Blind Elmos" (Boy's daddy says he sounds like a blues guitarist from the Mississippi Delta) and two "Eye Elmos," and one untouched one in my closet at home. He's soft to start with but after months of being chewed and sucked on, Elmo -- for whom machine washing doesn't appear to be recommended -- tends to get a bit spiky and less soft. Well-loved doesn't begin to cover it! Please don't ever stop making this perfectly-sized red furry monster!

We have 2 in rotation and one fresh one as a back-up. This Elmo is the perfect size for a toddler to carry around. It is very durable. When I tell you ours have been THROUGH it, sickness, messy meals, car rides, outdoor walks. We have had to throw him in the washer a few times and I was half expecting the eyes to come out ruined - nope. I had to wash one of them twice in a night due to my toddler getting sick on him and he washed so well, any odors came out, and he fluffed right back up. This is hands down her favorite little stuffy and I am so glad I found it. He will be around for years to come.