I call things like dolls, pacifiers/ dummies/ stuffies /baby bottles and so forth "childish things" because thats what stores, merchandizing companies, catalogs, online places like amazon ect.. categorize such items.

they may be in the childrens toys and baby isle but they are not just for children or anyone with any mental or physical health problems.

by todays standards having, collecting and or using childish things is a personal choice not associated with any mental or physical health disorder nor stigma.

There are many people of all genders, orientations, religions and so on that collect, use, trade and sell all kinds of childish things.

an interesting fact about the toy industry if you research you may find it interesting that most childish toys like stuffed animals, dolls, pacifiers/dummies were not originally intended for children. even cartoon shows, childish movies, child story books have beginnings that did not include being restricted to just children.

toys and items of childhood are not just for children and never were. in fact, if you go shopping for things like dolls, pacifiers/ dummies, stuffed animals' cars trucks and so on like I have done (my wife and I have 4 children lol), you will notice that even baby stuff have "age plus" labeling on the packages and tags on the item.

that age plus designation means the youngest the person with that age who can safely have that object due to the small removable eyes, dyes and chemicals used, types of stuffing and so on can be harmful if someone younger than the age on the label puts in it their mouths, or has close to their face.

and the plus sign or the words "and above" and the words "or older" means any age whether that person is a child or adult.

for example ...if you buy a pacifier that is labeled "3 mo +" that means that pacifier is ok to use with children and adults over the age of 3 months old.

another example if you buy a doll that says "3yr+" that means anyone over the age of three can have that doll safely without a choking hazard, chemical/dye reaction and so on.

another example if you buy a teddy bear that says "8+" on it and the packaging it means that teddy bear is for anyone 8years old and older all the way up to the oldest person possible.

toys and other childish objects like pacifiers, dolls, teddies, trucks, action figures and anything else you can find in "toy" isle, "children's department" of stores and so on, are just a personal choice and not restricted to children.

I know adults who collect reborn dolls, one of my siblings and their husband just bought a house with a couple extra rooms so that one of the extra rooms can be her "nursery" and the other her husbands "galaxy" room for his Star Wars collection.

I know someone who collects "pacifiers through the ages"

I know someone who has American girl dolls all over her place.

my wife collects and enjoys "Build-a-bear"

I do not have a childish collection of any kind. my childhood was so traumatic that it caused me to have a couple mental disorders, my collecting or buying to self-nurture myself with things from toy isles would trigger those mental disorder problems.

my own personal choice for me is remain in the present moment. what calms and helps me to self-nurture me is being out in nature. my home and office are full of Dioramas (representations of nature including camping and hiking diorama show case boxes on my office wall.) my wife and I just bought a new canoe from a small-town family-owned boat building company. when we went up to pick it up this past weekend I was surprised with a gift. my wife commissioned them to make a couple miniature canoes scaled down for my office dioramas. I can go into my office any time and enjoy "being out in nature" taking time to breath and relax.

if you think buying a teddy bear will bring you comfort and is something that you know you enjoy I say go for it.

beware though with your first one you may not want to spend a lot of money. having teddy bears is like having a doll collection. sometimes people start out getting them then the doll just sits on their bookcase not being enjoyed or played with, gathering dust and eventually being given away.

since your post says you have never had one may I suggest you getting your first one from a place like a dollar store or department store where you can get them for as little as a dollar and under 5 dollars. that way if after buying it you decide collecting and having teddy bears are not for you, you haven't wasted much in monetary value.

what I tell others that consider buying teddy bears is one be sure of why you want to have one and 2 buy an inexpensive first one and see how much you are still cuddling it after a couple months.

if its still a much-enjoyed activity 2-4 months in, then maybe purchases another one. teddy bears wear out quite quickly these days, they dont make them long lasting like they used to. so, after about a month or two your first one will no doubt show some flattening and thinning of the fur and maybe wearing thin at the seams.

most well used teddy bears last about 6 months to a year before they are retired for a new one. (I know I have had 4 children that all enjoyed various stuffed animals, and many nieces and nephews and know many adults with teddy bears too. a well-loved and daily used teddy bear begins showing normal wear and tear much more quickly than one bought for display or in a hobby collectors' collection box.)

since this is your first one ever according to your post my suggestion is go inexpensive first to see if its your thing. if so then you can decide how much money you really want to invest in buying stuffed teddy bears, what brands, models and so on that you want your teddy bears to be.