There are days when I look around my living room and wonder what happened. A cereal bowl turned upside down on the couch, one sock mysteriously in the dog’s mouth, my toddler screaming because his banana broke the “wrong way,” and our golden retriever running circles around the coffee table like his life depends on it. This, my friends, is the everyday chaos of parenting a two-year-old while also caring for a highly energetic dog.
In the middle of this madness, there is one item that has not only survived, but thrived—a soft, slightly lopsided bunny from jellycat south africa named “Muffin.” Muffin is more than a stuffed toy in our home; he is a member of the family, a battle-tested hero, and quite honestly, my toddler’s most trusted sidekick.
We first got Muffin as a gift for my son’s first birthday. I remember thinking, “Oh, what a sweet plushie. So soft, probably won’t last more than two weeks.” How wrong I was. From the moment my son saw him, it was love at first squeeze. Muffin has been dragged through playgrounds, dunked in muddy puddles, buried under a pile of dog toys, and even thrown across the room in a fit of toddler rage. Yet somehow, he always emerges intact—maybe a little dusty, but always just as cuddly.
Our dog, Max, has a particular talent for destroying things he’s not supposed to touch. Stuffed animals, shoes, even remote controls—he’s chewed through it all. But for some unknown reason (and maybe it’s the magic of Jellycat), he has never once attempted to chew Muffin. He sniffs him, sometimes rests his head on him, but it’s as if he, too, knows this little bunny holds a special place in our son’s world.
There was one afternoon I’ll never forget. I was trying to prep dinner while answering a work email with one hand, the baby was teething and crying, and Max was barking at a squirrel outside. In the midst of that chaos, I turned around to find my son quietly sitting in a corner, hugging Muffin to his chest, gently rubbing the floppy ears against his cheek. It was one of those rare, peaceful moments that make you stop and breathe. Muffin wasn’t just a toy—he was comfort, familiarity, and safety in a world that sometimes feels overwhelming to little ones (and, let’s be honest, to us parents too).
That’s what sets jellycat south africa apart. These aren’t just soft toys; they’re built to be loved hard. They’re made for toddlers who don’t yet understand the concept of “gentle,” for dogs who live by curiosity, and for parents who need just one thing in the house that doesn’t fall apart.
We’ve since added a few more Jellycat friends to our crew—there’s a bashful monkey, a curious octopus, and a sleepy elephant. Each one has its own little story, and all of them have survived teething phases, spontaneous baths in the dog’s water bowl, and even the dreaded crayon makeover incident. And best of all, they’re machine washable (praise be), so every time Muffin starts to look more brown than cream, he gets a gentle bath and comes out good as new.
If you’re a parent juggling pets and kids, you know how rare it is to find something that actually lasts—physically and emotionally. Jellycat South Africa has given our household more than adorable plush toys; it’s given us small pockets of calm, steady companionship for our son, and a much-needed win for me as a mom.
So yes, our home may be loud, sticky, and covered in fur. But somewhere in the chaos, there’s always a plush bunny with floppy ears reminding us that some things—some very soft things—are made to last.