Cuddly Elephant Toy

Nattou Cuddly Elephant — it is all about the ears

A soft, deep-furred elephant suitable from birth and machine washable at 30 degrees. The ears are what distinguish it from the teddy and the giraffe: two big, flat, floppy flaps of fur, which turn out to be the single most held part of any elephant toy ever made.

🐘 Flat things are easier than round things

A baby's early grip works better on something flat they can pinch than something round they have to span. An ear is exactly that — thin enough to get between finger and thumb at four months, big enough to bunch up in a fist at eight, and soft enough to be chewed on throughout. It is also the bit that gets rubbed between fingers at bedtime, which is how a toy becomes a comfort object rather than just a toy.

🧼 Washable matters more than you think

Most of the nicest-looking soft toys are surface clean or hand wash only, which is an awkward instruction for the object a baby holds against their face every night — and ears, being the chewed part, get the worst of it. This one goes in the machine at 30 on its own, dried away from direct heat, and the fur comes back.

🏠 The animal that is already in the nursery

Elephants have quietly become the default nursery animal — on the wallpaper, the muslins, the growth chart. If the room has a theme at all, there is a decent chance this one matches it, which is more than can be said for most soft toys.

What we like about it

• Big, flat, floppy ears — easier for an early grip than anything round
• Machine washable at 30 degrees, which matters most on the part that gets chewed
• Deep, fluffy fur rather than the thin plush you get at this size
• 30 x 17 x 12cm — a little broader through the body than the teddy, and the same size as the giraffe
• Suitable from birth, so no waiting for them to grow into it
• Fits the elephant-themed nursery that a lot of people already have
• No batteries, no sound, nothing to switch off
• By Nattou, who have been making these for a long time

Specification

• Suitable from: birth
• Size: approximately 30 x 17 x 12cm
• Materials: soft plush fur
• Safety: UKCA and CE marked
• Care: machine washable at 30°C. Dry away from direct heat
• Brand: Nattou

❓ Frequently asked questions

Can it really go in the washing machine?
Yes — 30 degrees. That is what the label says, and it is the main reason we stock this range. Wash it on its own or with towels rather than crammed in with a full load, and dry it away from a radiator so the fur stays soft.

Will the ears survive being chewed?
They are the part that gets the most attention, so check the seams where they join the head every so often. Being machine washable is what keeps them pleasant rather than crusty, which is the usual fate of a chewed ear on a surface-clean-only toy.

Is it suitable for a newborn?
From birth, yes. In the first weeks it is something to be shown rather than held; the ear-pinching starts around three or four months.

Can it go in the cot?
Not for unsupervised sleep. Safer sleep guidance is to keep the cot clear, so this is for cuddles, feeds and floor time while you are there.

Is it a good gift?
Very — particularly for a nursery that already has an elephant theme, which a lot of them do. Suitable from birth and washable, so it gets used rather than shelved.

🧸 Which Nattou cuddly?

Three animals, the same deep fur and the same 30 degree wash, and all three stand 30cm tall. Pick on the shape:

• Elephant — this one. 30 x 17 x 12cm. Big soft ears, which is the bit babies actually hold, and the animal most likely to match the nursery.
• Giraffe — 30 x 17 x 12cm, the same size as the elephant. The long neck is the natural handle, and the one a baby grabs first.
• Teddy Bear — 30 x 14 x 11cm, the slimmest of the three and the easiest to tuck under an arm. The default, and the safest gift when you don't know the household.

If you would rather have natural fibres than plush, our ThreadBear linen dinosaurs are hand finished in linen — lovely, but hand wash only.

Browse more cuddly toys, or everything suitable from birth.

Safety information

Adult supervision recommended. Remove from the cot when your little one is sleeping unsupervised, in line with safer sleep guidance. Inspect the seams and stitching regularly and stop using the toy if anything is coming loose.

Our guides to when soft toys and comforters are safe to introduce and the best toys for babies under 6 months go into more detail.

❤️ From our family to yours

Carefully chosen products for babies, toddlers and parents. Browse more cuddly toys — free UK delivery on orders over £25.