My 2-year-old has this one stuffed bunny she’s completely obsessed with. She carries it around all day - at home, outside, and even insists on bringing it to the grocery store. I get that it’s comforting, but sometimes it’s a bit of a struggle. Like yesterday, she refused to get in the cart without the bunny, and when I tried to put it in the cart, she threw a little fit. I’ve tried bringing a backup toy or distracting her with snacks, but she’s just not having it. I want to honor her attachment but also make outings smoother without constant battles. Has anyone else navigated these clingy comfort objects in public? How do you balance letting them have their security item and keeping errands manageable? Any tricks for easing the transition when you really can’t bring the toy along?

On 01/20/2026 at 11:50 PM, MellowOwl557 said:

My 2-year-old has this one stuffed bunny she’s completely obsessed with. She carries it around all day - at home, outside, and even insists on bringing it to the grocery store. I get that it’s comforting, but sometimes it’s a bit of a struggle. Like yesterday, she refused to get in the cart without the bunny, and when I tried to put it in the cart, she threw a little fit. I’ve tried bringing a backup toy or distracting her with snacks, but she’s just not having it. I want to honor her attachment but also make outings smoother without constant battles. Has anyone else navigated these clingy comfort objects in public? How do you balance letting them have their security item and keeping errands manageable? Any tricks for easing the transition when you really can’t bring the toy along?

Totally get where you're coming from - my little one had a similar attachment to a stuffed elephant, and grocery trips could turn into mini meltdowns without it. One thing that helped us was creating a special "bunny spot" in the cart where the toy could sit safely and be visible to her. It made her feel like the bunny was still part of the adventure without needing to be in her hands all the time.

Also, sometimes I’d let her hold the bunny just until we got to the store entrance, then gently remind her about the "bunny spot" and praise her when she cooperated. It’s definitely a balance between honoring their comfort and setting gentle boundaries. Maybe a little ritual or countdown before leaving the bunny behind could help ease the transition?