Quoted in Midday on Sleep and transitional objects
- Thought Matters
- Jun 2
- 2 min read
📰 Quoted in Midday today in an article by Anindita Paul on sleep quality and the psychology behind soft sleep companions.
🧸💤 Did you know? Around 20–30% of adults sleep with a soft toy or weighted blanket — and it’s backed by science. It’s not just about nostalgia — it’s about comfort, emotional regulation, and better sleep quality. Your brain craves safety while you rest. 🧠💖
As Dr Nahid Dave, psychiatrist at Thought Matters, explains, “As children grow up, they turn to a transitional object — typically a preferred toy — that helps them to transition from their dependency on the mother or the primary caregiver to self-soothing. As we grow older, we learn to soothe our own emotions. But we also develop different attachment styles and different personalities. For some people, the presence of a transitional object offers a sense of calmness.”
“Biologically, hugging, cuddling, or stroking a soft toy can activate the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, which helps calm the heart rate. But any form of attachment triggers a dopamine kick, as well as a surge of serotonin when you are in the presence of the person or object. Over time, these hormones are replaced by oxytocin, which creates a sense of security,” says Dr Dave.
Dr Dave notes that a marked preference for a soft toy is more common in individuals with an anxious attachment style. “They are constantly afraid of abandonment or they’ve had experiences where they’ve trusted somebody who has left them for some reason. The toys offer a sense of permanence; a sense that they will not be abandoned. Similarly, individuals with an avoidant attachment style, who shy away from all forms of closeness, may still unconsciously have the desire to be held and to be close to somebody. So, in that case, you know, the stuffed animal or a transitional object helps to fulfil that need,” she clarifies.
Although Dr Dave says that it isn’t common, an overreliance on soft toys can become a problem if you are unable to sleep or function in that presence, or need one particular toy to feel yourself. “This could mean that you are depending more on that object than what it provides. However, I don’t see a problem with using a stuffed animal or a weighted blanket or something to calm or soothe yourself at bedtime. Such objects are just a psychological additive to improve the quality of your sleep,” she concludes
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