Today, the plush toy market is brimming with a dazzling array of options, and prices vary widely. For babies, entertainment comes second—safety always comes first. Yet, determining whether a toy is good quality or not remains a real headache for many parents.

Today, I’ll teach you five tips to help you learn how to tell the quality of plush toys:

1. First, check whether the craftsmanship is meticulous and if the design is stylish and adorable. Typically, larger manufacturers put significant effort into designing their plush toys, while smaller factories often just copy others' designs—often using inferior materials and producing toys with rough, subpar workmanship that end up looking downright unappealing. That’s why, when choosing a plush toy, you shouldn’t rely solely on size or price. In toy wholesale markets, you’ll notice that the same store might carry dozens of different plush dog models, all measuring 30 cm in height—but their prices can range dramatically, from as low as 10 yuan to as high as 50 yuan. You’ll quickly realize that the more beautiful and charming a toy appears, the higher its price tends to be. This is because better materials are used, more attention is paid to intricate details, and the overall craftsmanship is refined—and these factors naturally require greater investment in both labor and resources.

2. Does it feel good in the hands, and how is the material chosen? High-quality plush toys typically feature an outer fabric that’s ultra-soft, tightly woven, and densely packed with fibers—so dense that you can’t see the texture of the backing fabric underneath. The result is a wonderfully soft and incredibly comfortable feel; you can even press it against your face to experience its gentle, soothing touch. In contrast, cheaper toys often use shorter-pile fabrics with sparser fibers, allowing the backing material to peek through. These tend to feel firmer—and when held against your skin, they might even leave a slightly prickly sensation.

3. Check the filling material. High-quality plush toys are typically stuffed with clean, white PP cotton, which easily recovers its shape even if compressed during transit. Simply press it with your hand—it should feel wonderfully springy and resilient. In contrast, lower-quality toys often use inferior, blackened cotton or are filled with significantly less PP cotton—often only about half the amount found in better-made toys. When you press these cheaper options, they lack that same bouncy, elastic feel altogether.

4. Check the price—again and again. When shopping, don’t go for the most expensive option, but don’t fall into the trap of grabbing the cheapest item either, as it might be substandard. Generally speaking, products that cost a bit more are likely to be better quality than their cheaper counterparts. Poor-quality plush toys tend to get dirty easily, breeding bacteria that can harm your health—especially for children, who often put them in their mouths. Toys that easily pick up dirt or shed fur are particularly unsuitable for kids to play with.

Look for brands and retailers. Typically, products from reputable brands come with guaranteed quality and are subject to stringent channel controls. Major retailers usually source only these reliable, authentic items. To uphold their own credibility, big-name merchants often implement rigorous quality checks on everything they sell, ensuring that no counterfeit or imitation products ever make it to the shelves—providing consumers with an extra layer of assurance.