Part of being a toy industry entrepreneur is paying attention to the toy industry trends. There will always be dolls, action figures, and board games, but new categories come and go too. Some of these new categories are passing fads, while others stick around forever. I’ve been noticing a fad that I think will be here for the long haul. I think there is a huge opportunity here for toy inventors to take advantage of this new space and create amazing products that will make a big difference in people’s lives. So, what is this new category?

What Are Wellness and Comfort Toys?

The wellness and comfort toy category goes by many names, but that is the one most commonly seen in the toy industry. Other names you might see for this category include:

• Comfort toys

• Health and wellness toys

• Toys for anxiety

• Mindfulness toys

• Purpose toys

These toys have some kind of wellness function beyond the potential of fun. These toys help to ease physical discomfort or pain, help with anxiety, and lower stress. And, they’re not just for kids either! Many of these toys are marketed toward adults. For example, there is a toy marketed towards adults called Menstruation Crustacean which is a cute stuffed lobster with a heating pad that can ease menstrual cramps.

This trend grew out of the fidget spinner fad that took the world by storm in 2017. Throughout 2020, stress and anxiety have grown in the world for both kids and adults. Additionally, using stuffed animals for comfort as an adult is seen as more accepted than it used to be, though not by everyone. So, it only makes sense that inventive toy industry thinkers would come up with products for both kids and adults to help with that increased stress.

4 Wellness and Comfort Toys To Inspire Your Toy Inventions

If you want to get involved in this space, I see the biggest opportunity in plushies. They have always been used for comfort by children, and are seen as a comforting objects in general. What features can you add to make it even more comforting and stress-relieving? Here are some inspiring products to take notes on:

1. Menstruation Crustacean by What Do You Meme

This silly and cute-looking lobster has a heatable insert that turns it into a heating pad. It’s intended for menstrual cramps but you can also use it for anything else that ails you. Its cute and comforting nature may add to the pain relief.

2. Hugimals by Hugimal World

Many people have found using a weighted blanket helps to ease anxiety. But, weighted blankets are heavy and you might get too hot while sleeping under one all night. These plushies take that idea and combine it with an adorable stuffed animal to solve those problems. They are weighted plushies that come in four different options: a bear, an elephant, a sloth, and a puppy. They are portable and less hot to sleep with than a weighted blanket.

3. The Meditation Mouse by Fisher Price

Learning to wind down after a busy day of playing can be a challenge for some toddlers. The meditation mouse helps with this process. It is in the form of a cute, squishable mouse. It comes with three different meditation programs that are accessible to kids between two and five years old. 

4. Zenimal

This standalone device offers a screen-free way for both kids and adults to experience meditation. The kids' version comes in a cute turtle shape and comes pre-programmed with 9 meditation sequences. The kids' version is for children between ages five and 13. The other version is not in an animal shape and is for teens and adults ages 13 and up.

Did these examples inspire you to come up with your own toy in the wellness and comfort category? I hope so. If you would like to develop that idea and get the opportunity to pitch it to retailers and toy companies, I want to invite you to join my online group coaching program that lasts for 12 weeks and includes live support from me, and nine modules of information on how to develop and pitch your product. If you’re interested in learning more, please visit the Toy Creators Academy.