The heartbeat stuffed animal: keep your baby's sound forever
There is a sound almost every expectant parent never wants to forget. That fast, rhythmic beating during the ultrasound. Heard for the very first time, full of promise. A heartbeat stuffed animal makes it possible to preserve exactly that sound in something you can hold, cuddle, and give to your child. In this article you will find out how it works, why it is so special, and how to make one yourself or give it as a gift.
What is a heartbeat stuffed animal?
A heartbeat stuffed animal is a soft plush toy with a built-in sound module. That module stores a sound, and whenever someone gently squeezes the animal, it plays back. With a heartbeat stuffed animal, the stored sound is the baby's real heartbeat, recorded during an ultrasound or with a home doppler.
The result is a stuffed animal that not only feels soft, but literally carries your little one's heart with it.
How does a heartbeat stuffed animal differ from a regular one?
A regular stuffed animal is comforting, but it could have belonged to anyone. A heartbeat stuffed animal cannot. It carries the sound of that baby, recorded at that one moment. That makes it unique in a way no other gift can match. No two heartbeat stuffed animals sound the same, because every baby has its own rhythm. It is not just a stuffed animal. It is a preserved moment.
Why record a heartbeat in a stuffed animal?
Pregnancy goes fast. Faster than you expect. The sound of the ultrasound disappears the moment you leave the midwife's practice, unless you capture it. A heartbeat stuffed animal is a way to preserve that moment in something that truly lives. Not as a file on your phone you rarely find again, but as something tangible you can touch every day.
Parents choose a heartbeat stuffed animal for various reasons:
- As a memory of the pregnancy, for themselves or for the child later
- As comfort for the baby after birth, the familiar sound of mama's or papa's heart
- As a special baby shower gift for expectant parents you want to surprise
- As a pregnancy gift, something that truly has meaning
The sound a child recognises
Research shows that babies listen while still in the womb. They recognise sounds they heard before birth, including heartbeats and voices. A stuffed animal with a familiar sound can therefore have a calming effect after birth. Many parents place the animal in the cot or send it along when the child goes to the babysitter.
How do you make a heartbeat stuffed animal?
You need two things: a recording of the heartbeat and a stuffed animal with a sound module.
Step 1: Recording the heartbeat
The most common ways to make a heartbeat recording:
- During the ultrasound: Ask the midwife or gynaecologist whether you may record the sound with your phone. Most care providers are happy with this. Place your phone close to the speaker and record. You can also bring the voice recorder from the stuffed animal itself to the ultrasound and record the heartbeat directly by pressing it in front of the speaker.
- With a home doppler: A doppler is a device that lets you listen to the heartbeat yourself at home. You can record the sound at the same time via your phone.
- Via an ultrasound studio: Some studios offer 3D and 4D ultrasounds where you can receive a sound recording.
Make sure the recording is clearly audible, without too much background noise. A recording of 20 to 30 seconds is ideal.
Step 2: Putting the recording in the stuffed animal
Every Hugify stuffed animal contains a heart-shaped sound module. You can record it yourself by pressing the module and speaking your message, or you send the file via WhatsApp and we put it in the module for you.
The brown teddy bear with voice recording is a popular choice for heartbeat stuffed animals, precisely because the classic look and warm sound complement each other so well. The bunny and the koala are also frequently chosen as the base for a heartbeat stuffed animal.
Heartbeat stuffed animal as a baby shower gift
Choosing a baby shower gift can be tricky. Clothes get too small. Toys they already have. But a heartbeat stuffed animal is something parents would never buy themselves, something truly unique, and something a child can keep for a lifetime.
If you are looking for a baby shower gift that really makes an impression, a heartbeat stuffed animal is one of the most personal options available. Especially if you take the effort to record the heartbeat yourself, or ask the parents to send their ultrasound recording.
Combining the heartbeat stuffed animal with a personal message
An option many people choose: combine the heartbeat recording with a short spoken message. For example the baby's name, the date of birth, or a sentence from the parents they want to carry with them always. The sound module can record up to 30 seconds, so there is room for both.
Mybabysheartbeat and the heartbeat stuffed animal
When searching for a heartbeat stuffed animal you will quickly come across names like mybabysheartbeat. At The Hugify it works the same way. You use any sound you already have, a recording from the midwife, an ultrasound recording made at home, or a combination with a spoken message.
Heartbeat stuffed animal as a pregnancy gift at a baby shower
A baby shower is about celebrating the new life that is on its way. A heartbeat stuffed animal fits perfectly. It is not just a gift. It is a moment you capture before the baby arrives.
Tips for a heartbeat stuffed animal as a baby shower gift:
- Ask the expectant parents whether they have an ultrasound recording you may use.
- Choose a stuffed animal that suits the nursery or the personal preference of the parents.
- Add a card with the date of the ultrasound and the week of pregnancy.
- Optionally combine with a personal greeting card for a complete gift.
What else can you record in a Hugify stuffed animal?
The sound module is flexible. Besides a heartbeat recording you can also record:
- A song you sang a lot during the pregnancy
- The voice of grandma or grandpa recording an early message for the baby
- A spoken letter to your child, to play back later
The stuffed animals with voice recording from The Hugify are therefore not just a heartbeat stuffed animal, but a real time capsule in stuffed animal form.
FAQ: everything about the heartbeat stuffed animal
Can I record the ultrasound heartbeat in a stuffed animal? Yes. Record the sound during the ultrasound with your phone, or ask the midwife for a recording. Then send the file via WhatsApp to The Hugify and we will put it in the sound module.
How long can the recording be? The sound module records up to 30 seconds. That is enough for a heartbeat recording combined with a short message.
How is the recording played back? By gently squeezing the stuffed animal. The sound plays through the heart-shaped module in the belly of the stuffed animal.
Is the stuffed animal safe for newborns? The stuffed animals are made of soft, high-quality polyester. Always supervise use by newborns and remove the sound module when the stuffed animal is in the cot.
Can I replace the recording later? Yes. The sound module is accessible via a velcro closure in the stuffed animal. You can re-record it by pressing it for a long time and making a new recording.
How quickly is the stuffed animal delivered? Ordered on working days before 17:00, the stuffed animal is shipped the same day.
What if the recording is not clear enough? Send the recording via WhatsApp and we will listen along and give advice. If needed we will ask for a new recording before filling the module.
Can I also record the voice of grandma or grandpa instead of a heartbeat? Absolutely. The module works for any sound. Many people choose the voice of a grandparent as the first message to the child.
What is the difference between mybabysheartbeat and The Hugify? Mybabysheartbeat is a well-known concept for heartbeat stuffed animals. At The Hugify you use any sound you already have, including ultrasound recordings, and we deliver within the Netherlands the next working day.
Which stuffed animals are available at The Hugify? You can choose from the brown teddy bear, pink bear, blue bear, bunny, sloth, giraffe, koala and panda. Every animal is available with a personal sound recording.
Conclusion
A heartbeat stuffed animal is more than a stuffed animal. It is a preserved moment, the first sound of your child, captured in something soft and tangible. Whether you make it for yourself as a memory of the pregnancy, or give it as a special baby shower gift or pregnancy gift, the effect is the same. Someone holds something that truly has meaning.
At The Hugify you easily make your own heartbeat stuffed animal. Choose your stuffed animal, send your recording, and we will take care of the rest. Browse the stuffed animals with voice recording and make today a gift that will never be forgotten.
