Big news! On February 28, 2025, Emotional Baggage™ by Solobo Toys was awarded Best Plush Toy of the Year at the 2025 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards! Hosted by The Toy Foundation, the TOTY Awards—often called the “Oscars of the Toy Industry”—celebrate the most innovative and impactful toys of the year.
This year’s ceremony, held in New York City, featured fierce competition across all categories. Emotional Baggage™ stood out in the plush toy category, going head-to-head with household names like Disney, Spin Master, and Moose Toys—and still came out on top!
Beating the Big Names
As a small, neurodivergent-owned business, winning against some of the biggest toy companies in the world makes this victory even more meaningful. The Plush Toy of the Year category featured incredible contenders, including:
- Disney Shoulder Plush by Disney Consumer Products
- FurReal Peanut the Playful Monkey by Just Play
- Ms. Rachel Speak & Sing Doll by Spin Master
- Fahlo Animal Tracking Plush by Fahlo
- Little Live Pets My Baby Monkey by Moose Toys
-
Hello Kitty Loves Cheer Bear 10" Collectible Care Bears Plush 2-Pack by Basic Fun!
For Solobo Toys, this award proves that innovation, inclusivity, and purpose-driven design can compete—and win—against industry giants.
Why Emotional Baggage™?
Emotional Baggage™ is more than just a plush toy—it’s a tool for stress relief, emotional self-regulation, and sensory exploration. The set includes eight soft, emotion plushies that fit neatly inside a sturdy canvas “emotional baggage” bag. Emotional Baggage™ provides a fun and approachable way to talk about emotions.
Since its launch, Emotional Baggage™ has been loved by kids, teens, young adults, parents, educators, and therapists, proving that emotional intelligence can be playful, engaging, and accessible for all kinds of learners at any age.
A Big Moment for Solobo Toys
For Solobo Toys, this win is about more than just an award—it’s about continuing to bring the world exceptional learning through play.
“As a neurodivergent-owned company, we’ve always focused on creating inclusive, expert-backed toys that meet kids where they are,” says Courtney Peebles, Founder of Solobo Toys. “We designed Emotional Baggage™ as a fun extension to our existing line of emotion-based toys. Winning Best Plush Toy of the Year at the TOTY Awards is an incredible honor, and we’re so grateful to The Toy Foundation, and everyone who has supported this toy!”
What’s Next?
Winning a TOTY Award is just the beginning for Emotional Baggage™! Solobo Toys remains committed to creating products that offer simple play and exceptional learning.
Want to bring Emotional Baggage™ home? Shop now at solobotoys.com and see why it’s the plush toy of the year!
