FAQ

Comfort Kids are handmade dolls designed to be huggable and cute. They're given to DSS and different organizations to distribute to children who are facing a lot of stress, such as transitioning to foster care.

You can read more about Comfort Kids here.

Comfort Kids are made from sturdy cotton-blend fabrics and anti-allergenic polyfiber fill (we prefer to use Poly-Fil Original/Premium Polyester Fiber Fill as the doll-specific fills are too crunchy.)

Comfort Kids are given to kids of all ages, so please avoid choking hazards such as buttons. These dolls should also be washable, and we request that paint and makeup are not used on the dolls.

Have fun and be creative! All of the dolls should be a little unique and made with a lot of love.

We tend to prefer contemporary styles and to avoid antique or Raggedy-Ann styles as they can be perceived as scary.

We also try to avoid using fabrics with licensed characters, sports teams, holiday-specific patterns, or patterns that could cause distress (like realistic bees or angry-looking dinosaurs). The fabric should also be washable and must be safe for a child to play with, so glittery fabrics or fabrics with a strong formaldehyde odor should not be used.

Some fun creative outfits we've had in the past were a puppy-themed shirt and overalls, space onesies, and princess pajamas. You can contact us for simple clothes patterns, but feel free to modify them and have fun with it!

As well as being fun toys to play with, Comfort Kids are helpful psychological and comforting tools. These dolls are made to look like the child receiving it, and unlike many dolls, they are stuffed with a lot of stuffing for a soft firm body to cling to in times of stress.

You do not need to know how to sew in order to help with this doll ministry. We have occassional stuffing parties and have other tasks like cutting fabric. If you don't have a sewing machine but you can hand-sew, you can create appliques for the overalls.

Learn more about ways you can help here.

Yes we do! Please ensure that all fabrics and materials are clean and unused. Although you might want to clear your attic of the old fabric that's stored there, please make sure that there aren't any stains or strong smells as we cannot use it.

If you would like to donate a new bag of stuffing, we use Poly-Fil Original/Premium Polyester Fiber Fill (not the doll-specific kind).