A soft minky lovey (small security blanket) featuring an alphabet of Australian animals. This lovey will measure approximately 17 by 25.5 inches. It's made with wonderfully soft fabrics... a smooth minky fabric on the front that's custom printed in the USA using eco-friendly processes and is exclusive (not available in physical stores), with your choice of cuddle minky or faux fur on the back. (The minky backing may be smooth or cuddle dot depending on availability. If you have a preference, please let me know in Notes to Seller when you make the purchase.) The colors print vibrantly on minky and don't fade with washing. Add a name embroidered on your lovey (Personalization): https://www.etsy.com/listing/727102746/personalized-embroidery-added-to-your?ref=listings_manager_grid Fabric designer: Sydney Australia artist Cecilia Mok (ceciliamok on Spoonflower) Design: Australian Animals Tea Towel Main colors: Beige background with black, white, oranges, browns, greens, grays, blue, and pink Click here for more Australia items... https://www.etsy.com/shop/HeritageHomeGoodsCO?ref=seller-platform-mcnav&search_query=australia FAQ: - What is a lovey? * A lovey is a mini-blanket meant to be used by a baby or toddler for calming and self-soothing. The ideal lovey is soft, not too big, and doesn't make any noise. When your little one starts walking, you'll find that the lovey is small enough that it doesn't get dragged on the ground. It's also the perfect size to tuck into a diaper bag or purse; * Scent is a powerful soother. Mom (or caregiver) should sleep with the lovey for a couple of nights before transferring it to baby. The scent of the loved one will comfort baby during the night, during naptimes, while away from the caregiver, or in distressing times like learning a new skill or traveling. * When we adopted our son, my husband and I slept with a couple of loveys close to our skin for several nights, then gave them to our son when we visited him in Guatemala at 2 months and 6 months of age. By the time we were able to bring him home at 11 months of age, he was fully attached to them... and remained attached to them through age 4! He carried them everywhere, slept with them, and slid the edges through his thumb and forefinger to calm himself. * Pro tip: Have two loveys that are exactly alike so that when one is in the wash, your little one has another to hold onto. Use them equally since little ones are sensitive to smell and touch, and they'll prefer one over the other if they aren't equally used. - Are there other uses for loveys? * Loveys can be soothing for people with Alzheimer's or dementia, or with certain special needs. The different textures can be calming and keep hands busy. * Loveys can be wonderful memorials of loved ones that have passed... something soft to snuggle with when remembering the loved one. As someone who's lost multiple babies to miscarriage, I know how comforting it is to have something to hold when mourning the loss. * Loveys can be beautiful as home decor. They're small, and they look cute hanging up on a wall, as a table topper for a tiny side table, or tossed over the back of a chair. - What are the differences between the minky and faux fur backings? I only use high-quality minky and faux fur for my backings. Minky has a soft, silky feel and is considered a medium-weight fabric (7 to 9.5 oz/yd²). The kind I use for blanket backings is either smooth or textured with raised dots. It has a 3mm pile, so it's not plush, but is more like a thicker, softer flannel. You can machine-wash blankets with this backing and dry them on a low to medium setting. Faux fur is incredibly silky and is considered a heavyweight fabric (12 to 12.5 oz/yd²) It has a wavy texture with a 10mm pile. You can machine-wash blankets with this backing and you can dry them on a low setting or air dry them. *********************** It takes several weeks for the specialty fabric to be printed and made into a beautiful gift especially for you. The lovey will ship for free to US addresses by USPS First Class Mail. I refund shipping overages to buyers outside the USA. Need something sooner? Check out our blankets and loveys that are ready to ship within 1-3 days here... * Blankets - RTS: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HeritageHomeGoodsCO?ref=seller-platform-mcnav§ion_id=29015513 * Quilts - RTS: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HeritageHomeGoodsCO?ref=seller-platform-mcnav§ion_id=29015597 * Loveys - RTS: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HeritageHomeGoodsCO?ref=seller-platform-mcnav§ion_id=29015517 www.HeritageHomeGoodsCO.etsy.com