One third of adults can't sleep without a bear hug

It’s not just kids who neeed a bedtime cuddle from the favourite bear to send them to slumber, one third of British adults also rely on a bedtime bear hug, according to research by UK budget hotel brand Travelodge.

The survey conducted with 6000 Britons revealed 35% of adults admitted they sleep with their teddy because they found cuddling the bear comforting. Also the calming feeling of a bear hug also helps them to de-stress after a hard day – which aids sleep.

The survey was conducted to investigate the nation’s fascination with sleeping with a teddy bear. As in the last 12 months, the hotel chain has had to reunite more than 75,000 forgotten cuddly bears that have been left in its 452 hotels with their owners.

Research findings also revealed 25% of male respondents reported they take their teddy bear away with them when going away on business. As it reminds them of home and a bear cuddle helps them to nod off as they miss a bedtime cuddle from their partner.

Corrine Sweet, psychologist, said: “Cuddling a teddy bear is an important part of our national psyche as it evokes a sense of peace, security and comfort. It’s human nature to crave these feelings from childhood to adult life.”

Further findings from the research revealed that more than half of British adults (51%) still have a teddy bear from their childhood and Briton’s average teddy bear is 27 years old.

One in 10 single men surveyed admitted they hide their teddy bear when their girlfriend stays over. As many as 14% of married men reported they hide their teddy bear in the wardrobe or under the bed when any family and friends come to visit.

Interestingly more men at 15% compared to 10% of women reported they treat their teddy as their best friend and will share their intimate secrets with their bear.

Also over a quarter (26%) of male respondents stated it is quite acceptable to have a bear regardless of your age.

Dawn James, Arctophile and editor of Teddy Bear Times said: “Teddy Bears represent happiness and security in childhood. They are the best friend that always listens and never criticises. This is why so many adults hang on to their childhood bears, because they see them as a lifelong friend.”

“The popularity of teddy bears is going from strength to strength. There are collectors across the UK who have thousands of bears in their houses.”

The research also looked into which bear has the ‘Zzz ‘factor and is the nation’s favourite bedtime bear. Topping the ‘Zzz’ factor bear poll was the traditional teddy bear – which has also appeared in cult TV programmes such as: Playschool (Big Little Ted), Andy Pandy (Teddy) and Brideshead Revisted (Aloysius.)

Click through to the next page for the nation's all-time top 10 favourite cuddly bears:

Top 10 favourite cuddly bears...

- The classic teddy bear
- Winnie the Pooh
- Paddington Bear
- Tatty Bear
- Sooty
- Care Bears
- Yogi Bear
- Fozzie Bear
- Rupert the Bear
- Super Ted Baloo

Other key findings from the research were:

- Over a quarter of adults 26% use a teddy bear hot water bottle so that they can have a warm bear hug to help them nod off.

- Fourteen per cent of parents surveyed said they had passed down their favourite teddy bear to their children as a keepsake.

- Eight out of 10 parents reported the first toy they brought their child was a teddy bear

- 62% of parents said it is important for a child to grow up owning and loving a teddy bear as it helps them to develop a more caring nature.