Laura’s handmade teddies: a small keepsake making a big difference
- oliviawilson46
- Aug 26
- 2 min read
For almost nine years, Laura has been a foster carer with Fostering Rotherham, opening her home to children who need somewhere safe and caring to stay. But Laura does something extra special for the children who come into her care…
“[Fostering] was something I’d always wanted to do,” Laura says. “When my eldest little girl was born, I started making her personalised little teddies for her first Christmas and to mark her arrival.”
Many of Laura’s friends also foster babies, and they loved the idea. So, Laura began making teddies for other children in care: “We’d have birth bears, where I’d put their name, the time they were born, the day they were born, and how much they weighed. These go in their little memory boxes so that, when they move on from living with the foster carers - whether they go back home or move somewhere else - they go with them. It’s got all their birth details on, because it’s nice for them to know that when they grow up and get a bit older.”
And Laura doesn’t stop there. At Christmas, she creates “My First Christmas” reindeer teddies, with the child’s name and the year and, as Easter approaches, she crafts “My First Easter” rabbit teddies too. “Not all kids who come into care have many possessions or belongings,” Laura says. “Sometimes it’s just nice for them to have something that’s specifically theirs - especially something with their name on it. It shows that they’ve been thought about, that they’re cared for, and that they own that. It’s theirs. It’s not going to get taken away from them. Wherever they go next, it goes with them.”
Laura’s handmade bears are more than just cuddly toys. They’re a reminder that every child in her care is special and looked after. Her hope is that these bears become cherished keepsakes that travel with them on their journey.
Laura’s story is just one of many that show how fostering can change the lives of foster carers, as well as the children in their care! If you’re inspired by her story and would like to find out more about fostering, book a call with our team.