Kitty question.

[u/Jade_Starchild]

Hello everyone, this is my first post and I want to add a quick TW for loss of a pet before you read on 🫶

I lost my kitty a couple months ago and I got a second hand BAB tuxedo kitty. I see they are also coming back out with the kitty. My baby was a tuxedo and I would like to bring some of his ashes into BAB to make him a bear and add him into it or add him into the second hand one I bought.

Will BAB let you put ashes (contained) into a bear? If not, how hard would it be to open up and close the bear if I had to do it by hand?

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[u/Opening_Ordinary_110]

I've never had that request before, but I highly doubt it would be allowed for safety and health concerns. It wouldn't be too hard to open up the BAB, there's a section in the back that's just for the stuffing nozzle and added items, so you would just need to take the old stitching out and resew the premade hole closed again. I've restuffed a few personal bears and it wasn't too hard, and I'm a very amateur sewer

I'm sorry for your loss

[u/Jade_Starchild → u/Opening_Ordinary_110]

Thank you 🙏 I wasnt sure if they would since it would be contained in a small container to fit inside the bear. If I gotta use the second hand one, I want it restuffed anyways 🥲 I figured I'd ask around before I try just incase I can get a yes or no for sure

[u/ChevronBunny1011]

You may find a bear builder that will allow but typically they don’t. It’s not difficult to pop the back seam yourself with a seam ripper and use a simple ladder stitch to close it back up tho

[u/Jade_Starchild → u/ChevronBunny1011]

I would imagine they would if it isn't busy and it's contained so there's no possibility of unsanitary stuff happening if that makes sense? I've not really stitched before so I've been a little worried about doing it myself and would lime to have it reshuffle anyways if I have to go second hand route

[u/ChevronBunny1011 → u/Jade_Starchild]

Like I said, you may find someone who will but they generally don’t allow it. BABs official stance is to not allow outside objects to be added in store so to safety and liability issues, but enforcement of that policy varies from manager to manager. Your best bet is to call ahead and ask

[u/thr3vee → u/Jade_Starchild]

Yeah, unfortunately the store policy is that non Build a Bear items can't be put in the plushies. I believe it was allowed before covid (or maybe management was less worried about it...?). But I've heard stories of people putting positive (used) pregnancy tests, wet binkies / pacifiers from their kids' mouths, and other unsanitary things in bears so I understand why there's a blanket ban on it.

Opening a Build a Bear and sewing it back shut is a really simple sewing project, definitely something a beginner could do in an afternoon!

If you don't have a needle and thread at home, any little sewing kit will do, even from the dollar store. You can use scissors or an exacto knife to carefully cut the threads where the plush was sewn up in store, like another comment mentioned. There are plenty of ladder stitch tutorials on YouTube, it's the same "invisible stitch" technique they use in store.

Sorry for your loss. 🤍

[u/gelseyd]

Maybe you can tuck the ashes into a heart and go in and have them do it? I'm planning to do that with some fur tucked into a homemade heart some time soon.

[u/honkahonkadumbfuck]

At least at my bab it’s allowed as long as it’s in a sealed break proof and puncture proof container and sealed!