What to do when a favorite toy needs fixing? (stuffed animal)?

Question

Ok my 3 year old daughter has had her teddy bear for 2 1/2 years and the time has finally come for me to re-stuff her!!! The bear that is! Now what I want to know is, do any of you have any idea of how to:

1.) Properly re-stuff her (the bear) without leaving a huge seam down the back

and

2.) Do it in a way that wont freak my daughter out (you know the whole cutting her best friend open thing)

I am a seamstress so I can easily use my sewing machine on it if you all think that is best, if not I can also hand sew the only problem is that I have never worked on toys before.

Please HELP!!! This bear really needs it!!!

Answer 1

You could try build a bear and see if they could stuff it our or see if you can get a similar one like it.

Answer 2

I would pick a seam that is already there and  rip the seam and use the opening to restuff. That way the new seam is where an old one was and maybe not so noticable. I would also hand sew that way the stitches don't sow

Answer 3

well I'd probably hand sew it depending on the size. Also I would stuff it from another seem that you could just open up. As far as your daughter being scared for her bear, do it when she's not watching(that mite scare her more) and when you take the bear to fix it tell her the bear is going to the bear hospital and maybe even put a banage on him when you first give him back then she can take it off and see that he's all better.