It all started when Tina — the HC site lead — dropped a photo of an adorable stuffed dinosaur into the HC Edit Team work chat. Then, just five minutes later, Allison — the Director of Content Strategy — announced that she bought the dinosaur. What followed was a revolution: Zoë, Ellie, Erika, Tina, and I all decided to drop $20 on a stuffed dinosaur. Yes, within a span of 20 minutes, the entire HC Edit Team decided to buy a dinosaur stuffed animal. The Her Campus Edit Team reached out to Erica, an Edit Team Member, to find out if she is planning to buy the plushie, but did not hear back by the time of publication.
Regardless, I know that the HC plushie obsession is justified. I mean, just look at this ‘lil cutie.
If you’re wondering why HC Edit is freaking out about this plushie, I’ll break it down for you. The Dinosaur Weighted Plush Throw Pillow (Target, $20) went viral over the summer on TikTok. The #dinoplush has over 11.3 million views, and consists of TikTok users showing off their adorable weighted plushies. However, according to TikTok and Target user reviews, these plushies do more than just look cute — they actually might help with anxiety.
“I’m in my late twenties and I suffer from severe anxiety,” one reviewer wrote. “These are the best things to ever happen to me.”
All jokes aside, weighted plushies (and blankets) have actually been proven to help with things like anxiety, trouble sleeping, and stress relief. Target also states that this plushie is “sensory friendly“, which means that it’s safe for children (and adults!) that may have sensory sensitivities. And while the adorable look of the plushie is enough to bring any of us serotonin, it’s their mental health benefits that really make them worth buying.
Due to their popularity, the plushies have been out of stock for quite some time — until now. On Target’s website, you can purchase the plushie for just $20. The best part? This three-pound plushie is available as a green dino, a pink dino, a cheetah, and even an adorable white unicorn. While the plushies are marketed for a child’s room, I think it’s perfect for any twenty-something that needs a bit of comfort as well. IMO, buy it now before the HC Editorial Team buys them all.
