A teddy bear is a stuffed toy in the form of a bear. Developed simultaneously by toymakers Morris Michtom in the U.S. and Richard Steiff in Germany in the early 20th century, the teddy bear, so named after President Theodore Roosevelt, became a popular children's toy and has been celebrated in story, song, and film.
Early teddy bears were made to look like real bears, with extended snouts and beady eyes. Modern teddy bears tend to have larger eyes and foreheads and smaller noses, with babylike features intended to make the bear cuter.
Teddy bears are among the most popular gifts for children and are often given to adults to signify affection, congratulations, or sympathy.
Teddy bears are also designed to represent different species, such as polar bears, brown bears, pandas and koalas.
While early teddy bears were covered in tawny mohair fur, modern teddy bears are manufactured in a wide variety of commercially available fabrics such as synthetic fur, velour, denim, cotton, satin and canvas.
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