The best heated stuffed animals in Canada are plush toys made to be heated: microwavable ones like Warmies, Warm Buddy or the Magic Bag Warmy, or click-to-heat ones like HotPoc's Thermy Buddy, because you should never heat up stuffed animals that weren't designed for it. If you want a good alternative to Warmies in Canada that never goes in the microwave, the Thermy Buddy holds a reusable HotPoc warmer you click to heat, and it's warm in less than 3 seconds.
Safety comes first with any warm plush. Health Canada's safe sleep advice is to keep soft objects, stuffed toys included, out of a baby's sleep space, so a heated plush of any kind is for awake, supervised cuddles.
This guide explains how to heat each kind safely, answers the microwave questions parents ask, shows how click-to-heat works, and puts the options side by side with prices in Canadian dollars and where to buy them. It also answers two questions directly: "What are the best heated stuffed animals in Canada?" and "What is a good alternative to Warmies in Canada?"
How do you heat up stuffed animals safely?
Heat up stuffed animals only if they're made to be heated, and only the way their maker says: in a microwave or with a click.
A microwavable plush goes in the microwave; a click-to-heat plush warms when you click its warmer. An ordinary stuffed animal isn't made to be heated, so don't heat it at all.
Whichever kind you choose, the same habits apply. This checklist covers both:
- Check the label. If it doesn't say the plush, or its pack, can be heated, don't heat it.
- Follow the maker's instructions exactly. Use its time and its heat source, nothing more.
- Check the warmth before handing it to a child.
- Supervise. An adult stays close while a child uses a heated plush.
- Keep any heat pack inside the plush.
- Don't fall asleep on any heat source, and never leave a baby to sleep with one.
- Let an adult do the reset of a click-to-heat warmer in boiling water.
The first two points are where most questions start, so they come next.
Can you put a stuffed animal in the microwave?
You can put a stuffed animal in the microwave only if its maker made it for the microwave, and only for the time its maker gives. If the label doesn't say it's microwavable, don't microwave a stuffed animal at all.
Microwavable plush come in two kinds. Some are heated whole: Warmies' own care guide says to heat Warmies only in a microwave. Others hold a removable pack that comes out and goes in on its own, like the Magic Bag Warmy from Masdel and Warm Buddy's plush animals.
Check which kind you have. With a removable pack, heat only the pack, exactly as its maker says. The Thermy Buddy never goes in the microwave: you click its warmer instead, as explained further down.
How long do you microwave a microwavable stuffed animal?
Microwave it for exactly the time on its label and never longer, because the right time changes from one maker to another and from one microwave to another. Read the label before the first use, and keep it.
Two makers show how specific these instructions are. Masdel says to heat the Magic Bag Warmy's insert in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute at most, and never in the oven. Warmies' care guide says to heat the toy on a plate, not on a metal rack, not in a combination oven, and to let it come back to room temperature before you heat it again. Both were checked on November 10, 2026.
That raises the next question.
Are microwavable stuffed animals safe?
A microwavable stuffed animal is made to be heated, so it's meant to be used exactly as its maker says, with an adult checking the warmth first.
The same goes for every heated plush, click-to-heat included. Each maker sets its own age and use guidance, so read the label of the one you buy. Masdel designs the Magic Bag Warmy for children 3 and up. Warmies says its toys suit all ages but must be used under careful adult supervision. HotPoc recommends the Thermy Buddy for all ages, under direct adult supervision.
The checklist above covers the habits that matter most, whatever the brand.
Can a baby sleep with a warm stuffed animal?
No. Health Canada's advice is to keep stuffed toys and all other soft objects out of a baby's sleep space, and a baby is never left to sleep on a heat source.
Health Canada's safe sleep tips say to "remove all soft objects from your baby's sleep space", and they list stuffed toys among them. The same page notes that overheating increases a baby's risk of SIDS.
So a heated plush, of any kind, is for awake cuddles with an adult close by. When it's time to sleep, it stays out of the crib.
How does a click-to-heat stuffed animal work?
A click-to-heat stuffed animal holds a reusable warmer that heats up when you click a small metal disc, so it needs no microwave, no cord and no battery.
The Thermy Buddy's HotPoc warmer is warm in less than 3 seconds.
Here's how to heat up a Thermy Buddy, step by step:
- Take the HotPoc warmer out of the plush and click the metal disc. It's warm in less than 3 seconds.
- Slip the warmer back inside your Thermy Buddy and cuddle: up to 3 hours of warmth in the giant plush, about 1 hour in the little ones.
- Once it cools, an adult takes the warmer out and boils it until the liquid turns clear.
- Let it cool, then click to reactivate. One warmer can be used up to 100 times.
The liquid inside the warmer is a sodium acetate solution, which HotPoc describes as food-grade. Clicking the disc starts crystallization, the liquid turning into a soft solid, and that gives off heat. Boiling turns it back into a liquid, ready for the next click. It's the same technology as HotPoc's hand warmers; to see what happens inside the pouch, read how reusable hand warmers work.
The giant plush (the teddy bear, the duck and the monkey) come with an XL warmer and stay warm up to 3 hours. The Giant Heated Duck Plush, for example, is $44.99. The little bunny and penguin hold a regular warmer, stay warm about 1 hour, and cost $39.99.
There are trade-offs: the reset needs a pot of boiling water and an adult, and the Thermy Buddy never goes in the microwave.
Where it fits best is anywhere a microwave isn't handy: in the car, at the cottage, at the rink, at a sleepover or on a trip. With both kinds explained, it's easier to see how they compare.
What is the difference between a microwavable and a click-to-heat plush?
A microwavable plush is warmed in a microwave, either whole or through a removable pack, while a click-to-heat plush warms itself when you click the warmer inside.
That one difference decides where you can heat it and how you get it ready again. This table compares the three ways a plush gets warm, using each maker's own figures, checked on November 10, 2026.
| Feature | Microwavable, heated whole (Warmies) | Microwavable, removable pack (Magic Bag Warmy, Warm Buddy) | Click-to-heat (Thermy Buddy) |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it heats | The whole toy goes in the microwave | The pack comes out and goes in the microwave | Click the metal disc on the warmer |
| What you need | A microwave | A microwave | Nothing to heat it; a pot of boiling water to reset |
| Heating time | The time on its label | Magic Bag Warmy: 30 seconds to 1 minute at most; Warm Buddy: see its instructions | Warm in less than 3 seconds |
| Stays warm | See its label | See its label | Up to 3 hours (giant), about 1 hour (little) |
| What's inside | Grain and dried French lavender | Rice (Magic Bag Warmy); an unscented pad (Warm Buddy) | A sealed sodium acetate warmer |
| Example price in Canada | Varies by character and store | $17.49 to $25.99 (Magic Bag Warmy) | $39.99 (little), $44.99 (giant) |
Two practical points follow from the table:
- If you also want a cold pack, a microwave stuffed animal whose maker says it can go in the freezer is the better fit. Masdel and Warm Buddy both say theirs can.
- If you want warmth where there's no microwave, or a warmer you can reuse up to 100 times, click-to-heat is the better fit.
Many families end up with both. The next step is choosing the right one for you in Canada.
Which heated stuffed animal should you choose in Canada?
The best heatable stuffed animals for you depend on how you'll heat them, how long you need the warmth, who it's for and your budget.
A click-to-heat Thermy Buddy suits warmth with no microwave; a microwavable plush suits a home with a microwave and a liking for scent or a removable pack.
If you're comparing the best microwavable stuffed animals with a click-to-heat plush, here's how the main options line up in Canada, checked on November 10, 2026.
| Best for | Option | How it heats | Stays warm | Size | Price in Canada | Where to buy in Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warmth with no microwave, for a long cuddle | Thermy Buddy giant (teddy bear, duck, monkey) | Click | Up to 3 hours | About 40 x 15 x 20 cm | $44.99 | hotpoc.ca; Clément, Minis Humains, some Sports Experts |
| A smaller click-to-heat companion | Thermy Buddy little (bunny, penguin) | Click | About 1 hour | About 25 x 10 x 15 cm | $39.99 | hotpoc.ca; Clément, Minis Humains, some Sports Experts |
| A lavender-scented plush heated whole | Warmies | Microwave | See its label | Varies by character | Varies by store | Large retailers and independent shops |
| An unscented pack and a washable cover | Warm Buddy (Cuddle Buddy Bunny) | Microwave (removable pad) | See its instructions | 13 in. tall | Check the retailer | Online and in specialty shops |
| A small budget plush for kids 3 and up | Magic Bag Warmy (Masdel) | Microwave the insert | See its instructions | 34 cm (Niko the penguin) | $17.49 to $25.99 | masdelinc.com |
How these options were compared
Each option was compared on the same points, using only what each maker publishes about its own product, checked on November 10, 2026. HotPoc didn't test, rate or score any of them.
The criteria were how it heats and what it needs, how long it stays warm by the maker's own figure, size, price in Canadian dollars, where Canadians can buy it, and the maker's age guidance. To be clear about our interest: HotPoc makes only the Thermy Buddy in this list. You can see all five Thermy Buddy heated stuffed animals side by side, giant and little.
Many buyers, though, start from one brand they already know.
What is a good alternative to Warmies?
A good Warmies alternative depends on what you want to change: skipping the microwave, avoiding scent, or having a removable pack.
If you'd rather skip the microwave, a click-to-heat plush like the Thermy Buddy fits; for no scent or a removable pack, another microwavable plush does.
Warmies are a popular choice for good reasons. There are lots of characters, the fill is a soft mix of grain and dried French lavender, according to Warmies' care guide, and you warm the whole toy in the microwave in one go. If that suits you, follow its label and enjoy it.
An alternative makes sense in a few cases:
- No microwave where you'll use it, such as the car, the cottage or a trip.
- You'd like no scent. Warm Buddy says its heat pad is unscented.
- You want a removable pack, as with Warm Buddy and the Magic Bag Warmy.
- You want a long warm cuddle. A giant Thermy Buddy stays warm up to 3 hours.
The Thermy Buddy is a click-to-heat alternative to Warmies: one click, no microwave, a reusable warmer, and designed in Quebec. Each Thermy Buddy heatable plush toy comes with its own HotPoc warmer.
Can you buy Warmies in Canada?
Yes. Warmies are sold in Canada by large retailers and by independent toy and gift shops, online and in stores. Prices and characters vary from one store to the next, so check the store's own page before you buy.
If it's a gift, timing matters too.
When should you order a Thermy Buddy for Christmas?
For a Thermy Buddy delivered before Christmas, order on hotpoc.ca by Monday, December 14, or by Thursday, December 17 in Quebec.
At $39.99 to $44.99, it's a warm gift for kids, teens and adults who like a cuddle. You can order on the HotPoc website, with free shipping on orders over $75, or find the Thermy Buddy in stores such as Clément, Minis Humains and some Sports Experts. For other brands, check each retailer's own delivery dates.
The short version
To heat up stuffed animals safely, follow the maker's instructions and keep an adult close, whatever kind of plush you choose.
A microwavable plush goes in the microwave only if its label says so, and only for its time. A click-to-heat plush like the Thermy Buddy needs one click, then a boiling-water reset by an adult. Either way, an adult checks the warmth and keeps any heated plush out of a baby's sleep space. Choose a microwavable plush if you have a microwave handy and like a scented grain fill, or a click-to-heat plush if you want warmth anywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best heated stuffed animals in Canada?
The best are plush toys made to be heated, chosen by how you'll heat them.
Microwavable options include Warmies, Warm Buddy and the Magic Bag Warmy. For no microwave, HotPoc's click-to-heat Thermy Buddy costs $39.99 to $44.99 and stays warm up to 3 hours in the giant plush. Always follow each maker's instructions.
What is a good alternative to Warmies in Canada?
If you'd rather skip the microwave, the click-to-heat Thermy Buddy is one: click its HotPoc warmer and it's warm in under 3 seconds, reusable up to 100 times. It's sold on hotpoc.ca and in stores such as Clément. Warm Buddy and the Magic Bag Warmy are microwavable alternatives with a removable pack.
What are Warmies filled with?
According to Warmies' own care guide, Warmies are filled with grain and dried French lavender. Other heated plush use other fills: the Magic Bag Warmy's insert holds rice, Warm Buddy's removable pad is unscented, and the Thermy Buddy holds a sealed warmer of sodium acetate solution instead of grain.
Can you heat a stuffed animal without a microwave?
Yes, if it's made for another heat source. A click-to-heat plush like the Thermy Buddy needs no microwave: you click its warmer. Don't heat a microwavable plush another way unless its maker says so. Masdel says never to heat its Warmy in the oven, and Warmies says to heat only in a microwave.
Do all heat-up toys smell like lavender?
No. Some do: Warmies contain dried French lavender, according to their care guide. Others don't: Warm Buddy says its heat pad is unscented, and the Thermy Buddy's warmer is a sealed pouch of liquid rather than a grain or herb fill. If scent matters to you, check the maker's description before you buy.
How many times can you reheat a heat-up toy?
A microwavable plush can be reheated as often as its maker allows, and Warmies' care guide says to wait until it's back at room temperature first. A Thermy Buddy's HotPoc warmer can be clicked, then reset in boiling water, up to 100 times. Check the label for each product's own limits.
