Teddy bears are plush toys in the form of bears. Teddy bear was apparently developed by Morris Michtom, an American toy manufacturer, and Richard Steiff of Germany in the early 20th century, and named after President Theodore Teddy Roosevelt. Teddy bear has become a landmark children's toy with stories, songs and movies. Since the birth of the first teddy bear that imitates the real cub form, the form, style, color and material of "Teddy Bear" have changed greatly. They have become collectors' items, and there are fewer and fewer "toys" at public auctions. Teddy bear is one of the most popular children's gifts, usually given to adults to show love, congratulations or sympathy.

Commercial production of a large number of teddy bears is mainly produced as children's toys. The bears either have safety joints that connect the arms, legs and head, or sew these joints without articulation. They must keep their eyes firmly in place so as not to cause suffocation danger to children. These "plush" bears must meet strict structural standards in order to be sold to children in the United States and the European Union.

There are also companies like Steiff that sell hand collected bears that can be purchased in stores or over the Internet. Most teddy bears are produced in countries such as China and Indonesia. There are some small single producers in the United States that produce unique non mass produced teddy bears. In the UK, there is still a traditional small teddy bear company, Merrythought, which was founded in 1930. Mohair is combed from long hair goats or goats, woven into cloth, then dyed and trimmed. Alpaca hair teddy bear is made of alpaca hair, because the fiber is too soft to weave. In addition to mohair and alpaca hair, there are many "plush" or artificial fur made for the teddy bear market. Both types of fur are commercially produced.