One day, your little boy receives a stuffed animal as a gift. The stuffed toy is cute and soft, so you won’t be at all surprised when your child happily accepts this gift. Although he has many other stuffed animals in his house, over the next two weeks he will begin to notice that this particular one has slowly become a constant companion to his son. The other stuffed animals are still used for play, but this is the one your child just wants to be around for cuddles and tucks in at bedtime. Your child has found a lovey!

A security or transition object can be a wonderful part of childhood; many adults have fond memories of being comforted by a special stuffed animal growing up. The attachment that a child feels for her love means that the loss of this element can be intensely distressing, both for the child and the parents.

There are a few steps you can take to minimize the risk of your child’s special stuffed animal being lost and to increase the chances of being able to provide an identical replacement if the item is lost. The most important thing is to take these steps as soon as you notice that your child has chosen a lovey.

1. Make it a rule that love can’t leave the house; this alone will greatly reduce the chance of it being lost. Let your child choose a different stuffed animal to take to daycare or the store with the firm explanation that love should stay at home. Some children like to make a routine of placing their loved one in a window to “watch” for them to come home, or putting the loved one in a special place on a shelf so they can easily find it when they return home.

2. Tag that adorable one! Despite his best efforts, the stuffed animal will likely be taken out of the house at some point, so he wants it labeled in some way. Some parents simply write their cell phone number on the stuffed animal’s stuffed animal tag, along with the words “if found, please call…” Be careful not to put too much information on the toy; A phone number or generic email address must be included.

3. Buy a backup (or two)! The reason people find it so difficult to find a replacement love is that a line of stuffed animals is usually only sold for a short time before being retired to make way for newer designs. The longer a stuffed animal has been off store shelves, the harder it is to find one to purchase. If the stuffed animal you’re looking for was recently retired, you may be able to find one by talking to the managers of the retail stores that previously sold the item. Sometimes they will be willing to check if they still have extra stock in the back. A call to the company that made the stuffed animal can yield results in the form of information about where the item can still be purchased, or even an opportunity to get the stuffed animal directly from the company.

4. Know the details! I have talked to parents who are desperate to find a replacement for a lovey, but don’t know the brand or any other information that would allow me to help them. Take a minute and write down the make, store it was purchased from, year, a model number, basically any identifying information, and then keep this note in a safe place. If you need it, you’ll be glad you got it!

5. Take photos! Take some photos of the lovey for yourself. These can come in handy if the love is lost, either so other people can keep an eye out for the stuffed animal or help you find an identical one to buy.

Following these simple steps can reduce the chances of losing a special stuffed animal and improve the chances that a lost love will be found.