After years of going into people’s homes, I began noticing a steady increase in, well, teddy bears, picture frames, and condoms. I date this change back to 2009.

After sending an email to her neighborhood listserv, over 120 houses signed up for the bear hunt. According to Melo, parents were replying within hours to participate.

It's the teddy bear: soft, squeezable, exquisitely huggable, and just perfect for cuddling up to when you're trying to fall asleep. In the 100 years since its birth, the teddy has gone from ...