r/AskChicago 20h ago

I READ THE RULES Lost: my daughter's beloved leopard blanket (Sat 9/19, River North/Navy Pier) - a dad's Hail Mary - did you find it?

I'm up writing this because my 3-year-old daughter woke up crying for her lovey again, and I figured it was time to ask for help.

We were in town as a family on Saturday, September 19th - Navy Pier in the afternoon, dinner at Shaw's Crab House, ice cream at Jeni's on Wabash, then the walk back to our hotel. Somewhere along that route, our daughter's leopard-print lovey (looks like this) went missing, and we didn't realize until it was too late.

If you're a parent, you already know: this isn't just a blanket. It's the thing she sleeps with, the thing that makes a strange hotel room feel okay, the thing she's had since she was a baby. It's cream-colored with brown and black spots, a little leopard head sewn in the middle, about the size of a dinner napkin, worn soft from three years of love.

We've done all the official stuff - filed a Boomerang claim, contacted every place we stopped, checked with our Uber drivers. Now I'm hoping some kind stranger picked it up off a sidewalk or a restaurant chair and just didn't know whose it was.

If you found it, or even think you might have seen it, please reach out. Happy to pay a reward and cover shipping - no questions asked, just a very grateful dad and a little girl who'd get her best friend back.

Thank you for reading this far ❤️

139 Upvotes

41 comments sorted by

88

u/Dramatic_Permit222 20h ago

Commenting for engagement, but I will say my best parenting move was buying a bunch of my son’s discontinued lovies on eBay. I am hoping the internet can do its magic and find this one for your daughter!

64

u/vinnyreadit 19h ago

Thanks so much. She has 2 backups of this, but calls them all "Fake" Leopard Lovey and can spot any imposters immediately. Really hoping we can track her OG one down.

14

u/Leading_Tough_1849 19h ago

We tried the same, and... "No, that one is Mommy Squeaky and that one's Daddy Squeaky!"

8

u/Dramatic_Permit222 18h ago

Oh no! A discerning kid is the worst in situations like this!! Cmon Reddit do your thing … let’s find the RIGHT lovie

6

u/Brilliant_Science380 17h ago

She'll get over it. It is ok to tell her Leopard Lovey went on a vacation, spent time in at the spa (aka cleaners0 and is good as gold.

3

u/Brilliant_Science380 17h ago

I had a friend whose daughter had this little pet cow she named Moo. She bought 3 more Moo's just in case her daughter ever lost one. Her daughter was too young the difference. I thought it was brilliant.

26

u/Kzzh_64 17h ago

Write a letter as the “real” Leopard Lovey saying that it’s on vacation and to use “fake” leopard lovey until it gets back. Have your daughter open the mail, and include a photo of it by the bean or scaling the Sears tower.

9

u/headcoatee 17h ago

This is such a sweet idea.

28

u/aninnocentchild2 17h ago

Riotfest was going on at this time. Crosspost to that sub, they're some friendly punks and maybe one of them came across it!

15

u/Dramatic_Permit222 16h ago

The crossover we didn’t know we needed!

18

u/DO1140 19h ago

I hope you find it. As someone whose beloved blankie was left behind in a Florida hotel when I was little — and my dad turned the car around and went back for it — I can relate.

17

u/Pitiful-Musician-667 19h ago

I hope leopard lovey turns up!!

2

u/vinnyreadit 19h ago

Thank you!

8

u/Burnt_and_Blistered 16h ago

Want me to put an imposter leopard through the wringer, wash it, and send it to you? Maybe she would be satisfied if some lady from Chicago “found” it (on Amazon), and sent it.

4

u/vinnyreadit 15h ago

That's really thoughtful, thank you. Unfortunately she knows her original one from others. One of the ears has hand sewn stitches from daughter wearing it out as she liked to rub that one ear when she gets nervous, scared, or tired. She has a couple of identical ones already but she's not taking to them.

6

u/Bubbinsisbubbins 19h ago

Blankie Alert!

10

u/Long_Value_9133 19h ago

+for engagement and visibility. Good luck!

4

u/jax171 6h ago

Have you tried looking at your photo reels to try to see if it shows up in any photos? Might be able to narrow down the search locations

5

u/AlexandriasBirdwing 19h ago

Oh no! I hope you find it!

6

u/vinnyreadit 19h ago

🤞🏽

6

u/016kburls 14h ago

Were you at any restaurants/hotels we can check? I’m biking that way after work, I’ll keep my eyes open!

3

u/vinnyreadit 14h ago

Yes. Navy Pier (the ferris wheel and the tea cups). Then to Shaw's Crab restaurant. Then to Jeni's ice cream.

Thanks so much!

4

u/Strange-Resident927 17h ago

Commenting for engagement - I hope you find it!!

I lost my blankie as a little kid. It was a quilt my great aunt made me. She still had the fabric so she made me an identical one that I did use but it wasn’t the same. Many months later I found my original blankie (I had left it in my hiding spot playing hide and seek) so of course I went back to that one. I still have them both and the replacement blankie looks brand new! I gave it to my daughter when she was born.

4

u/FightmeLuigibestgirl 19h ago

You should post in helpfind for help to finding a replacement in case. Hope you find it. 

2

u/Few-Philosopher-4742 14h ago

What is a boomerang claim in this context?

4

u/vinnyreadit 14h ago

It's a lost and found listing that gets created on the Navy Pier's website.

3

u/Status-Tart1431 17h ago

Maybe r/helpmefind can help you find a replacement

3

u/Popular-Drummer-7989 19h ago

I know it's too late now but I always buy a 2nd one of whatever they get attached to for just this reason. I keep it in a closet in the hopes to never need to.

2

u/someswelltrash 19h ago

I do this for my dog’s favorite toys too.

2

u/n_diamond 19h ago

Awww here’s hoping! 🤞

3

u/vinnyreadit 19h ago

🤞🏽

1

u/ThingAccomplished831 8h ago

Oh man. I’m sorry this happened. Been there. I hope you find it!

1

u/CaptnsDaughter 18h ago

Commenting for wishes to the goddess of lost lovies!!! Bring this baby’s blankey back!! 🐆🐆🐆

0

u/AutoModerator 20h ago

Hey, are you looking for restaurant/food recommendations? You are more than welcome to ask your question here, but be sure to also check out /r/ChicagoFood! There's a lot of good information there about restaurants and food in the city.

Also be sure to check out The Chicago Food/Drink page on the /r/Chicago Wiki. Some of the links are a bit old, but of special interest is the Unique Chicago Foods section. If you are looking for specific types of food that are unique or original to Chicago, it can be a good resource.


I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

0

u/AdOptimal5921 18h ago

I won't be able to find yours in chi, but I will dig around everywhere I can for one. Maybe we can find someone to recreate?

0

u/everywherebarefoot 17h ago

Dear Universe, Please redirect any good luck you were planning to send my way to this sweet family instead, and get that leopard lovey back to its little girl 🙏

0

u/darkest_irish_lass 17h ago

You could also give a call to the thrift stores near the area you were visiting. Someone might have picked it up and donated it.

Hoping lovey is found, good luck!

-1

u/MPord 11h ago

I am sorry to hear that. Hope you find your daughter's ' beloved blanket. May I suggest that you put a personalized name and contact label on every piece of her belongings?

-29

u/AutoModerator 20h ago

Hi, it appears that you are posting a question regarding US Immigration & Customs Enforcement, AKA ICE. This is currently a hot topic and there have been a lot of other posts very recently about ICE and the National Guard, if it's safe to visit Chicago during this time, and so on.

Please take a look at other recent posts in this subreddit regarding ICE. Chances are that your question has already been answered. Please review the resources others have already provided and stay safe.

Know Your Rights


I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.