Baby Bear

PERFORMER	David Rudman
DEBUT	1991

Baby Bear's first appearance on the street.

Baby Bear with his best friend, Telly Monster.

Baby Bear in Elmo in Grouchland (puppet variant, with his eyes closer together).

Baby Bear and his sister, Curly Bear.

Baby Bear originally appeared as a generic bear on Sesame Street in the late 1980s. He made his first appearance as Baby Bear in a 1991 episode, hiding from his nemesis Goldilocks, who kept annoying him.

Around the time that Baby Bear became a regular character, he was paired with Telly Monster, and the two became best friends. Later, his parents, Papa Bear and Mama Bear, were introduced on the show. In 2003, his baby sister Curly Bear was born, turning the Three Bears into four. He likes to eat porridge.

In Season 31, Baby Bear created an imaginary friend, Hero Guy.

Baby Bear speaks with a speech impediment; more specifically, he sometimes pronounces his Rs as Ws. For example, "Super Hero" is pronounced by Baby Bear as "Supo Hewo". (He appears to have the R/W speech impediment, but it is inconsistent, eg, he pronounces his sister's name Curly with the R, as well as Rs in non-stressed syllables and Rs at the end of sentences).

In the 2002 special Elmo's World: Happy Holidays!, it was revealed that Baby Bear's family is Jewish. However, Baby Bear is seen participating happily in the Sesame Street Easter picnic in the 2007 book Rosita's Easter on Sesame Street; he brings Easter Braided Bread to the party. His birthday is May 12th.

In season 36 and 37, he was seen attending Storybook Community School.

In a 2009 episode, he inadvertently helps Abby Cadabby find one of her missing freckles when his mother holds up Baby Bear's underpants, much to his embarrassment. (This is strange, since Baby Bear doesn't wear pants).

Notes

• The original Baby Bear puppet was built as a cub version of Flo Bear in Episode 2277 (1987).
• The puppet currently used on the show was built in Season 30; the main differences between the puppets are that the current version has brighter fur, larger eyes, a tuft of hair, and arm-sleeves.
• Baby Bear got his first haircut in a 1999 episode.

Book appearances

• Around the Corner on Sesame Street (1994) unnamed
• Hooper's Store (2001)
• Spring Fever (2001)
• Clap Your Hands! (2002)
• Look and Find Elmo (2002)
• Elmo's World: Sports! (2004)
• Fun with Friends (2004)
• Animal Alphabet (2005)
• Fly Away with Big Bird (2006)
• Abby Cadabby's Rhyme Time (2007)
• Elmo & Friends Picture Stories (2007)
• Elmo's Busy Day (2007)
• Elmo's Favorite Places (2007)
• Friendly, Frosty Monsters (2007)
• Good Night, Tucked in Tight (2007)
• Music Player Storybook (2007)
• Rosita's Easter on Sesame Street (2007)
• Sesame Street Super Sticker Book (2007)
• What Makes You Giggle? (2007)
• Color Carnival (2008)
• Elmo's Christmas Countdown (2008)
• Let's Go! with Elmo and Friends (2008)
• Let's Help the Earth (2008)
• Storybook ABCs (2008)
• What's the Word on the Street? (2008)
• Count to 10 (2009)
• Elmo's Christmas Countdown (2009)
• Love, Elmo (2009)
• Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood? (2009)
• Busy Friends (2010)
• Elmo and Abby's Wacky Weather Day (2011)
• Grouches Are Green (2011)
• Over on Sesame Street (2012)