Beanie Babies are small, stuffed animals filled with plastic pellets, giving them a unique, flexible feel. Created by Ty Inc. in the early 1990s, these toys quickly became popular collectibles. Each Beanie Baby has its own name, birthday, and poem, making them more than just toys. The craze peaked in the mid-1990s, with collectors seeking rare editions and limited releases. Some Beanie Babies were sold for thousands of dollars, leading to a booming secondary market. However, interest declined in the early 2000s, and many collectors found their once-valuable toys were worth much less than anticipated.