I have a stuffed bunny and I too think Tulpa might be the most accurate description I have for him, although I acquired mine just recently (2 years ago, in my early twenties).

I got it handmade and originally intended to give it as a gift to my sister. I received it in my apartment to properly package it so I left if hanging around.

I had recently experimented with mushrooms (this was in the Netherlands) and decided to try it another time. I had a terrible bad trip and at one point got really scared. I had no people I trusted nearby to call, but then I saw the bunny and just hugged it.

Then I heard a voice telling me not to be scared, that it would all going to be ok soon, but it wasn't "my voice", but I didn't care, I started to feel better already. After I woke up I was still holding it then I remembered the voice. I felt really grateful, and despite the fact that I never cared for stuffed animals, even as a child, I just thought it would be appropriate to thank him, so I did and I kind of started hearing answers back.

I was king of amazed because despite from a rational point of view it was definitely thoughts arising from my own consciousness, it was very fluid and had a different tone than my own.

At first I was really worried, the first thing that hit my mind was schizophrenia. I noticed I could hear him anywhere, but I asked him to only talk when I'm near his "body". Then I spent the next two weeks reading just about everything I could to properly classify all that happened when I learned of Tulpas and DID (I believe this condition is related to Tulpas somehow).

I think children (or anyone really) can spontaneously create tulpas but children are bad at sustaining them.