Bruno was a small, fluffy puppy with soft brown fur and the gentlest eyes. Ever since he was a baby, he had a special friend: a soft, cuddly teddy bear named Benny. Every night, Bruno would snuggle with Benny, hugging him tight as he drifted off to sleep.

Benny made Bruno feel safe. Whenever Bruno felt scared, tired, or upset, holding Benny close made all his worries disappear.

His family, especially his mom and dad, always made sure Benny was with him when he needed him. They knew how much comfort Benny gave him.

But now, Bruno was growing up. He had started going to nursery with other young animals. There were kittens, ducklings, bear cubs, and even a little bunny.

Bruno enjoyed nursery, where they played games, made crafts, and learned new things every day. However, Bruno noticed something different: none of the other animals brought their favorite toys to nursery. They seemed happy and confident without needing anything extra to feel safe.

One evening, after coming home from nursery, Bruno’s mom noticed he seemed quiet.

“Is everything okay, Bruno?” she asked, sitting beside him.

Bruno hesitated. “At nursery, none of the other animals bring their toys like I do with Benny,” he said softly. “I still need Benny to feel safe. Does that mean I’m not as big as they are?”

His dad joined them and smiled gently.

“Everyone grows at their own pace, Bruno,” he said. “It’s okay to still need Benny. But if you’re thinking about trying new ways to feel safe, we’re here to help.”

Bruno thought about this as he held Benny tightly. He wasn’t sure if he was ready to stop holding Benny at night, but he wondered if he could be as brave as the other animals at nursery.

Later, while Bruno was playing with Benny before bedtime, his mom noticed and smiled.

“Do you think Benny could stay on your bedside table tonight instead of in your arms? Maybe you could try sleeping without holding him.”

Bruno looked at Benny and then at his bed. He wasn’t sure, but he decided to give it a try.

“I’ll try,” Bruno said softly, placing Benny gently on the bedside table where he could still see him.

That night, Bruno snuggled into bed without Benny in his arms for the first time. Benny was still nearby, watching over him from the table.

At first, Bruno felt unsure. He missed the familiar comfort of holding Benny close, but as he lay under the covers, he realised something: he wasn’t as scared as he thought he’d be. Benny was still with him, even if he wasn’t holding him.

His mom kissed him goodnight, and his dad gave him a little nuzzle.

“Sweet dreams, Bruno,” they whispered.

Bruno wiggled under the covers and closed his eyes.

As the minutes passed, he realized he could sleep just fine without clutching Benny. With Benny close by and his family’s love, he felt safe. Soon, he drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Bruno woke up with a big smile. He had done it! He slept through the night without holding Benny. Benny had been nearby, and it wasn’t as hard as he thought it would be.

At nursery that day, Bruno felt happier than ever. He played games with the other animals, running and laughing without even thinking about Benny.

He felt more secure in himself, realising he didn’t need his teddy to feel confident. He had so much fun playing with his friends that Benny didn’t even cross his mind. His teacher noticed his confidence and gave him a big smile.

Over the next few nights, Bruno kept Benny on the bedside table. Sometimes he still wanted to hold him, and that was okay. But he knew he didn’t need to every night, and that made him feel a little more grown-up.

One evening, Bruno carefully placed Benny on the table next to his bed.

“I’m ready,” he said to himself with a smile.

That night, Bruno snuggled into bed without even thinking about holding Benny.

As he drifted off to sleep, Bruno felt proud, safe, and loved. He had learned that growing up didn’t mean giving up comfort—it just meant finding new ways to feel secure.

And as the stars twinkled above, Bruno smiled in his sleep, ready for all the new adventures that being a little bigger would bring.