Bearing up … Emily Dove with Ted, who has been to Glastonbury six times and stays in Emily’s sleeping bag. A big part of my love for Ted is that I find it very comforting to cuddle him when I’m going to sleep. Having soft toys gives you some of the comfort of an animal, without the responsibilities associated with it. Photograph: Richard Saker/The Guardian Bearing up … Emily Dove with Ted, who has been to Glastonbury six times and stays in Emily’s sleeping bag.

If you share your bed with a furry friend well into adulthood, don’t be ashamed – sleeping with soft toys is more normal than you might think. He tells me that about one in three of the people he has questioned still sleep with teddies, and that it is probably more common for women, as it is more socially acceptable for them to do so. It’s nice to be able to get back to the tent late at night and have a cuddle, especially when it’s quite cold.

I say it to Big Fella, and then I get myself ready and go to work and sit on reception smiling at everyone. Becky and I had been thinking about getting a pet, but I didn’t want to leave an animal unattended at home. In western cultures, we tend to separate children from their parents after the first year – after which they sleep on their own, and self-soothe using blankets and soft toys.

A survey carried out last year found that 44% of adults have held on to their childhood teddies and dolls, and as many as 34% of adults still sleep with a soft toy every night.Our creations are crafted from body safe platinum-cure silicone and are allergy-friendly, phthalate free, easy to clean and maintain and dragon-grade durable!