To worry my DD8 might be too attached to her cuddly toys??

Hopefully you're getting the message loud and clear, OP, that re your original question of whether it is too strong an attachment, no it's very common. For lots of people it's completely fine. The problem, arguably, is her wish to leave them at home. It's nice that you are supporting her with it I suppose but I would also be saying if it's too hard just take them, and if they do go missing (which is extremely unlikely in the grand scheme of things) we will deal with it together. Don't unintentionally feed the fear that loss of them would be catastrophic.

Could she perhaps take just one of them? Wrap one in a muslin, or dress it in dolls' clothes, then take the muslin, or put the clothes on another toy? Even (whisper it) cut a little scrap off the label and sew it onto another toy.

It seems a bit sad to me for her to definitely deprived herself of these toys for so many nights ("practising" plus on her trip) just to avoid a small chance that she might lose them. Mine went to uni with me - I was a boarder from very young and it was completely normal for people to have them, so it never occurred to me not to bring them. My 16 year old has 3 that have come on every single trip he's ever been on. One once got posted back from a Welsh hotel with a beautiful note.

My 18 year old’s favourite childhood teddies came to Majorca last year! She sleeps with them every night. She is in 6th form, uni in September and a young leader at brownies. She is a little young for her age as profoundly deaf but loads of her friends have teddies too - I know I had them on my bed till I was about 25 😂 I hope she has a lovely time

My mum and grandparents went Christmas shopping one year and bought me an enormous cuddly toy. The guy in the shop wrapped the toy in a bin bag to keep the rain off and handed it to my grandad. Grandad then tore a hole in the top of the bag and freed the toy's face "so it could breathe".

He was a highly intelligent and skilled man who navigated adult life better than most. He was just incredibly caring and not a little quirky! I love him dearly.

Your daughter is fine. She just has a beautiful imagination!

It’s fine to want to cuddle her toys in bed, but it would be best if the most precious ones stay at home and guard her bed, so they don’t go missing.

My 43 year old husband still sleeps with his teddy bear!

It sounds like your offer of looking after them when your daughter is away is a good idea - it keeps them safe and lets her know they're being looked after. Could they have 'sleepovers' in your bed before she goes? It's good that she's trying with another two, but clearly favours the two she's leaving behind for safety - and that's perfectly normal. I used to line mine up next to me on my pillow (with hardly any room left for me) and still remember meticulously arranging them 30+ years on. One got lost somewhere years ago, and it was my absolute favorite. I've recently replaced it (at great expense) as even as a professional woman in my forties with four children of my own, I still found myself thinking of it. It's now happily installed on my bedside table. It's only small, but I feel very content having it there. Let your child be a child. I don't think any of us fully grow up anyway (in my opinion).

My daughters both took their favourite cuddly toy off to university with them. They came back and they still sleep with them.

Your daughter is absolutely fine and normal.

I’m nearing 50 and have a well travelled cuddly toy who I sleep with every night. She replaced my fav bear who I had since childhood but was threadbare and now has a bed on the side!

the only place I don’t take my bear is to festivals (just in. Add) but have a festival bear for that!!!

i totally understand the concern about loss and having an alternative and pics is such a good idea!

Totally normal for this age. I suggest having all the cuddles in bed with her for now, then the favourites can stay tucked up safe in her bed waiting for her, and the others can go with her. I’m sure the teddies would all enjoy a bit sleepover together in your DDs bed. At that age my youngest sometimes slept under a giant pile of teddies.

My daughter is 17 and still sleeps with her favourite cuddly toy. She is off to uni in September and said cuddly toy is going too. She will not leave him behind!

My son is 13 and mature and responsible yet wants to take her favourite teddy on his 3 day school trip next month. 8 is very young. My almost 10 year old sounds very similar to yours. Innocence is lovely

I think what you are doing sounds a good way to prepare. Offering to look after them was a good solution. My DS sleeps with a bear every night & often takes one away with him and he’s now in secondary school!

I thought this was normal. I remember as a child, if the weather was stormy or cold outside I’d get every single cuddly toy and my little pony under the covers with me as I didn’t want them to be scared! I’m a complete empath now! My daughter is only four and tells me the toys ‘aren’t real mummy’ 😂😂

My little boy is 7 and cannot be without his penguin at nighttime.

No matter what time I may randomly check on him during the night, 10pm, midnight, 4am, and no matter what random position he’s managed to get himself in… he is holding onto that penguin for dear life.

I would never dream of taking that level of comfort away from him, no matter how old he is.

She sounds adorable. Enjoy her. Sleeping with 2 toys is fine.

Totally normally and why can't she take them on her school trip, plenty of the other children will do she won't be the only one by a long way

Can you put a shelf up so that the special teddies are in sight, rather than on the floor?

I'm in my 30s and still sleep with my cuddly toy that I've had since I was 5 or so. Only since having kids myself did I stop taking him on holiday 😂 my DD sometimes has him for a cuddle. I'm also going to admit that I wouldn't leave him sitting on the floor as would feel bad. She'll be fine, I'm actually mostly pretty normal. I have a friend in a very senior role same age as me who also still has hers.

But I agree, alternatives should go on trips, although I think I took mine on school trips and never felt worried about losing them. Is she a bit forgetful and likely to lose them or is she pretty good about remembering things?

I'm a Guide leader so up to age 14. Our packing lists also say a teddy.... And yes they all bring one and sometimes someone borrows mine if they're feeling a little homesick.

When DS was in cadets, so 11yo + they'd have teddy parades on camp. It was compulsory for everyone to take a teddy, so that those who needed them could do so without embarrassment.

My DD is 10 and still has favourite cuddly toys that she sleeps with, whenever she’s had friends over for a sleepover they all bring a cuddly toy with them. It’s harmless and cute.
Even my teenager has a couple of favourites that she says are going with her when she goes to university!

She's only 8, sounds absolutely normal
Kids are emotional and get attached to things, especially the toys that hold their hearts.

My DD used to get upset and feel guilty for picking out red peppers from bolognese sauce. She would go to the food bin in tears , apologising to the red peppers and asking me over and over if the peppers were ok.

Why can’t she have her cuddly toys, they’re her comfort. DS9 wouldn’t be without his. I’ve seen some girls in his class have little ones attached to their bags. Very normal.

My son got to the stage where the risk of losing his two favourite cuddly toys on a trip was greater than the thought of being without them. He also worried as they were getting a bit old and tired and not really up for travelling.
This all came from him, but he told us that it was fine they were at home, because they knew exactly what he was doing and could see everything he saw so didn't feel left out. Also, they were never allowed on the floor, they had a chair and a cushion they sat on.
But he came up with that explanation for himself, so it might be a bit strange to try to introduce it yourself. And if you do try it and she ends up in counselling because of the strange cuddly toys that could see everything she saw, please don't blame me.