The Perfect Baby CBeebies Bedtime Stories

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Oh, it's not quite right. It's the wrong box...

Oh, hello. I'm Shane and I'm searching for something perfect.

It needs to be just the right size, shape, smell, not too noisy,

but not too quiet. You know, just perfect.

Lucy, in tonight's Bedtime Story, wants something perfect, too.

The story is by Tony Bradman and Holly Swain

and is called The Perfect Baby.

When Lucy's parents brought her new baby brother home from the hospital,

they were very, very excited.

Lucy, however, was not impressed.

Baby William didn't really do all that much.

And what he did do was rather irritating.

He slept, he woke up and he cried,

he was fed, he made some disgusting noises and smells,

and then he went to sleep again.

"Well, what do you think, Lucy?" said her parents.

"Um, I think we should take him back to the hospital," she said.

"Do you?" said her parents.

Lucy could see that they looked disappointed, but they didn't argue.

So they all got in the car and went to the hospital.

Once there, they went to the baby department.

"Hi, there," said a doctor. "How may I help you?"

"Um, well, we want to return this baby," said Lucy.

"No problem," said the doctor. "Would you like to try another?"

"Well," said Lucy, uncertainly, "Um...eh...I don't know."

"Oh, please, Lucy," said her parents. "Please say yes."

Lucy sighed and gave in. "Oh, all right, then."

The doctor grinned and gave them a tiny box.

"See how you get on with this one," he said, and off they went.

Once they got home, Lucy's parents opened the box.

Inside was...a baby tortoise.

It was certainly different from baby William.

It didn't cry, make disgusting noises or smells.

It poked out its little head and nibbled at some lettuce.

Then it went to sleep. "Well, what do you think?" said her parents.

"Well, I think we should take this one back, too," said Lucy.

So, they all got in the car and headed to the hospital.

"Back so soon?" said the doctor. "How may I help you this time?"

"Um, well, we want to return this baby," said Lucy.

"It's too boring." "Really?" said the doctor.

"But I take it you'd like another?"

Lucy's parents were looking at her longingly. Lucy sighed and gave in.

"All right, then." The doctor grinned and gave them another box.

"Third time lucky," he said, and off they went.

As soon as they got home, Lucy's parents opened the box

and inside was...a baby baboon.

It was certainly different from baby William. It didn't cry,

it screeched very loudly, it made disgusting noises and smells,

it swung from the lampshade, it broke things.

"What do you think?" said Lucy's parents.

"Um, I think this one should definitely go back," said Lucy.

So, they all got in the car and headed to the hospital.

"You again," said the doctor. "Don't tell me -

"you want to return the baby. What's wrong?

"I can't believe this one was boring."

"Um, no," said Lucy. "It was, uh, a bit too lively."

"I see," said the doctor. "Fancy another try?"

Lucy knew what her parents would say. She sighed and gave in.

"Oh, all right, then." The doctor grinned and gave them a box

that was a strange shape.

"Fingers crossed," he said, and off they went.

As soon as they got home, Lucy's parents opened the box and inside was

a baby elephant. It was certainly different from baby William.

But it wasn't right. They went to the hospital to swap it for another baby.

That one was too long, the next one had too many legs,

the next one was way too tall, the next one was too hairy,

the one after that was simply far too scary!

So they all got in the car and went to the hospital.

"I give up," said the doctor. "Too this, too that - you're too fussy."

Lucy's parents wailed, but Lucy was thinking all about the babies.

One hadn't been too boring or too lively or too big or too anything.

"Excuse me," said Lucy at last. "If we have to have a baby, um,

"we'll take the first one again, please."

"Oh, I don't know," said the doctor. "I'm not sure where I put him."

Lucy frowned. "Just kidding," said the doctor,

handing baby William over.

"Good choice," he said. "Bye! Don't come back!"

And off they went.

At home, Lucy's parents were very, very excited and Lucy soon realised

baby William wasn't as irritating as those other babies.

He still didn't do much, but between the sleeping and the crying,

and the disgusting noises and smells,

sometimes baby William was...quite nice.

"Well, what do you think?", said Lucy's parents after a while.

"I think..." said Lucy, and her parents held their breath.

"..he's perfect." And he was. As far as babies go, anyway.

And that story was called The Perfect Baby.

I don't think there's a baby in any of these boxes,

but I'm sure there's a perfect something. While I look,

it's time for you to go to bed. I'll see you soon for another story.

Night night. What have I got in here?

Oh, I've got the perfect chimp! No, his ears are too small.