is it wrong to buy my 3 year old son a baby doll?

[xolynn]

Okay so my 3 yr old son loves watching all kinds of YouTube videos. He was watching some with little sketch's of baby dolls, taking care of them feeding, changing diapers. I asked if he wanted one of his own and he said yes. I thought maybe it would make a good Christmas gift. However my boyfriend/sons father was absolutely horrified with the idea and said I better not buy him a baby doll! I don't understand the problem myself I dont think toys should be gender exclusive. what do you guys think? Am I wrong to think its okay to get him a baby doll?

 

[Fruitmash]

If your little boy wants a baby doll then I'd get him the baby doll! It's only a toy, there's no reason to make it gender exclusive. DD is getting a monster truck, no one has an issue with getting girls "boys" toys, why deprive boys?

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

No? Men hold babies x

 

[catty]

Totally fine!! We have heaps of dolls in my house because of my daughter and my son will sometimes play them, no issue here!

 

[k4th]

Ds is always playing with dd's dolls. He loves them! My oh isn't always too keen.... but tough!! Ds likes them! Plus pretend play is really a very important part of child development.

 

[_Meep_]

Wtf.

He'll probably have a baby of his own one day - will it be wrong then for him to enjoy playing with and taking care of it ...?

 

[MindUtopia]

Absolutely not. It's normal and healthy for kids to mimic behaviours they see in parents, so of course, it's normal for him to want to play by doing what he sees you and others doing in caring for him. I know plenty of boys who have dolls and I wouldn't think twice about it - actually, I'd probably be more likely to buy a doll for a boy even than a girl because it's so important to nurture those caretaking behaviours, but boys have less opportunities for it in play because of gender stereotypes. It sounds like maybe it's your partner who needs to be more secure about himself and his masculinity and not be projecting that on to your son.

 

[xolynn]

Thank you for the feedback everyone! I agree w what was said here. I also spoke w a friend in person and she said the same thing.she let her sons play with them, and said it helped when another baby came along! I'll have to explain these things to my OH and he will just have to accept it lol

 

[lau86]

My son who is 5 goes through phases but generally he really likes his doll. Recently he wanted to take it out to the supermarket wrapped in a blanket. He loves pretending it's his baby. I encourage it as whether it's a doll or not, it shows a loving caring side of him that I want to nurture. The supermarket (and post office) experience was very positive, no one said anything.

 

[Bevziibubble]

Absolutely nothing wrong with that at all. Men hold babies so why shouldnt a boy mimic that by playing with dolls.

 

[LoveCakes]

Maybe explain to your OH that your son wants to be a daddy like him and let it play to his ego.

Also I find mum's and tots good places to see how they react to toys before you buy them.

 

[SarahBear]

Okay so my 3 yr old son loves watching all kinds of YouTube videos. He was watching some with little sketch's of baby dolls, taking care of them feeding, changing diapers. I asked if he wanted one of his own and he said yes. I thought maybe it would make a good Christmas gift. However my boyfriend/sons father was absolutely horrified with the idea and said I better not buy him a baby doll! I don't understand the problem myself I dont think toys should be gender exclusive. what do you guys think? Am I wrong to think its okay to get him a baby doll?

Is caring for children solely "women's work?" I sure hope your answer is "no way!" If it's not solely "women's work," then playing with dolls isn't solely for girls. It encourages really good skills as well as good qualities that are strongly discouraged in boys by the general culture as well as the idea that "dolls are for girls." My husband and I bought a baby doll for our 20 month old son for Christmas. My only regret is that we didn't get him a doll that does stuff - he's really into his sister's Baby Alive dolls that eat and talk. I'll encourage doll play and continue to provide him with those sorts of toys as long as he'll use them.

 

[JumpingIn]

Your boyfriend has issues

 

[Babybump87]

I would buy him one !!. If my girls want "boy" toys I buy them! ! Long as they are happy I see no difference.

There are loads of boys that play with dolls and prams at our playgroup. Suggesting he play daddy is a good idea.

You can get so many kids of dolls these days too. Maybe look for a more boyish one if your OH is that bothered . xx

 

[xolynn]

Okay so my 3 yr old son loves watching all kinds of YouTube videos. He was watching some with little sketch's of baby dolls, taking care of them feeding, changing diapers. I asked if he wanted one of his own and he said yes. I thought maybe it would make a good Christmas gift. However my boyfriend/sons father was absolutely horrified with the idea and said I better not buy him a baby doll! I don't understand the problem myself I dont think toys should be gender exclusive. what do you guys think? Am I wrong to think its okay to get him a baby doll?

Is caring for children solely "women's work?" I sure hope your answer is "no way!" If it's not solely "women's work," then playing with dolls isn't solely for girls. It encourages really good skills as well as good qualities that are strongly discouraged in boys by the general culture as well as the idea that "dolls are for girls." My husband and I bought a baby doll for our 20 month old son for Christmas. My only regret is that we didn't get him a doll that does stuff - he's really into his sister's Baby Alive dolls that eat and talk. I'll encourage doll play and continue to provide him with those sorts of toys as long as he'll use them.

Do you know how much you paid for a baby alive doll? And can you get them about anywhere? I think he'd really enjoy one of those!

 

[sil]

We just got a doll for our DS for Christmas. He's really excited about dolls in general and always points to them in stores and asks if he can have one. I think he'll be really happy when he sees it.

 

[SarahBear]

More than 30 dollars but less than 40, I think, but there's a huge range available. I'm not crazy about the brand for boys though because they say "mommy" but not "daddy." There was another talking brand that says Dada though.

 

[ClairAye]

Definitely not. I don't understand people who are mortified by a child playing with a doll. What are they so scared of? My son got dolls and a buggy for them for his 2nd birthday, he's not really interested in them now but he loved them then. The sooner toys stop being forced exclusively onto one gender the better!

I say buy him one and politely tell your other half where to place his feelings on it.

 

[Twag]

My son loves cars & dinosaurs but he also plays with dolls and put them in blankets and to bed and pushes them around in the pram

The pram & babies are my daughters but when I brought her the babies for her birthday I got twins as I knew my son would like to play with them and it stops arguments

I have no problems with him playing with them - he is only doing what daddies do right??

 

[Teri7489]

Posts like this make me sad. My little boy who's 15 months loves playing with dolls and pushing a pram. My frinds little boy was here and his dad called him a sissy for playing with the pram too. I see it as them role playing, learning to care and nurture and use their imagination. I would buy my son a doll if he asked and wouldn't bother about anyone's negative comments xx