baby dolls for little boys?

[Rising Phoenix]

When I babysat my nephew he loved all the baby doll commercials on tv....kiss the baby now he'd say. HIs birthday is next week and I thought it would be cute to get him one....he would be three. My mom (the grandmother) and my brother (the father) thought it was the most horrible idea in the whole world. My mom actually called it inappropriate. Are they afraid having a doll will turn him gay or something? I think it would nurture his loving nature. But hey what do I know.....I used to play with He- Man and we all know how I turned out....lol

[Gormy Cuss]

1. How sad.

You could get him a Baby Elmo -- that should suit his nurturing desire without making the others twist their undies. Toddlers are fascinated by babies.

[Rising Phoenix]

2. he has lots of stuffed animials and such

I thought a human baby doll would be really good for him....but I don't want to go against his parents wishes....you are right, it is sad

[Gormy Cuss]

5. Cabbage patch kids used to be a good compromise.

They're babies to a toddler's point of view.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

3. Buy him an "action figure."

Don't call that a doll, it's an action figure.
--Fay Berman, Best In Show

[Rising Phoenix]

6. hehe

got to love the technicalities

[Droopy]

4. Don't do it

I had a baby doll up until the time I was 8. It was a cabbage patch doll who I named Jeff. The whole thing left me confused until after the time I refused Jeff. About 10.

In a normal society we would welcome little boys accepting dolls. These are not normal times. A boy must be perceived as being strong and not some little softy who likes his dolls. Sadly, that's the way society thinks.

[Rising Phoenix]

8. thanks Droopy

I do see your point....so sad we have to condider their stong manhood at age three

[Droopy]

10. I'm okay now

But it is thanks to my folks. They didn't teach me how to kill. Now I know how to kill, but I had to learn it on my own. I guess it's just the whole mind set. Men are to kill and to protect. We are taught to have no emotions. It's a crime because we don't really want to kill, but daddy told us it must be so, so we do.

[femmocrat]

7. If the parents are opposed, you should respect their wishes, IMO.

My sons had "dolls".... but they were like Raggedy Andy and other boy-type dolls. Maybe a teddy bear or plush animal might be more acceptable to his mom and dad and would be just as cuddly.

I agree with you... and see nothing "wrong" with it. But if he hears their insensitive comments, then it could make a difference to him. He might wonder what is wrong with a boy who plays with dolls, etc. Everything is so complicated anymore!

How about a nice book? :)

[Rising Phoenix]

9. I will abosolutely respect the parent's opinion

He is their son, it is their call. I already painted him a replica of his favorite painting to give to him. I was just wondering what others thought about the matter.

[femmocrat]

11. How wonderful that he has a favorite painting!

Hey, they must be doing something right! How many three-year-olds have a favorite painting!

I'll bet he will absolutely love your gift. :hi:

[Rising Phoenix]

15. they are great parents

I don't want to give the impression otherwise.....yes he loves art.....I read him artbooks all the time, he liked them so much his parents bought him a bunch for home and those are his bedtime stories.

he has good taste too....He loves Van Gogh

[WritingIsMyReligion]

31. Is that your replica?

That's awesome!

:thumbsup:

:hi:

[Rising Phoenix]

37. it is

thank you

[WritingIsMyReligion]

62. :>)

:hi:

[Lavender Brown]

12. I gave my 2 year old nephew a boy cabbage patch kid for christmas

The kind that can go in the bathtub. He loves it. His parents are both pretty uptight about these kinds of things, but they didn't have a problem with the doll. :shrug:

[New Earth]

13. i think it's a good idea.

there is nothing wrong with it at all. Maybe get a baby boy doll for him.

[ConcernedCanuk]

14. I had a baby doll, and also "played" with my sister's dolls

.
.
.

I had no "confusion" as I grew up

They were toys.

I never have had kids of my own, but taken care of many others.

I also had toy guns, but never the desire to hurt anyone.

But he IS your brother's child, not yours.

And you did not mention the mother's opinion.

It is their child, so some restraint is required.

That's my thoughts.

[Rising Phoenix]

16. the mother was fine with it

I will respect my brothers wishes

[DarkTirade]

17. When I was little I had a Cabbage Patch kid.

The name that was on the tag was 'Jessie', which is a rather non-gender specific name. So every few days I'd let everyone know whether Jessie was a boy or a girl. It was different every time. :P

[Rising Phoenix]

18. thats cool

my first cabbage patch was a boy that came with the name Kim....my mom made me change it to Bobby Bill

[DarkTirade]

21. Kim is a boy's name.

Just not in english-speaking countries. :P

[Rising Phoenix]

22. I know

my mom was pissed, she said she didn't buy an asian doll

[DarkTirade]

23. So it went from asian... to redneck?

That's a bit of a switch.

[Rising Phoenix]

24. lol

she picked the first name and my little brother got to pick the middle name.... I had no say....I liked kim :wtf:

[Pacifist Patriot]

19. I gave my boys dolls....they shot me with them.

All of this really breaks my heart. Gender role expectations suck!

[Rising Phoenix]

20. lol

you gotta love kids......and yes it really is heartbreaking

[JI7]

25. remember that "my buddy" toy for boys ?

if they have anything like that.

[BarenakedLady]

26. Somewhere I have a picture of my son

dressed up in a fairy gown with painted nails...

He has two sisters. There is nothing wrong with letting kids be kids and playing with what they are interested in.

My son is now 8, he would rather run around the house naked than wear a dress.

[Rising Phoenix]

27. I agree

oh how this would embarrass the kid, but I used to babysit for two boys, the older one, about 8, used to dress up in a purple bat girl outfit.....leotard, tights, cape, the works.....his father was much distressed.....but, SHOCKER, no harm ever came to the boy.....the world didn't end.....and he is a very successful, and straight, if it matters, professional hockey player

[Pacifist Patriot]

45. Two of my three boys have requested painted nails...

the other one is inexplicably weird.

[Mike03]

28. Not to worry. I grew up with two sisters. I remember dressing up

in ridiculous ways and playing ridiculous games. And the first time I had "sensual" feelings towards a person of the opposite sex, it manifested as wanting to be like her rather than any kind of masculine desire.

I think people should probably just let nature takes its course. I turned out very heterosexual. And I don't even feel bad or guilty about those phases I went through where I felt some kind of affinity to be with girls, but didn't understand the feelings, so that they came out strange.

ON EDIT: I just remembered, I also had a fascination, not so much with dolls but the miniatures that came along with the dolls. Once I discovered Action Jackson and GI Joe, I lost interest in the female doll miniatures.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

29. well i think you should give him a doll if he likes them. its not inappropriate

and it wont make him gay or straight

[Rising Phoenix]

30. Of course it won't

but I don't want to piss off my brother

[Lyric]

32. I've proudly bought my son "girl" toys from time to time

when he wanted them. When he was five, he really liked the "My Little Pony" toys. It's sad that so many people are still under the false impression that "gayness" is anything but inborn. Toys, clothes, music, activities (like cheerleading)--none of those things can "make" someone gay if they aren't already.

I 100% approve of the idea of a little boy playing with a doll. :hi:

[Rising Phoenix]

33. I really think he would love one.....

[marzipanni]

34. I gave my friends' son a boy doll.

He was vinyl and could go in the bath tub (and squirt!)
I looked up dolls and found this one which comes with a potty chair so it's supposed to help with potty training, if that's of any interest...
http://strawberrycentral.com/en/item/index.cfm?MC=95&C=373&SC=1392&ic=3623

[NJmaverick]

35. That's the sort of thing that's probably best to let the parents

decide yeah or ney

[Rising Phoenix]

36. I agree

just thought it would open some interesting perspectives to bring it up

[NJmaverick]

38. ahhh... that makes sense

Yeah it is one of those interesting issues. I am not what the answer is. On the one hand it seems harmless enough, on it's own. On the other, society seems to really frown on it. The child could wonder why he was given a doll (if he still has it) as he gets a bit older. Hard call to make

[Redstone]

39. No. Just fucking no. Call me any epithet you want to, but no fucking DOLLS for boys, OK?

Redstone

[Karenina]

41. You're kidding, of course???

:freak::wow::freak::wow::freak:

[Tektonik]

43. Hopefully, but I doubt it

[marzipanni]

48. And no fucking trucks for girls!!!

Fucking airplanes are o.k., though, if Barbie® is the stewardess. :crazy:

[Orsino]

52. We can call them "action figures," if that will help...

...and pretend that the Bat Cave is entirely different from Barbie's Dream House.

[PeaceNikki]

56. Why not?

:shrug:

[Book Lover]

60. Since you are giving me permission, I have decided to call you...

and your emphatic reaction a little sad.

[Redstone]

63. No problem.

Redstone

[PeaceNikki]

64. Fucking dolls in general are probably a no-no for kids. But I am still dying to know

why are you so against a boy having dolls?

[lumberingbear]

40. I didn't like dolls, but I did like.....

cutting out clothes for paper dolls.

:-) :shrug:

[Tektonik]

42. Do what the parents desire, BUT they're being idiots

My brother and I were taught to do tons of 'girly' things when we grew up; hell my brother was taught to crochet, sew and knit (I refused and only learned to cook :P ). My brother is absolutely straight, but I am gay.

[Lorien]

44. How about a My buddy doll?

they were made for boys who loved baby dolls: http://cgi.ebay.com/My-Buddy-Doll-from-Playskool_W0QQitemZ120238606751QQihZ002QQcategoryZ2576QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Of course, teddy bears are always a good "acceptable" substitute. I think that it's absurd that we push boys to be "macho" at such a young age. Some kids simply do have a more loving/ nurturing natue, and that should be seen as a GOOD thing.

[youthere]

46. My son loved dolls when he was a baby. In fact...

one of his faovrites was an African-American Barbie. He latched onto it at a garage sale and we bought it for him. It had no clothes and all the hair stood on end. He carried that doll around forever, and always had it in his hands....until he was about two and found his penis.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

47. My boys both had dolls...

What's wrong with letting them practice being good daddies?

What does your sister think? If she's opposed, maybe you should just let him play with dolls at your house. It'll probably make him feel closer to you, knowing that you accept the boy he is rather than trying to mold him into some sick societal ideal.

[alphafemale]

49. My son had a doll when he was about two.

He had a sweet little routine for awhile where he would tuck it in and kiss it goodnight.

Not a big deal at all.

Why would anyone discourage a BABY boy from being nurturing?

Good god.

[FloridaJudy]

50. I bought my kid an antomically correct boy doll

To help with toilet training. They're common as weeds now, but back in the eighties I got a lot of shocked looks from the clerks in toy stores. I finally found one, gift-wrapped at gave it to him. He unwrapped it. "This is Boy Baby, I explained. You can take him in the bathroom with you". He looked puzzled, then perked up.

He put the doll on the floor and ran it along the carpet, going "Vroom, vroom!"

I will never again underestimate the power of a Y chromosome.

[zanne]

51. I'm amazed that this argument is still going on.

The debate about giving little boys dolls began in the 60's, when it was thought that it would encourage a more nurturing nature. I agree that it would and I like the idea.

The fact that some parents are still afraid of this idea just shows how little we've progressed since then. Suppose you gave little boys both dolls and "action figures" and plastic trucks and hammers? They might just grow up to have better relationships with women and be better fathers. GASP!

[One_Life_To_Give]

53. "Baby Doll" for boys?

As in the sexy nightie?
Shure would make diaper changing simpler. Which was probably part of the reason boys used to wear dresses.

[Akoto]

54. I had Cabbage Patch Kids when I was young. They were great. n/t

[RadiationTherapy]

55. My daughter is in a Waldorf school (kindergarten) and they are ending the year by

giving each student a "wee one". Boys and girls. The purpose? Teaching nurturing and caring. Each wee one matches the gender of the child receiving it. They will have to 'take care' of it; nothing too heavy I'm sure. Oh, and the coolest part is, they don't come all at once. They come in one at a time, so it feels a bit more 'special'.

Of course, parents haver to MAKE the f%^#ing things, but still.

I love our little hippy school.

[NewJeffCT]

57. My daughter had her 5 year old b-day party at Build A Bear workshop

and she insisted on inviting some of the boys in her kindergarten class, and 3 of the 4 she invited showed up and had a good time. I wasn't sure they'd want to go initially.

so, i don't think it's a big deal.

[Burma Jones]

58. These are my two older kids, about 6 years ago

The Boy is testing for his Black Belt in June and is a wickedly aggressive Linebacker. Now, whether he turns out Gay or not has nada to do with the fact he played nurturing games, he saw me feeding babies and saw that nurturing babies is also a Guy thing too.

Ah well, you should probably go with the Parents' wishes, but let them know they're being silly.

[miss_american_pie]

59. No one ever respected my wishes

about what toys my kids have, including their father. ;)

Mine boys have both played with baby dolls, the first particularly when I was pregnant the second time and trying to teach the him how to be gentle with babies.

[dropkickpa]

61. There used to be a doll called My Buddy

Aimed at boys, back in the 80's (my little brother had one).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Buddy_(doll)