Please tell me my son isn't the only one who still croons to his stuffed animals?

[Elinor Everywhere]

This is driving my dh nuts, and I'm wondering if anyone else's kid still does this at age 10. My son has a stuffed dog that he loves, but we rarely take it when we travel because it is large (I'm talking airplane travel). He recently got a "baby" version of the same dog, and he walks around talking in a high-pitched baby voice, saying things like "Come on little doggy, aren't you just such a cutie-pie", etc. You get the drift.

The voice grates on my ears, but it's less because of what he is saying (and to whom) and more because I hate baby-talk of any kind, even when it's done to babies. It's like nails on a chalkboard to me!

So.....normal? Weird? Age inappropriate? Or fine, just aggravating and annoying to listen to?

[Scarlett]

Well, mine is only just turned 8, but he is still very very attached to his stuffed animals. He has a Build a Bear dog that he carries around during the day even....not every second, but if he goes in to watch a show he grabs "Prince". He sleeps with him, takes him to Nana's and takes him on all trips. And he talks to him . And about him.

S' ok though. If you saw my other post about his backtalking, you'll understand that the stuffed animal thing is nothin'. :)

[StacyWithFourRugrats]

but my 8yo ds still has tons of "babies" he plays and sleeps with. Each of them has their own birthday and often his "babies" have "babies" (little plastic animals usually). They will often have parties with his siblings' babies too.

It is kinda cute in a way still.

[WendyK]

awww, I think that is sweet. I can imagine it is annoying after awhile, but I suppose it could be worse. He could be pretending to shoot everything. :lol:

[klmama]

after an overnight that it was amazing to him how many of the boys still slept with and talked to their stuffed animals, even when other boys were around. They are so intent on looking big and tough to each other, but then they can't sleep without their sweet teddy or their puppy, and they do talk baby talk to them. So, your ds isn't all that unusual. If the baby talk bothers you a lot, you might just make a rule about not talking baby talk around you.

[abbeyej]

Ds is 8.5 and his best friend is nearly 11. They both have stuffed animals who are very special to them and with whom they have conversations and pretend play. My ds is a lot more quiet/thoughtful than his friend who is more physical and kinetic, but both of them still love their creatures...

I have to admit, hearing the baby talk would probably drive me to distraction too. ;) I'd probably end up saying, "Look, the baby talk is making me insane -- if you've got to do that, go do it in another room!" lol... But I never claimed to be a particularly tolerant mom. ;)

[momto3]

My son is 10 and has at least 30 animals he sleeps with every night including a dog that is bigger than him. I love that he makes up stories for them and uses his imagination every night. It is also something that he and his younger sisters can play together. For a boy who is generally consumed with thoughts of sports or battles I thank God when I see this softer side come out in the evening.

The baby talk would be restricted to his room if it were my choice. There is nothing wrong with it in my opionion, just annoying as you mentioned.

My "little" boy will be a man soon enough. I want to enjoy the few childish things while they are still there.

[Pegasus]

My first thought is that all these precious boys are going to be awesome fathers!

Pegasus

[awanama]

My ds is going to be 12 this summer and still loves his stuffed animals and drags them around the house. Now, he would never do this in front of his buddies!

[Elinor Everywhere]

I suppose it could be worse. He could be pretending to shoot everything. :lol:

:rofl: !!

[Elinor Everywhere]

I feel better knowing other 10yos do this--and you are all right, it is sweet, but annoying (the voice). I like the idea of telling him to use the voice in his bedroom (or outside, or any place where I am not!).

Thank you very much for making me feel better about it.

[hose]

My almost 10 year old still "baby talks". It is annoying, but I think I may just miss it in a few years. There is only so much time to be a child. Try to enjoy it!

[Linda in NM]

Wolfie accompanied my son everywhere...until he was about 11. Wolfie began life as a dog, but wound up looking like a drowned rat--he still lives on the upper bunk (along with his fuzzy buddies), and my son is 13...

[Donovans4]

my 10 yr old ds recently took one of his stuffies to his Spanish class as a show and tell item, and all the kids, both boys and girls were interested in his toy and the story behind it. I did ask him before the class if he was sure he wanted to take it, and he was adamant. He has several stuffies that still sleep w/ him every night!

LauraD in MN

[Cricket]

My 9 (10 in two weeks) yo ds still loves his "pets" as he calls them. The other day he made a dog house out of a cardboard box for his stuffed dog. He plays with them and carries them around but sometimes he will tell me, "Don't tell anyone I still like to play with these, Mom." lol

[Scarlett]

This morning I took my ds8 yard-sale'ing. It is one of his favorite things to do. I was on the hunt for some summer clothes for him....didn't find much of that, but I found a few things worth getting out for. Well, dh gives ds $5 worth of quarters to spend. Guess what we mostly came home with? Yep. Stuffed animals. Even though I told him, 'we can't really WASH stuffed animals and they might be gross.' Shudder. I inspected them all when we got home and most looked brand new never touched. Two however, I insisted go right into the trash. Anyway, I thought of this thread....so glad there are so many other boys like mine out there.

[Valerie(TX)]

spend the night with us. Ds is the eldest of my three kids and is a year younger than this other boy. The friend would bring his pillow, his stuffed puppy, Charlie, and his overnight roll bag. The friend would tell my kids stories about his pup, and they'd all play along and take turns swapping their animals and cuddling them while the friend was over.

We thought nothing of it at the time and just figured it was one of the many endearing traits of ds' young friend.

HTH

[CalicoKat]

ds5 has slept with his sister's naked Barbies for years. He lines them up on his pillow. It's the strangest thing but I decided not to make an issue of it and hope it goes away.

Things did get better when he got the Build A Bear Stegosauras. He named it "Sara" and she goes every where with him.

He's also got 3 Webkinz, "Zaz" the lion, "Beary", and "Wilbur" the pig.

They're helping him not play with the Barbies.

[claussenpc]

My 10 year old ds still sleeps with his favorite stuffed animal. It goes to canp and Grandma's.
He still asks to purchase stuffed animals.