My toddler swears...anyone else?

[clevername]

My 2 year old DS says 'bugger', on purpose, as clear as day, because he's heard us say it and he obviously likes the reaction he gets when he says it. I find this hilarious and also very embarrassing, depending who is listening when he says it.

He also says, unintentionally:
'shite' ('light')
'tit' ('sit')
cock ('clock')

Anyone else's child swear like a sailor?

@clevername
Don't regret it you've made me laugh.

All kids pick stuff up it's how you deal with it. My dad's 89 and has said bugger all my life.

My kids grew up with me swearing like a bastard. They never ever swore at anyone or in front of anyone inappropriately. In fact my DD is anti swearing, bless her (she's an adult), as she says she needs to keep those words "fresh" for when she really really needs them.

As long as swearing goes hand in hand with respect and self awareness, I don't see anything wrong. Personally I didn't laugh at my kids swearing - ignore it and the words lose their power.

@00100001
It really isn't.

Swearing by accident is quite funny - but I wouldn’t show I found it funny. Obviously they’ll click on to that and then will do it on purpose.

Picked child up from church crèche who promptly yelled across the hall "daddy! Look at my cock"
They'd made clocks from paper plates that day

Massive cross post...
Thank goodness my people have arrived to this thread!

I completely agree with that Billy Connolly quote. Swearing is great, if used appropriately.

And no, 00100001, he won't be saying fuck, cunt etc, because I won't say those words in front of him...

A toddler saying swear words is as 'hilarious' as a toddler on Christmas day unwrapping a gift, chucking it to one side and calling "next!" And all the adults going "awwww, how funny!!!"

No it's not. Don't be silly.

OP, don't regret this thread! If only for 'bitch' and 'raspberry nipple' 🤣

There's the occasional time when kids will say "bitch" for "beach". ...but that's not the same. That's a mispronunciation of a word.

But to deliberately use the word in context is the issue.

If bugger is ok, then so is arse? Shit? Tosser? Wanker? Pissed off?

@00100001 you haven't taught your child to say wanker? Shit parenting. Sometimes 'idiot' isn't strong enough.

Ophelia, well if you're happy for your child to wander round saying 'bugger' and "next present!" And find it hilarious...then good for you and your child.

But to me that's unacceptable behaviour.

Change what you say from "buggar" to "bother".

I'm a big believer in teaching children how to swear appropriately using substitute child-friendly swear words. The world is imperfect and children need a way to express that just as adults do. Bother and fiddlesticks were my go-tos. I just looked horribly shocked whenever the kids said them and they soon got the message that these were terrible words that could be used to cause a reaction.

Oh yes, hilarious let's have two year olds wandering round going "what a wanker" and "bugger, I dropped my sweets"

Very witty...

I would find it amusing but it will only get him into trouble and be a lightening rod for judgement. So do what ever you can to kindly get him out of the habit.

Reminds me of the times we had to be responsible parents and trying so hard not to laugh. Straight faced disapproval but could not catch the eye of Dh or we loose it and start giggling.

00100001 - no, not new to mumsnet at all. I posted in 'chat', rather than AIBU, though, expecting people to get the light-hearted nature of my post.

And no, your example is not remotely the same. If my kid acted like an arsehole, I would not laugh. Saying 'bugger' doesn't make him an arsehole.

But to deliberately use the word in context is the issue

Hardly an 'issue'. They're just words, they won't bite, you know.

Make sure DC know not to swear at school/in front of grandma/at parties, otherwise, who cares? After all, everyone knows that the only thing that makes stubbing your toe slightly less painful is shouting FUUUUUCCCCCKKKK BOLLLLLOCCCKKKSSSS at top volume, whatever your age!

DD3.

Socks, mispronounced “cocks”, when she was almost 2. She LOVED socks. Would carry a pair around everywhere with her, this lasted for weeks.

I bought her some new ones in Sainsbury’s, and as we’re walking around, she’s telling people “Mummy got new cocks” and waving her socks at them

My kids have repeated a word once after I've said it but they've never remembered it since.

@00100001 DD wouldn't dream of saying 'next present' because she's not a cock. Cock, however, she'd be happy to say 😊

No. My DS is nine and has never uttered a swear word (well in front of me anyway!) They are repeating what they hear.

My Gdd at 3 said, 'Heil Hitler!' at nursery.
She was very keen on The Sound of Music at the time.

Great minds, Ophelia

Oh wow, well done to all the perfect parents who’ve never unthinkingly let out an expletive in earshot of their children and the children have therefore never parroted it back. Well done you, wish I was as great a parent as you.

Once they start school you’ll wonder why you bothered when they pick up all manner of words from other people’s offspring anyway.

Of course kids swearing isn’t great but we’re only human and sometimes less than ideal things happen. In a world where kids are abused or growing up with arsehole druggie parents for example the odd “shit” being uttered in their presence is hardly the end of the world.

OP ignore it and he’ll stop he’s only doing it because he gets a reaction.

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER

Bet that’s took some explaining! I’m crying here.

When my sister had not long started school (so just learned to read) the Pope visited Glasgow. Around this time my gran took us out on the bus somewhere and my sister proudly shouted out that she could read some graffiti that was on the bus shelter. “LOOK GRAN I CAN READ THAT, IT SAYS FUCK THE POPE!”