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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to want my DC to only have wooden toys? (Or is this a case of PFB Syndrome?)

632 replies

LovestoLove · 20/10/2010 16:18

I don't think I'm generally PFB - I want my child to respect adults, eat with no fussing/faddiness (or at least no reaction on my part), have no quibbles about the step, won't give copious amounts of juice/biscuits, won't give into tantrums, etc.

But I really have a thing about the bucket loads of plastic toys that I fall over when at friends' homes.

I love wooden toys/puzzles, books, cloth dolls, make-believe things, fancy dress, etc.

Is it totally unreasonable of me to ask parents, in-laws, and anyone else who's expressed interest in getting a baby gift to get something wooden/natural? I know wooden toys are generally seen as more expensive but I've found some on Ebay and other sites that aren't bad.

Or am I going to be seen as crazy? I'm 30 weeks pregnant by the way with DC1. Grin

OP posts:
LovestoLove · 20/10/2010 16:18

Oh and have namechanged in case everyone throws something at me.

OP posts:
thighsmadeofcheddar · 20/10/2010 16:19

Good luck with all that Grin

LovestoLove · 20/10/2010 16:20

Oh dear. Is it really that unreasonable of a request? Sad

OP posts:
brimfull · 20/10/2010 16:20

bless

magicmummy1 · 20/10/2010 16:20

YANBU. But you will eventually give up on this and allow the plastic to invade your house...it happens to all of us! :(

Concordia · 20/10/2010 16:20

i love wooden toys, it's just a shame my DCs prefer the plastic ones.....

ConnorTraceptive · 20/10/2010 16:21

YABU grown ups love nostalgic wooden toys kids love plastic tat

scurryfunge · 20/10/2010 16:21

You can certainly try but if your child ever plays with other children, goes to nursery or watches tv, then you know what he/she will prefer?

AreYouAFreudOfTheDark · 20/10/2010 16:21

I think a range is best... wooden stuff gets damaged easily (teethmarks!)

there's lots of toys that aren't really available in wood.

YANBU to feel that, but in the nicest possible way, get over it [hwink]

Fel1x · 20/10/2010 16:21

The thing is though -the toys are not for you Grin
You may love cloth books and wooden toys but I guarantee that your child will LOVE plastic tat and as you will love your child more than you hate plastic tat, thats what your child will end up having!
Plus plastic is easy to clean as a bonus. If you've got a child slobbering cold germs on the toys or being sick etc then plastic ones will be a lot more hygenic than wooden!

MakemineaGandT · 20/10/2010 16:21

Oh hahahahahaha! Read this in a couple of years and you will cringe!!!

MrsC2010 · 20/10/2010 16:22

YANBU to want that, but you would BU to insiston/expect it. I feel the same to a degree, but am now aware that a lot of the toys that appeal to/stimulate little ones are by their nature bright etc, and most of them tend to be plastic! At the end of the day, which will your child prefer more? That's the more important question.

Sassybeast · 20/10/2010 16:22

You are officially allowed to blame the hormones Wink

reup · 20/10/2010 16:22

It's sad you can't judge a toy on it's merit rather than it's material. It seems very shallow. I have met someone else who actually called over to their son to only play with the wooden toys at a playgroup. Unfortunately our sons go to the same school and she is possibly one of those most irritating pretentious people I have ever met.

TheProvincialLady · 20/10/2010 16:23

Your house is going to be invaded by a lot worse than plastic. Fear not the plastic. Fear the poo.

maryz · 20/10/2010 16:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AnakisT · 20/10/2010 16:23

I love wooden toys.....much nicer.

But you need to prepare yourself for your house to be invaded by plastic tat.

No-one can escape.

LovestoLove · 20/10/2010 16:23

LOL Fel - yes indeed the toys are not for me!

I am fully prepared to let said child indulge in plastic at the many playgroups I pan to go to Wink or other people's homes, I just feel like if you let one or two in, then it's a deluge.

Thinking about it now, it's mostly the colour-coded crap I hate - if we have a girl, I expect every toy we get to be pink, and vice-versa for boys. Wooden toys are so lovely and asexual Grin.

OP posts:
clemetteattlee · 20/10/2010 16:23

It is not unreasonable. In fact it is a feeling that plenty of people have before they have children. And then their children are born and are drawn to the noisiest, brashest, most colourful piece of tat and your house will be as full of plastic as the rest of ours are.

I remember saying confidently that we would confine the toys to one small basket in the corner of the dining room ... last year we had an extension to house the accumulated plastic of two (I am currently looking at the plastic kitchen, buggies, craft table, seesaw, ELC piano, scooters, ball runs, garage, playdoh etc etc etc)

IWouldNotCouldNotWithAGoat · 20/10/2010 16:24

Hahahahahahaha!

That's a good one.

Suggest you re-read this in 3 years' time!

ThighsWideShitItsAGhost · 20/10/2010 16:24

Wishing you all the best there then!

Don't think you can put in requests as to what people buy for you. You can hide the plastic toot that people buy for you, but like a previous poster said, your house will fill with junk and resemble a jumble sale quicker than you can say "No, dear, this one doesn't need batteries." !!! Wink

CrazyPlateLady · 20/10/2010 16:24

YABU.

Don't bother. Children love the plastic toys. I don't get this snobbiness about them tbh, there is nothing wrong with plastic toys.

Yes the wooden ones look lovely but they are over priced and won't get played with half as much.

LovestoLove · 20/10/2010 16:25

Oh and those horrible noise-making toys. Could I at least stipulate nothing that requires batteries or sings?

OP posts:
AScaryFuckingLemonadeDrinker · 20/10/2010 16:25
Grin
IngridFletcher · 20/10/2010 16:25

You appear to have a lot of ideas about parenting for someone who has never actually done it!

What happens when your pfb points in the window of ELC and their face lights up and they shout 'want it' (or probabaly 'please mother' in your case) about some hideous plastic tat?