To ask for toddler suitable alternatives to FFS

[slightlyeggstained]

DS is 2.9, speech improving but still a bit unintelligible to other people at times. Thankfully, given that he's picked up "for fuck's sake" as an expletive.

Ignoring in the hope it'll be less interesting and will fade away hasn't worked. He mostly mutters it to himself when frustrated. Think it's time to try retraining him to use something else.

Any great suggestions for pithy phrases that aren't sweary?

We have a surprising number of 'fish' and 'ships' in this house.

Clucking bell?

Oh my sainted socks! (Adaptation of "Oh my sainted trousers!" if you know your Blackadder...)

Fliberty-gibbits
It's strangely satisfying!

I don't think suggesting alternatives will work as it draws attention to what they're saying, ignoring is the only thing I've ever done (until they're older and know exactly what they're saying).

DS2 was with me last summer in a queue at our local post office. A young girl was behind us on her phone and loudly exclaimed "fucking nora" to the person on the other end. I gave her the stink eye and she quietened down. Thought nothing more of it til we popped into Tesco to pick up milk and DS2 dropped his toy car at the checkout and loudly exclaimed "fucking nora, Mama" to me. Ignore, ignore, ignore. And pray they stop it.

Oh dear me

My grandad used to say: "Oh chrysanthemums!"

I say 'jeepers creepers' - pretty satisfying but also kind of cute when they do say it.

I don't think your child needs an alternative.

Lots of people believe in going down the ignoring route but it never worked for my kids.

Whenever they said picked up a swear word, they would get a firm "NO" from me, DH, grandparents etc.

It was very effective and soon made them stop but obviously all kids are different.

'For goodness sake'

We managed to pass 'fuck' off as 'fox' - that made for some odd looks when dd was wandering what the fox was going on.

"Heavens to Betsy!"

DS had an afternoon a while back running into the living room stating 'for fucksakes', then taking a big sigh followed by 'deary me' and running out again. I fear he may have pucked this up from me after a stresful morning clearing up the almighty mess in the house Thankfully his ffs sounds like 'duck legs' so we have adopted that in our house.

I do "for Pete's sake"

Recently was cut up very badly on a roundabout and little voice comes from the back seat "what's a dick?"!!

I was mortified when DS2 got frustrated.

He sounded like he was screaming, "I CUNT do it Mummy!"

Then he shortened it to "CUUUUNT!!"

Those few months felt like years...

'Four foot snake' is popular in this house!

There's a lot of "for goodness sake" or "Jesus Christ" or "jesus wept" in my house, a lot of blasphemy.

"For pity's sake!"

"Fiddlesticks" (adapted to a whispered "fucksticks" when I'm on my own and pissed off)

"Ssshhiver me timbers!" (thanks, Octonauts)

"Sugar"

"Oh for five minutes" works for me.

My son 2.5 has picked up fucking wanker. I have no idea where from as it's not a word we use? (Wanker that is)

It's been weeks and he still says it. We've tried alternatives / ignoring. Hope he stops it soon as we have his nursery induction in a few weeks!!

"Cheese and Sprinkles!" - it's from Rio.

"Fudge it!" - love a bit of fudge in our house!

Completely ignore whilst over exaggerating the 'new' version to make it sound more attractive. He'll soon forget the first and start using the second . My DS kept shouting 'ah crap' for a few weeks, he soon forgot about it but it's mortifying when it happens in public!

For foofys sake, the f on foofy gives you time to back track from fuck.

'Fffffflunge!' is surprisingly satisfying. 'Pooholes' is another fairly innocuous word that gets heavy usage when driving/playing boardgames.

There is a football player called Schweinsteiger. DH and I have adopted his name as an alternative to bastard or similar, as it has a brilliant sweary feel without being at all offensive. Sorry, Schweinsteiger

We use flippityjibbit also...

In the car, I have unfortunately been copied by my two who will witness bad driving and yell "Learn to drive" and "If you can't drive it, don't buy it"... They're slowly stopping it (as I am) but there's a way to go yet!!!!!