to find the 'babies' rather unsettling

[RebeccaWithTheGoodHair]

DD is 8 and an only child so playing with her dolls is really important to her. However she involves me totally in the game and although I've tried to persuade her that she's the mum and I'm the granny she's having none of that and insists she's the big sister.

However, they come bloody everywhere with us and she talks loudly to me about the 'twins' and what they're doing and tries to get me to pick them up and change their nappies or give them a bottle. It's hugely embarrassing.

I can't say I enjoy the game in any way, their horrible stare-y eyes freak me out for a start. But the other day we were in B&Q, the 'babies' went in the seat at the front of the trolley and a woman came up to me and said she'd thought they were real at first. I felt like I was one of those strange re-born women and found it hard to raise a laugh even though she was only being friendly.

There's no doubt IABU as DD is only little and the game is important to her but surely I'm not BU to find the dolls creepy and unnerving? Please tell me I'm not!!

Oh you want to tell me to fuck off...I see.
Ok...will do.

But I'll shake your hand before I go.
Sorry again. x

I think any humour in either of our posts is going straight past the other. Apologies that I misunderstood the tone of your post.

I've done rats and currently got ferrets. They are great and I was going to suggest if you have plenty of time (4+ hours out of cage a day to play and explore), money (health isn't great with them) and knowledge (all ferret stuff is CRAP). But see she has already got a dog of her own. If the dog didn't work I don't think extra pets will make any difference (although something small she can baby might... like a ferret!) lmao

My DP has said no more pets too. Pure and simple ban, so I'll stop now with encouraging you to add more.

I think you are not being unreasonable at all! I think dolls can be creepy and I think being out and about trying to adult can be difficult enough without having another person (regardless of age) push you into pretending to mother them. Having strangers come over and making comments about something you aren't comfortable about in the first place must be very embarrassing and annoying. I suppose they think you are in on it all with DD and encourage/enjoy it so most might be friendly and those who are laughing behind your back really don't matter. But your feelings do. Making you resent those sodding 'babies' all the more.

I wish you luck in dealing with them. But I do think it's nice like the older strangers comments to see a child being a child.

Perhaps the twins will wake up with chicken pox one day next week (lipstick dots?) and need 7 days quarantine... Lots of extra care when you are home but they sadly can't come out in case they spread it around.

Would a week be enough to break the habit of them coming everywhere?

Ignoring the funny misunderstanding between Rebecca and Pictish - giving twins chicken pox is a great idea.

Or dress them up as scary clowns and then sadly announce they've been arrested and are now in prison for terrifying elderly people.

Chicken pox - yay! Let's face it they can't look any worse, it could be the answer.

Emma I think I prefer clowns to dolls!!

Yep - taking their temperature, applying (pretend) calamine lotion, mittens on so they can't scratch.

Oh, and wrapping them up and putting them down for an extra nap before you go out .

She may not want to leave them unattended if they are ill though.

My four year old daughter has a baby doll that has hair and smells like a real baby etc, she loves it, she has a pram for it and even a toy car seat and she brings it a long and it sits in the car with her! She mainly plays with the doll just by herself but occasionally she's asked me to play a long and I do, never had a problem with it. I think it's sweet and they are using their imagination.

My daughter has a thing for 'Baby Alive' which I've had several sent from America as they don't sell them here anymore. ..... they have the weirdest sunny smiley faces with the most annoying phrases.... I'm always the auntie, she's the Mum.... i even buy them prem baby clothes when I'm out shopping, at her request. A baby bag is packed every time we go out, and if I'm honest, she's spot on with what a 'baby' needs when leaving the house. More clued up than I was when I took her out! I MUST BE MAD? I hate playing the game but it makes her happy and how could I not go along?.... I do hide them out of site when she's gone to bed as they are horror film material

Paint some red spots on them. They can't go out with chicken pox.