DS calling DP 'daddy'

[iopaha]

How do I stop this??

It's only been a few weeks since DS (2) was introduced to new DP. He's still in contact with his dad.
There's been a few occasions that I've thought he'd called DP 'daddy' but wasn't sure so have overlooked it and hoped he'd adjust.
But now it's clear that he's calling DP 'daddy' this evening. We're trying to emphasise DP's name now but how do we stop this? I feel really awkward about it and feel bad for DS's confusion.

Just keep reinforcing 'Steve' or whatever DPS name is.

'dad' is just a common easy sound, and unless he's calling every male he meets 'dad' then its easily corrected.

Is it a word he hears a lot from cousins etc?

@MyOpinionIsValid nope, I think he's just had a lack of males in his life and the only consistent one is ALWAYS referred to as 'daddy'!

To be fair, if you end up staying with your current DP long term, and 'Dad' doesn't amount to much, your DP will be the only 'Daddy' your DS knows.

Tricky one though.

(And I speak as a prospective adopter who is about to meet a 7 y/o who may, or may not(if he doesn't wish to), call me daddy in the future)

Just keep emphasising DP's name to him that's all you can do, he's not going to understand a sit down conversation. Maybe start a book, put a picture of him, you, grandparents, anyone close and DP in it, make it into a storey and emphasise that way, I wouldn't worry too much though.

Just reiterate his name.

"DS, Steve is coming soon, isn't that fun?"

"DS, pass Steve the book"

"DS, shall we go for a walk with Steve?"

My boy was 2 when I introduced my now DP and he has only ever called him by his Christian name.

How does your DP feel about it?

@MeSoTooSo I think we definitely both think we should stop it - his dad is still in the picture and isn't very reasonable either so definitely wouldn't be pleased to be hearing that and me and DP agree that we don't want there to be any element of confusion for him.

If his Dad is the only consistent male in his life then it’s quite a common thing. Lots of kids call nursery staff or even teachers Mummy when they’re not thinking about it

Just keep correcting him consistently and he’ll get the hang of it.

In that case I think all you can do is what you're doing and keep repeating DP's name.

Make a point of saying it, "Pete, I'm going over here. Pete, did you see that on the TV? Pete, can you pass DS his book?"

And "DS, can you give X to Pete? DS, what's your name? What's my name? Is that (point to) Pete?"

Not all at once, obviously....

@MeSoTooSo yeah, think all at once would definitely be a bit much

If he's anything like why mine were at 2 he now thinks that this is a game. He says Daddy. You react.

I'd just stay really calm and do nothing. When he calls DP Daddy make sure DP ignores him. Doesn't respond or answer his question etc.
If he starts to get annoyed say that's not Daddy that's "Joe" and the ignore again and carry on with what you're doing.

He'll eventually get bored.....hopefully.

@Contraceptionismyfriend I did think that a bit - when DP went out to shop I tried showing him a picture and asking 'who's this?' and every time he'd say 'daddy' and I'd correct him he'd just shout it louder with a bigger smile!

My son calls virtually all men I know Daddy, correcting him sometimes works, but sometimes leads to him saying for exam Daddy Dave. He has recently turned four and seems to be ‘getting’ it more now and has started dropping the word daddy a bit more.

It’ll wear off eventually.

@iopaha just sounds like a normal 2 year old. They're so funny but so stubborn as well.

I wouldn't worry then. I'm sure he knows your partners name this is just a laugh he has with you now.

It's a tricky one.
You say it's because toddler sees the only consistent male as Daddy and also said the first meeting was only two weeks ago.

How much time has your partner spent with your son in the last two weeks?

It's not a judgement but if it's been intense and he's been around a lot in the last two weeks can it be that it's just a bit full on your son and that's what's causing his confusion? Like if he's been coming round every evening since meeting your some or every other day for the last few weeks, while that doesn't seem very long to an adult, to a toddler it can feel much longer so I'm just wondering if his little brain is processing it as because he's a man and in his home a lot with his his mammy then the term daddy fits with what he thinks a daddy is.

I suppose it doesn't matter really as even if they've only near a couple of times there's. It much you can other than be consistent in correcting him and using partners name, maybe even partner could refer to himself as his name for a little while too? If he says Steve is my Daddy, I'd say "no sweetheart, Tom is your daddy, Steve is your/my/our friend."

A probably around two year old got giddy and happy seeing me the other day. I smugly thought it was my natural affinity with kids until I realised he was shouting dad DADDY and then rounded it off with BOY! I don't think I looked particularly masculine at the time.. Likewise my 2 year old neice thinks her grandpa is santa. I think it's just word associations. Don't make a big thing of it and it'll stop being a game. I think he's probably just making connections between men and dads.

What's the big deal? I know quite a few people who call both their biological dad and step-dad 'dad'.

Plus at two 'dad' just means 'man I see a lot' anyway.

What's the big deal? I know quite a few people who call both their biological dad and step-dad 'dad'.

That’s a reply that would never happen if someone posted that their child was calling their exes partner that they’d known for a few weeks Mummy

It’s not his step dad it’s the ops boyfriend who op only introduced to the child a few weeks ago, do you think every boyfriend the op gets should be called dad then codemonkey

The child should absolutely be corrected. That a ridiculous comment that it’s not a problem. And if the op has a new bf in a few months?!

It doesn't sound as if the OP has encouraged her DS to call her BF 'Dad' at all, so it's nothing to stress about, and a two year old can easily be trained out of it. Just keep correcting him and he'll get the idea.