5 year old wanting to be a baby again

[Adatwistthescientist]

My 5 year old DS is very bright and has an extremely enquiring mind.

The last couple of bed times he’s been unusually quiet and subdued and keeps asking things like “why do people have to die when they get old?”

Tonight he has been cuddling his teddies (which he never does) and asking to watch old videos from when he was a baby and toddler. He then said he wants to be a baby again and when I said he can’t go back to that, he was asking why and getting upset.

Has anyone else dealt with a similar situation? It’s concerning me, as he’s usually a very confident boy.

My younger child went through phases of this.

If you don't feel that there is anything more than maybe worry about death behind it all, then I'd simply meet the need, have a few cuddly weeks and then ime the need falls away.

My dd has asked if she can stay little and go
back to reception . I think it was where she felt the most supported and the most free. I have talked to her about all the fun things she does now - gymnastics and trampolining and then said she couldn’t do those when she was really little and growing up means to you get to try more new exciting things. She is fine now, and recently said she can’t wait for her birthday so u think we are out of that phase !

It’s the age. All four of my kids, aged about five, suddenly realised that everyone was going to die. It’s a big thought for a tiny mind. My youngest is currently five and wants to be a baby again. He’s very clingy right now.