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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not want to give my dd "in the night garden" toys?

150 replies

babymt · 07/09/2008 14:16

My dd2 was 2 on friday and for her birthday has been given by 2 seperate people an In the Night Garden book and a dolly (Upsy Daisy). AIBU to not let her have them?

My reasons are that I A. Passionately hate the program as I just think its completely idiotic and B. Think that her having them toys makes it look like I endorce the show.

I know lots of you will let your children watch ITNG and they love it. But I don't like it and will under no circumstances let mine watch it. I'm not criticising those who let their kids watch it, its just something that bugs me.

Also AIBU to be annoyed that people seem to give my kids inappropriate toys i.e. books for 5+ year olds (including Enid Blytons for my 2 year old!) or baby books. Or toys will loads of little bits when my dd's a "put everything in her mouth"er.

I feel a bit bad for my dd2 coz she didn't get hardly anything she liked for her birthday. Which is also embarassing for me. You know when they do that rip the present open then throw it on the floor then display no interest when someone tries to show them it.

Ok I IABU a bit I think.

OP posts:

Gateau · 08/09/2008 11:03

Have to add, I think Upsey Daisy is the sweetest character on ITNG. Would love one of the toys but I don't think it would be quite suitable for DS He has an Igglepiggle and loves him! Cuddles him etc and he lies in bed beside him.

VictorianSqualor · 08/09/2008 11:18

I flipping hate WTP and as such prefer people not to buy WTP for my DCs.

I posted before about my MiL continuously buying WTP for the baby and me hating it and I don't think I was BU.

But there is a difference between close family/friends buying something they know you don't like and being really fussy about toys.

I think from the OP it seems this thread is the latter, which IMO, is unreasonable.

VictorianSqualor · 08/09/2008 11:19

Gateau, surely Iggle Piggle needs a friend
DS also loves his iggle piggle.

Megglevache · 08/09/2008 11:21

expensive shite.

DD has the iggle piggle and Dipsy Turdy.

peacelily · 08/09/2008 11:21

MaccaPacca has several clinical features including obsessional traits Foxytocin!

Megglevache · 08/09/2008 11:23

and Tinky Winky is a trannie.

Gateau · 08/09/2008 11:24

Can you get a big, cuddly Makka Pakka toy like you can Upsey Daisy and Iggle Piggle? If not, why not??!

peacelily · 08/09/2008 11:26

As for not wanting to put up with things that "aren't too annoying for me" !?!!

I regularly get my head metaphorically caved in by the Tweenies, but dd loves the music, the dancing the general excitability of it all.

And the dreary, tedious repetition on the "storyline" on Big Cook, Little Cook....

However dd loves their little dance and is thrilled to be able to join in everytime it's on.

Obviously I'd rather she imitated Swan Lake or the BBC Young Musician of the year but hey ho....

SmugColditz · 08/09/2008 11:57

jumpingbeans, get a grip. Two year olds cannot display genuine gratitude, and your comments are unrealistic.

calsworld · 08/09/2008 12:17

I think INTG is utterly charming and what kids tv should be all about, music, friendships and playing. My DS is enthralled by INTG and gets excited when he hears the theme. I was so disappointed when they chose the weekend the clocks changed to take it off air and even wrote to complain . I'm glad its back in the evenings, bedtimes have never been a problem but they've just got easier .

I think YABU and you should try to chill out a bit.

NorthernLurker · 08/09/2008 18:06

T"he creatures in it don't talk properly. They run around like idiots. Its all nonsensical. Yes its apparently got morals and a storyline but will a 2 year old get that? NO!"

Right well my experience of 2 year olds is that they don't talk properly all of the time, they run about the place at random all of the time and they mostly understand brodly what is ok and what is not ok. They are also quite capable of enjoying books and following simple instructions.

So going by that I would say INTG is pretty much on the button.

fizzbuzz · 08/09/2008 21:07

Why do you ket your lo watch Dora, which is a pile of American crap, rather than ITNG?

BroccoliSpears · 08/09/2008 21:19

Am chuckling at the idea of a 2-year-old "not liking" her presents.

LittleMyDancing · 08/09/2008 21:24

The thing is, we can guide our children gently in the direction of things we like and don't like (in my case, the Disney Winnie the Pooh, ergh) but in the end, they should be allowed to choose what they enjoy (obviously within reason - nothing harmful!).

DS, to my deep horror, loves the new Andy Pandy animation on Cbeebies. I can't stand it, even though the voice over is done by Tom 'I could kill you with my thumbs' Conti.

So I won't buy him any Andy Pandy toys, but if someone else does, he'll be so pleased, I wouldn't have the heart to take them away.

GodzillasBumcheek · 08/09/2008 21:33

Up until DD3 noticed ITNG (and telly in general), which was after she was a year old, i hated the show - Iggle Piggle looks scary, Upsy Daisy is ugly, the Harhoos (or whatever they are) are utterly bizarre, the pinky ponk has a nipple, and the ninky nonk is quite obviously a merchandisers dream.

I also can't stand programs that seem to just repeat the names of the characters over and over, a la teletubbies style. It's annoying and seems to encourage baby talk rather than encourage language skills.

BUT...DD1 and 2 loved teletubbies and have had no problem talking (now 11 so i think i'd notice).
DD3 adores Iggle Piggle, and loves her small Iggle Piggle soft toy, which is the only merchandise she has of the program. Her language is fantastic (for a 1 and a half year old), and she is very cute when she sings and dances to the songs.

The really great thing is...although i don't like it myself (i detest Dora too, but DD3 shows no interest in it either, thank goodness), she only watches it every other day or so, hardly a major problem.

Sorry it was so long and rambley

ahfeckit · 08/09/2008 21:40

let the kid play with ITNG stuff if she likes it, there's no harm done.
I can't stand anything CBeebies related but my son loves it, he's a person in his own right, so why should I stop him watching it occasionally??
Come on, lighten up.
YABU.

fizzbuzz · 09/09/2008 20:10

I don't like Cbeebies either, apart from ITNG. It is all too noisy and shouty

Dainese27 · 17/10/2008 14:44

You sound completely unreasonable! If your daughter didn't get anything she liked for her birthday, that's your fault. She's 2 for gods sake, you should be telling friends and family what she likes / dislikes.

And as for not letting her watch ITNG I personally think that you're doing more harm than good. My daughters both watch the program and it calms them and they both know that when the characters head off to bed, they're next. If you look onto the website and listen to the directors / producers of the show there's actually quite alot of educated learning in there, albeit from a toddlers eyes.

Give yourself a break and loosen up a bit!

BTW - I don't understand what the hell half of the shorthand that's used in this forum; you lot are worse than teenagers using text speak on a daily basis, lol, rofl???!??

misshardbroom · 17/10/2008 16:04

YANBU. Every time I see IgglePiggle I reach for my revolver.

Flightattendant2 · 17/10/2008 16:10

Sorry but you do sound really ungrateful - of course you don't have to give her the toys if you disapprove of them, and I am glad you are polite when you accept them.
But just please think about the intention behind it. It isn't because the people buying these things want to upset or annoy you, it's because they think you'll like them.

That's what you have to bear in mind.
It is really hard to know what to get other people's children and I am sure I rarely get it right. We just try our best.

Flightattendant2 · 17/10/2008 16:11

Btw Macca Pacca is a giant tit, right?

or is that just me..

MorrisZapp · 17/10/2008 16:13

Genuinely gobsmacked at anybody finding ITNG irritating or offensive but liking My Little Pony.

Each to their own but... wtf?? Mind boggling.

mummytowillow · 17/10/2008 21:43

ITNG is a load of old rubbish, but when your under 2 its the most wonderful, funny, cute load of rubbish on the TV!

My daughter's (15 mth) face lights up when the music starts and she strokes her own hand, she loves it!

YABU about the presents, there her presents not yours, she probably loves them, let her have them for gawds sake and get over it!

BloodshotEyeballsintheScarySky · 17/10/2008 21:46

My DD goes out with Igglepiggle under one armpit and Mr Pontipine under the other (she's 9 months). I hate it because it makes it seem like she watches tv all the time. She doesn't, far from it. She sees about one episode a week on the catch up but she does stand there waving whichever one of them is on the screen. They're babies, they love this stuff. It's not meant for you to enjoy. Let her have them.

BloodshotEyeballsintheScarySky · 17/10/2008 21:47

BTW, I have bought books for when she is older - Pippi Longstocking, Faraway Tree etc. I'm building up her library. Nothing wrong with books at all.

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