Is this too soppy/girly for DS?

[PomBearWithAnOFRS]

My no3 son, who just turned 12, adores pandas. He has always liked them and has loads of related crap stuff - soft toys, games, logoed things, clothes etc.
Anyway I just found this
and wondered if it would be too pathetic if Santa brought it for him.
He would love it I know, but would it be a bit "odd" for a 12 year old?
I always call him my "little softy" - he is so sweet and gentle - he is one of those children that will always run to help if someone falls over or is standing alone in the playground, and always has something nice to say to everyone. I'm just dithering....
Would you buy it for him if you were me?

[DiegeticMuch]

I don't think that it's age appropriate. It's fine for either gender though.

[MrsJayy]

Would he play with it ? Its not the soppy thing i would worry about would a 12yrold play wit h it personally I think its a younger childs toy

[PitilessYank]

If you think he would love it, then buy it for him, absolutely...

[NotLadyPrickshit]

I hate stuffed toys with a passion! That being said I have bought my 8yo that daft fur real pug because that's what he's asked Santa for!

DD2 (15 tomorrow) has a million stuffed toys & she sneaks new ones in all the time - she also still has her reborn doll & although she doesn't "play" with it anymore she'd be devastated if I got rid of it!

I don't think stuffed toys in general are exclusive to small kids but I don't think the panda in the OP is suitable for a 12yo boy. OP if he loves pandas can you perhaps sponsor one at the zoo in his name?

[Soubriquet]

I was a very immature 12 year old and would have loved it

If he likes that sort of thing, go for it

There is the furreal panda too

[haggisaggis]

My dd (14) still likes getting toys (Sylvanian families etc) but would think that too babyish. How about a <a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/Folkmanis-Panda-Hand-Puppet-Small/dp/B0007QO4E0?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">panda puppet?

[AndNowItsSeven]

Koala because I thought he believed in Santa not because he liked the toy.

[J3NN1]

I don't think anything can be 'too girly' or 'too boyish' - everything needs to stop being so gender specific.
In terms of that toy I do think it's seems far too young for a 12 year old. Will it just be a novelty for Xmas day itself? Will he be embarrassed to show his friends? Will he actually have it on display or want to hide it after Christmas Day?
That being said, you know your son better than anyone and if you think he will love it then go ahead.

[PilkoPumpPants]

What about a panda calander for his room?

[atticusclaw2]

Definitely not.

My DS is 11 and still has a few soft toys on his bed. I'll often go in to kiss him goodnight and he'll be snuggled up with Woof Woof, a stuffed dog he's had since he was born. He also still said "Aaww look at that cute polar bear!" in Ikea yesterday. He would NOT in a million years want that toy.

[PilkoPumpPants]

pombears what about this?

www.worldofbears.com/acatalog/Keel-SW4634-Sitting-Panda-Medium-12280.html?gclid=CjwKEAiA3qXBBRD4_b_V7ZLFsX4SJAB0AtEV5GgIS5-TUtm3sYHKWZCW_XCJ-Ryl1CKLI3as-9F-GBoCY-Pw_wcB

[PilkoPumpPants]

Its not too girly but i just couldn't get a 12yr old that sorry. Is he really going to sit there and feed it?

A 12yr old of any gender would be ripped to shreds by their friends if they saw it. Someone will probably take a photo of it and post it all over Facebook for everyone to share around the whole school.

Soft toys are fine but not a panda with a nappy on!

[PomBearWithAnOFRS]

I don't think he actually believes in Santa as such, we just do "Santa Presents" in a Xmas bag on Xmas morning.
All the DCs (including my married 26yr old and left home 22 yr old get one)
They can ask for things they really want and will get at least one or two things, and a stocking full of sweeties and "tat" - it's just how we do Xmas.

[KoalaDownUnder]

Bloody hell, you don't have to have special needs to like babyish stuff.

I was surprised and thrilled when my mum (who was normally v practical about gifts) bought me a plush stuffed rabbit for winning an academic award. I was nearly 13.

[DoItTooJulia]

Yes-I showed him an article about it and he was a bit 'meh' about it but just because grown ups fetishise it, doesn't mean it's too childish for an 11yo iyswim?

Sometimes a tenner on a babyish toy in amongst the others is what makes Christmas a bit magical. (With the caveat about being able to afford the tenner and the other bits, of course)

[ErrolTheDragon]

DoItTooJulia - mlp is different, presumably you've heard of the 'brony' thing?

Anyway, op - your DS sounds lovely, but that toy is babyish I'm afraid (not girly...my dd would have been at a panda in a nappy at any age!)

Hopefully you can find something else he likes which is a bit more age appropriate eg if he liked art something like https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/7gf/Diy-painting-paint-number-kits-Panda-inches/B00KQFMJS0/ref=sr11_28?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1479111578&sr=1-28&keywords=pandas

[AndNowItsSeven]

As he still believes in Santa does he have SN if so then yes it's fine, it's not the gender that's the issue , it's the age.

[Blackbird82]

I would buy it and give it to him before xmas, away from the critical eye of your relatives who will berate him for being 'too girly/soppy'

I think it's great that he's in touch with his emotions and long may it continue.

[Somerville]

Why does it matter if it's 'too young' for a 12 YO? That's totally subjective anyway, but even if it weren't, lots of people like things that are aimed at younger age groups. I'm buying beanie boos for a still-obsessed 11YO boy (DN) for Christmas. And my teenage daughter had asked for more Lego, which has raised a few eyebrows - but not mine.

It's only £15. If that's a significant part of your total budget then maybe go for something that's got more play value. But if he's got some of their stuff too and you think he'll like it, then go for it.

[whimsical1975]

I would do what you suggested and let him see it first... that way he makes up his own mind if it's too young for him or not!!!

My DS11 has spent so much time watching Hatchimals youtube clips because my DD9 really wants one that he has asked for one himself!!! I was a little taken aback, DH was horrified, but I think the whole hatching aspect fascinates him so I've got him one too!!! I could care less whether others feel it's too young for him... he's got his entire life to be an adult and only a handful of years left to be a child.

As for believing in Santa... I still believe in Santa!!! Let that magic ride for as long as your DS wants it too!!!! Children aren't daft!! If they want to know the truth they'll find out, if they're not asking about it then leave them - how on earth does this affect anyone else!!??!?!?!

[ChocChocPorridge]

Seems a bit young for a 12 year old (I wouldn't say girly/soppy) - doesn't really do much that I'd have thought a 12 year old would be into.

But if you think he'd like it, then why not - just be prepared for it to just join the rest of the panda stuff and never really be used.

[ChampsMum]

Sorry but I wouldn't buy it, I would buy it for my 5 year old if that's what he wanted but no way would I buy it for a 12 year old.

[KoalaDownUnder]

I dunno. It's not really 'interactive' in a way that would interest a 12-year-old, IYSWIM?

That said, I was a child who liked babyish things way longer than most, so I get where you're coming from. What's the harm, really.

[PurpleDaisies]

Too girly?

How about these as a fun stocking filler? My DH bought me the guinea pigs last Christmas and I'm significantly older than 12.

www.playmobil.co.uk/panda-family/6652.html?adword=google%2FGB%2FGMF&src=GMF

[ineedamoreadultieradult]

I have no problem with soft toys for 12 year olds either boys or girls but that is a particularly ugly panda.