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My three and a half year old won't leave babies alone.

4 replies

SmileSam · 30/10/2007 16:26

I am 21 weeks pregnant and have a three and a half year old daughter. I have friends with babies of all ages - from newborns to the same age as my daughter. My daughter is such a pain with babies and younger children. She will not leave them alone - touching them, hugging them, shaking their pushchairs, kissing them, pulling at their clohtes, roaring in their faces, etc. I've tried to be patient and show her how to play nicely, but she's just so over the top. She says it's because she 'loves babies so much,' 'wants to make them laugh', etc. but her behaviour really is too much. I've also tried a zero tolerance approach and warned her, then sat her out, or given her a good lecture, etc. I dread what to think she'll be like when our next baby comes along. She's always been a bit over the top with other children - e.g. cuddling too hard/much and very 'in their faces'. She really is such a good girl in most other ways, but this is making me want to stop mixing with other moms. (She goes to nursery two days a week and playschool two mornings a week and they say she's fine with other children.)

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jabberwocky · 30/10/2007 16:47

I have a friend whose kids are like this with my baby. I think it's great that you at least recognize that it may be OTT and are trying to talk to her about it. Could you get her a realistic baby doll and talk about giving it kisses, etc?

SmileSam · 30/10/2007 22:24

Thanks for your reply jabberwocky - I'm glad you sympathise and don't see me as just one of those moms with the god-awful pushy kids! We have a number of baby dolls - she's mad about dolls and she's really gentle with them. One sleeps in a cot in her bedroom with her every night!

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nametaken · 30/10/2007 23:28

Hi SmileSam - does your daughter know your pregnant and could it be that she is really excited about the new baby coming. If that's the case then I would expect the novelty of babies to wear off a couple of months after the new baby arrives.

My daughter was a bit like this but she grew out of it and now she is 10 and she is really really good with the younger children and they all love her. She also still plays with all her baby dolls. I think it just comes naturally to certain girls, this love of babies.

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SmileSam · 31/10/2007 09:34

Thanks nametaken. Yes she does know baby is on the way - you can't miss it, I'm only half way and I'm bloody massive this time. She is very excited - always singing to it and cuddling it. I hope the novelty does wear off like it did with your daughter, else I'm going to have to suspend the Moses basket from the ceiling.

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