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Parenting

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Original poster

Found out that Iam having a baby boy - are they really so different from girls?

76 replies

Minniethemoocher · 16/07/2008 18:47

Just found out that I am having a baby boy and after having a little girl I am panicking a bit with visions of a testosterone filled toddler running riot!

Are boys very different from girls? What do I need to know? Apart from that they can pee in the air!

Should I start reading "Raising Boys" or something?!!

Don't get me wrong, I am sure that having a boy will be great, it is just a step into the unknown.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Niecie · 16/07/2008 23:04

Boys are fab. Definitely agree they are very affectionate - mums of boys get a lot more cuddles than mums of girls ime.

They are loud, boisterous, never still and great fun.

You'll love it.

Congratulations.

cory · 17/07/2008 08:21

Mainly a personality question IMO.

I had 3 brothers. Db1 was gentle and sensitive with a tendency to whinge and whine and make a great fuss over being hurt. I was hardboiled and stubborn. Db2 was chubby and smiling and very easy-going. And db3 was incredibly capable and mature except for the days when he had mahoosive temper tantrums. I was probably the most boisterous one of the lot, but I don't think any of us was the hyperactive type.

In my family, dd was superficially a drama queen but actually quite tough underneath. Ds was easy-going and placid as a toddler but is now turning out to be quite sensitive.

Db1's dd1 was more active and boisterous than either his dd2 or his ds.

Db2's only ds has always been the sensible type, the kind of child you can take anywhere.

Db3 has two sons: one is the quiet dreamy artist type, the other is the most hyperactive child I have ever seen.

andlipsticktoo · 17/07/2008 08:54

Boys are delicious! I too had never experienced having a brother or male cousin, and so for me it has been a very steep learning curve. I have 3 DSs, they all have their individual personalities but in general they like to be active - outside playing with sand, water, mud and STICKS! They do draw attention to themselves in a group of one or more as they tend to be noisy, but they are uncomplicated and tend to get along with each other rather well.
My house has been full of cars, trains and hideous characters, and now it's full of lego, books and computer games.
I love boys and every mother should have at least 1!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

andlipsticktoo · 17/07/2008 08:56

A group of one or more???
I meant 2 or more...!

Roskva · 17/07/2008 09:13

I have a 2 year old dd and I'm expecting a boy, too.

Having read this thread, I think dd is a boy in a girl's body - she's a small destructive whirlwind! Having said that, she also has a thing about shoes and bags already

uberalice · 17/07/2008 09:56

I drove myself mad a few months ago fretting over why my DS seemed so much more boisterous and wild than my friends' children. Then I realised - they've all got girls!

Kammy · 17/07/2008 10:38

My ds (6)is very affectionate and loves cuddling, and frequently tells me he will marry me when he's grown up!
You get to play great games with boys - I've been cat woman in a batman scenaris, Princess Leia in a Star Wars scenario, am now Willie in Indiana Jones.
However - many boys do seem to need rather more physical exercise than girls....keeps me fit anyway

positiveparentscouk · 17/07/2008 10:41

i am expecting a boy too after having 3 DD's. Slightly nervous now!

Alibobster · 17/07/2008 12:03

I can't compare as I only have 1 ds but when I have more, I'd be happy if they were all boys. My ds is 2 and so lovable. Boys are great

YeahBut · 17/07/2008 12:08

Had 2 DDs and then DS. Boys are very different! He's much more "cuddly" than the girls, but he's an absolute whirlwind of activity. And a Muck Magnet. They are fascinated with machines, vehicles and how things work. Easily amused with some dirt and a stick! And inordinately proud of his willy...

ranting · 17/07/2008 12:17

Well I had a boy first and I found he was very energetic as a toddler (had to walk him every day otherwise he was a bloody nightmare), a breeze as a baby and he's a fantastic teenager.

Things people never tell you about having boys, they have mood swings just before they have a growth spurt,(crying jags, strops, the lot) nobody ever mentions that but they do.

And yes, he's always been more cuddly than dd but, not sure if that's a boy thing or a personality thing.

FranSanDisco · 17/07/2008 12:20

Be prepared for lots of cuddles and telling you he loves you spontaneously. Be prepared for lots of poo, bum, willy jokes and burping followed by hysterical laughing . Be prepared for tears of frustration and competitiveness. In short be prepared to fall in love with your little boy - they are irresistable. I have a gorg girl as well

Kewcumber · 17/07/2008 12:20

Impossible to generalise although on avergae the generalisations work, no-one has the average child. DS is a typical boy (though not keen on insects or mud) but he has girl friends who are also typically boyish and some boy friends who are quiet and tidy.

ThingOne · 17/07/2008 12:33

I have two boys. They are very noisy, throw things around and need to run around lots. They are very affectionate and very straightforward. They are really cute. Read Rasing Boys and start finding some small boys for your girls to play with so you get more of an idea.

LittleMoosh · 17/07/2008 13:43

I have 2 boys (6 years and 19 months). Eldest is hyper, non-stop talking and can't sit still. Youngest is chilled out, helps loads, so cute and tiny. Both are brill, wouldn't swap them for the world. Both are very loving and affectionate. Eldest likes kisses but he also likes to wipe them off afterwards. Little fella will hug and kiss anyone, even a complete stranger. No probs with fighting, bitching and both good sleepers and eaters

Iklboo · 17/07/2008 13:45

Ds is 2.5 (well 2 and 2/3 actually) and is an extremely lively, loving, cute, intelligent, daredevil bundle of energy and I LOVE HIM TO BITS!!!!!!!

Morloth · 17/07/2008 15:01

They do smell a bit don't they? I wasn't sure whether it was "kid" smell or specific to the boy.

Great fun though, my DS really is a simple creature. As long as he is fed, exercised and given lots of cuddles he is as happy as a clam (how do we know clams are happy?).

As my only experience is with a boy - little girls freak me out a bit. They just seem so complicated .

I remember asking if DS had had a nice time playing with the daughter of a friend (same age) and he said "Yes, she is nice but a bit screamy and she cries when you don't give her a toy". Cracked me up.

anotherdayyetanothernickame · 17/07/2008 16:16

RE:"And yes, toddler boys do tend to charge around raising Hell in a handbasket.

They don't demand as much maternal input and they don't tend so much towards bitching and whining. Instead you get hitting, destructive play and running everywhere shouting."

All I can say is they are all different and there are exceptions to the above.....ds is totally not like the above description. He is very gentle, sensitive and doesn't trash things. However he is a whiner in a big way sometimes! In fact over-sensitive really.

(Before anyone thinks he must be gay - he has a big eye for the ladies - although I wouldn't mind if he were obviously)

juuule · 17/07/2008 16:21

I've 3boys and 6girls.

I can't say I've noticed that much difference between the boys and the girls pre-puberty.

There have been differences between individual children but not specifically due to gender.

I've had tree climbing girls and boys.
I've had studious girls and boys.
That type of thing.

So from my experience, I'd say that you don't have to worry too much about gender related differences until they get a bit older. Certainly not as babies.

cory · 17/07/2008 17:01

I have to say I haven't found dd at all bitchy.

kingprawntikka · 18/07/2008 10:35

Oh boys are lovely (as are girls). I have one of each, a 15 year old boy and a 12 year old daughter. My son was the first boy to be born in my family for about 30 years!! so boys were a bit of a mystery to me. Boys seem to be more boisterous and active in their early years but in their teenage years are definately easier than girls. Less hormonal, more even tempered . The best thing though is that boys friendships seem to operate on totally different rules to those of girls.If you are friends ,you are friends, you are friends.!! No falling out , no bitching to other friends about you etc, just nice relaxed solid friendships.

lizinthesticks · 18/07/2008 10:52

"I've 3boys and 6girls.

I can't say I've noticed that much difference between the boys and the girls pre-puberty.

There have been differences between individual children but not specifically due to gender.

I've had tree climbing girls and boys.
I've had studious girls and boys.
That type of thing.

So from my experience, I'd say that you don't have to worry too much about gender related differences until they get a bit older. Certainly not as babies."

Wow - amazing. Great post too, and such a huge amount of experience to draw on. I, by contrast, have markedly less to go on. But, from watching play at toddler groups and so on, I would say that the stereotypical bobbins of boys being more boisterous etc etc etc is wide of the mark. If anything the opposite is true.

anotherdayyetanothernickame · 18/07/2008 11:21

To be honest I get quite annoyed at all the stereotyping of boys as crazily boisterous lunatics.

Juule - I am still in awe of you having this many kids!

champagneandroses · 18/07/2008 11:21

the only difference i found was it was actually harder to change nappies, with my dd it was pretty much a clean swipe but with ds (4 months)theres all kinds of manouvering to make sure hes all clean and pointing in the right direction so as not to wee out of the top or side of the nappy and yes the pee in the air thing is different but funny though

My ds is far more of a cuddly baby who'd happily sit and look at me for hours. DD was a quick hug and then let me play kind of baby and still is unless shes tired when she wants to sit on my knee.

Morloth · 18/07/2008 11:24

I don't know about stereotypes, but MY DS is most definately a crazy boisterous lunatic, and that is just the way we like him.

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