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Original poster

What's it like having a boy?

54 replies

Lozza79 · 27/02/2010 20:10

Hi everyone,

I'm new to mumsnet! I'm now 20 weeks pregnant and found out yesterday that I'm having a little boy. My boyfriend and I are just delighted to have a healthy baby and are still in amazement at the fact that we're going to be parents.

Thing is, as an only child I've never grown up around boys (other than the ones that I was dating! ) and I just don't have a clue what it's like having a boy. How is it different having a baby boy to a baby girl? (other than the really obvious)

OP posts:
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LEMONADEGIRL · 27/02/2010 21:42

Love having a boy - he is 3.4 and such fun. Into everything but so affectionate get lots of kisses and cuddles. Am due a girl shortly so will look forward to see what she will be like.

pranma · 27/02/2010 21:44

Little boys are wonderful,sweet and loving.....so are little girls

potoftea · 27/02/2010 21:49

I've 2 boys and 1 girl (all teenagers now), and yeah each child is totally different.

But, in some ways I feel less under pressure rearing the boys. It's my job to teach my dd how to be a good woman, but as I don't know how to be a good man, I find I have more fun with the boys. Of course I teach them right from wrong etc., but feel more able to just love them, rather than teach them all the time.

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taffetacat · 27/02/2010 21:55

I have one of each

Agree with all Valpolicella said

Welcome

booksgalore · 27/02/2010 22:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ABetaDad · 27/02/2010 22:07

Boys are great. We have two boys and they each are as different from each other as it is possble to be, even when they were in the womb according to my wife. They are unique little people and there is no 'typical boy'.

However, I echo what others say in that they can be a lot like labrador puppies. You MUST feed, water, excercise, set clear boundaries, and love.

Congratulations and enjoy your baby - having children is a wonderful thing even if it does not feel like it sometimes.

Welcome to MN and do tell your boyfriend he is welcome to join too.

SingForJoy · 27/02/2010 22:44

Boys are great, I have a dd and two ds's in that order. I must say though that not all little boys are like dogs (apart from when they are pretending to be one ). My ds1 is a lazy little soul at heart and can often be heard to say "but running makes me tired/thirsty/hungry Mummy" obviously when required to walk somewhere rather than charging around playing with friends.

My dd has been a whirlwind from birth and fought to get out of the pram as soon as she could. They are all so different, ds2 so far is more like dd than ds1 (only a baby though). Ds1 was also a lot slower to hit milestones than dd.

Congrats I'm sure your little ds will be scrumptious.

LittlePushka · 27/02/2010 23:05

Congratulations lozza! I was like you - from a family packed to the rafters with girls...

...anyway I have two boys of about 18mths apart (2yo and 3yo)and no girls with which to compare them. But I do socialise with friends with girls their age and i do think there is an innate difference between the sexes as to how they play and react. I am a quite practical (not especially girly) girl, but I swaer that i never steered my boys to be interested in cars/trains/muck/loud noises/sword fighting with cow parsley sticks/general rough and tumble/diggers/ etc etc they are " just like that - it's just the way it is" !!

The little girls i know are quite complex compared to the boys I know...they were definitely clearly maternalistic from an early age, more bossy and cleverly manipulative of a situation. (No criticism here ladies,..in case you torch me, remember I love girls,..I am one!!)

Some folk say boys are more loving than girls but mine are very different to one another in personality so I would not read too much into that. You get what you get! I am about as outgoing as it is possible to be but DS1 was painfully shy for the first 2 years of his life...and the whole personality thing will be already in your little baby even now!! When I was PG my shy boy kicked once, each evening at about 9pm..t'other one is a much more physical boy and he started kicking inside at 21 weeks and never stopped moving,..still has hasnt!

so I would just say Lozza, he will be how he will be and, of course, he will be magic because he is yours...not because he is a boy! Good luck and learn all the proper heavy plant & machinery: (back hoe loader/ tracked excavator/skid steer/ etc etc !!!

LittlePushka · 27/02/2010 23:09

PS Lozza, just wanted to say welcome to Mumsnet - I have found it especially helpful at times with first baby. And do not take it too seriously or personally - it is a good old rattlebag mix of parents and grandparents on here

cory · 28/02/2010 00:31

Willy shower is the only one that is a definite; anything else is going to differ from child to child.

I found my little boy easier than my little girl: a better sleeper, more laidback, easier as a toddler, less prone to tantrums, altogether less intense. As an older child, slightly fussier about his food, but otherwise not a problem. More of a people pleaser than dd. I don't think any of this is typical of boys- it's just him.

Strix · 28/02/2010 00:39

The difference is that when you change his nappy you need to check which way it's pointing or might get pissed on.

I love my boy and wouldn't change anything about him. Same is true for my girl.

sallyjaygorce · 28/02/2010 01:20

Lovely. My boy is 4 with a big sister and a little sister. He is does like a tussle now and then - which they don't - but is also a very kind little gent. Eccentric, thoughtful, very sweet. Not as into cuddles as his big sister but it is all the more moving when he sidles up asks you to sit close and mutters 'I love you mum'. I adore my little man. Good luck - enjoy your baby.

Broodymomma · 28/02/2010 10:41

I am a only child and have all girls in my family etc - no experience of boys and was petrefied when I found out I was having a boy that I would not know what to do with him. Fast forward 3 years and I have the funniest most loving little man on the planet (I may be slightly biased). We play football, rugby, dolls, bake cakes and life is never boring. He can be rough but is also very sensitive and plays equally well with boys or girls. Congratulations on your little boy, you are going to have so much fun!!!! Have you thought of a name for him yet?

satc2bringiton · 28/02/2010 10:50

I grew up in a very girlie family. Ended up having 2 boys and they really are fab

As the others have said - very loving. My youngest (nearly 6) will not go to school without at least 5 kisses, 1 hug and an 'i love you'.

Original poster
Lozza79 · 28/02/2010 11:05

No names yet, we'd been going through name books for a while already and my list for girls names was very long... but the boys list seems to be shrinking by the day! Why are they so hard to name? That's also why I'm so glad we could find out the baby's sex now... it means we've got a bit longer to step up the naming effort.

I'm not from the UK originally and in my country there isn't such a stigma on giving the child the mother's surname but that certainly seems to be a big issue over here. Does anyone know of women in relationships giving their child their surname? I'm not that fussed about getting married and even if I did, I'd still keep my own name.

OP posts:
clam · 28/02/2010 11:12

I have one of each, and would say that it's impossible to generalise.
My DS (now 13) has never been "full on" or football-mad like the stereotypical boy, and very intuitive towards me - protective and thoughtful and very cuddly, much more so than DD.
Friend was saying recently (with a very tom-boy-ish girl) "when am I going to get my little girl back?"

jellybeans · 28/02/2010 11:17

I also have no brothers and had DDs first, had no idea 'what to do' with boys! I got two at once (twins). Well, they are fab and just as scrummy as my girls. They are abit boistrous but maybe that's as there are two of them and also maybe not a gender thing as my DD2 was boistrous too. They have me in hysterics and are so loving. They are happy with simple things too, just playing with cars, lego etc. I also adore boys clothes shopping all those cute dungarees etc, I'm not really one for frilly dresses, my girls have always worn jeans etc.I also like the fact that I can shape decent men into this world!

giveitago · 28/02/2010 15:44

Aw - congratulations you.

I found out I was having a boy and was hoping for a girl - big shock - now I'm a real boy fan.

LIke some other posters said, possibly not as independent as the girls I've seen, but very funny and loving - need lots of tlc.

Enjoy your pregnancy and just prepare for new babyhood.

lillybloom · 28/02/2010 19:46

Congratulations Lozza. I have a boy and its brilliant. Life is always fun and there is always something knew to learn.

Oblomov · 28/02/2010 20:17

having a boy Is so much easier than having a girl. I think even MN will have a consensus on that. ENJOY.

midnightexpress · 28/02/2010 20:26

Boys are just grand. I have two, and they are funny, affectionate and completely exhausting. I agree completely with boysarelikedogs and abetadad, and also with those who say that no two children are alike, but boys are big softies for the most part - ds1 told me at bedtime that he wished the day could go on forever because he misses me when he's asleep.

lillybloom · 28/02/2010 22:26

midnight that is just so lovely

blueshoes · 28/02/2010 23:09

I have one of each.

My dd loves me. But my ds is in love with me (only 3 though). That is the difference.

midnightexpress · 01/03/2010 09:43

blueshoes, that's true. I don't expect DDs regularly declare that they are going to marry their mothers .

CuppaTeaJanice · 01/03/2010 11:47

Lozza79 - DS has 2 surnames, mine and DPs. I know a lot of unmarried mothers give their child only their partner's surname, but I don't think I'd be comfortable having a different name to my child. Also, I'm the last of my family with our surname so I don't want it to disappear. Having two surnames causes a bit of confusion sometimes but it's becoming more common (or double-barrelled surnames) so shouldn't be a problem.