Is It Okay to Let My Son Play with Baby Dolls?

Yes, it is normal and healthy. What is not healthy is forcing gender role ideals on a developing child, so let him play, imagine, and explore. My sons have played dolls, makeup, and even enjoy putting on mommies shoes. It is all normal exploration.

It's funny that nobody really thinks much about girls playing with trucks and legos, but people worry about boys playing with dolls.

It sounds to me like he was bored and he wanted to play with his big sissy and she was already playing dolls so he just joined in the fun.
It sounds harmless to me, just as long as he wants to play a boys role with the dolls like ( daddy, brother, uncle ).

I don't believe in "girl things" and "boy things." I believe that toys, colors, jobs, etc. are for everyone. Let him play with whatever toys he wants to play with, same for your daughter.

I agree with everyone else, it is very normal.

I remember being so excited when our son asked for a Barbie one year!
Barbie was the "damsel in distress" for his Ninja Turtles to rescue!
He's now almost 20 years old!

I see this questions alot and I'm not sure what people think will happen. Playing with dolls doesn't make a boy gay any more than playing football will make a girl gay:( My sons have both "nursed" dolls, bears, dogs, you name it. They "cook", they "clean", etc...they don't learn gender roles until they are taught. Let him play however he wants to.

Yes, completely normal. I would not discourage this behavior by any means!

Absolutely!! and studies have shown that boys who do play with dolls, etc. grow up to be better men because they are more likely to be nurturing, etc.

Good luck!

Normal! and healthy for boys to learn how to be good parents as well.

Of course! It's totally normal---and sweet :-)

My boys are now 33 and 35 years old and both had their own boy dolls when they were toddlers. They both played in sports as they were growing up and of course didn't want me to tell any of their friends they played with dolls when they were little. Now both of them are fathers and I have to say wonderful fathers! I think letting little boys play with dolls is teaching them to love and care for people in general. My boys slept with their dolls and are now very good husbands and fathers.

Absolutely. In my son's preschool, all the boys would wear the dress-up princess costumes at one time or another. Think of play as your son's mental thought process. Play helps kids think through things. It doesn't necessarily mean that they like, agree with or will do something, but can mean that they are working through their understanding of a concept. My kids have 'played' through everything from wars with good guys and bad guys to bad words to death. I didn't see their behavior outside of their play and once they tossed something around enough, they were done with it.

If he puts on a fireman's costume, he isn't destined to be a fireman. If he puts on a Darth Vader costume, he isn't destined to go to the dark side. If he plays with dolls, he isn't destined to.... be a daddy.

It's also sweet that he will play with his sister so well. He may be doing this because he understands this is what she likes to do, or because he admires her.

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Yep! For Christmas this past year, we bought our son a doll stroller bc he kept playing with the one at daycare. He pushes that thing around with trucks, stuffed animals, blocks, etc in it all around the house. We even got him a baby doll bc I am expecting in July and he practices holding it, feeding it, and changing it. I think it's totally normal and you have nothing to worry about.

I did not read your responses, but I have a 4 yr ols girl and a 3 yr old boy and he plays with her dolls and dishes, etc. Why is it always someone is quick to say something if a boy picks up a doll or dish, etc, but when a girl plays with a truck or car or army men no one blinks an eye? I think it is fine-LOL! At least in our house we do not say anything and if anyone else does I sure do bring it to their attention that we do not make an issue of it. L.:)

Yes I let my 2 1/2 year old play with his sister's dolls!

Absolutely normal! :) My middle son when is was younger and Dora came out wanted a Dora doll! I told him that Dora was for girls and he answered me "but I like girls"! I didn't get him the Dora but I got it for my daughter and they sure play a lot with that Dora doll. :)
Enjoy him and teach him how to be gentle with girls :)
Blessings

It's fine that he is playing with dolls. It doesn't mean he's going to be gay. When kids are younger, they don't have the gender roles down pat yet, they haven't been "brainwashed" by society yet. My four and a half year old son plays dolls with his three year old sister and she plays cars with him. He's just trying to play with his sister and there is nothing to worry about.

Aw, that's super cute, he's going to be a great daddy when he grows up!

We always made certain we had a Dapper Dan, Raggedy Andy, Mickey Mouse, and GI Joe (Ken wasn't nearly masculine enough for my boy cousins). With my kids, we have "boy" toys and "girl" toys. They can play together with all kinds of things. It is normal and natural.

As you watch them play you can learn how they are processing life around them and I think that is so cool.

Most certainly it is okay and very normal to let boys play with dolls and next, he may want to play "dress up", which is also okay! Stopping him from doing this will hurt his development more in the long run. There is an excellent book called Real Boys by William Pollack that discusses the hurt we do to our boys as a culture by not allowing them to do the things you are questioning. I highly recommend this book to anyone raising or teaching boys! I can tell you, that by the time kids get to school, they will have learned "the social code" and will probably choose not to do some of these things (which I also think is sad), but nonetheless, let him explore with all sorts of play... stopping him or telling him he is not allowed to do it starts the beginnings of shame... and I know you don't want him to feel that way. The more well rounded children become the more capasity for empathy and caring comes about later... and boys certainly need these character assets as much as our girls!

Some boys will play with dolls, and some girls will play with trucks. At age 2, it is perfectly normal and healthy for a boy to play with dolls. It can actually help their socialization skills to learn what it is like to play "daddy" (or even "mommy" sometimes). My son has an Olivia the Pig doll that he feeds a bottle to, and tucks into bed at night. I had a childhood friend, who played Barbies and always had the funnest dolls in the neighborhood - he grew up to be a very wonderful man, with a prestigious career and great family. Dolls are awesome, whether you are a girl or a boy.

My son just turned 2 and I bought him a boy doll cause I was having another boy. I used it to tech him how to treat babies and it has helped a ton. Also, my friend pointed out that we are teaching him how to be a good dad. Parenting is a learned skill and I want my son to be a good dad. So when people say, "You let your son play with dolls?" I respond with "Yes, I want him to be a good dad." Hope that helps.

If its just fine, my son is also just about 2 and his sister just turned 4 and they play with dolls together. Same thing he tells me hes the daddy and does all the same things. I feel it just fine

i feel it is wonderful that he is playing with dolls. playing like he is develops thinking skills, social skills,compassion and someday he may be a dad. i'm a preschool teacher the boys play he the house area just as much as the girls this is perfectly normal

Definitely yes! He's going to be a great husband and dad one day!

Totally normal! And it's great that he's getting into some pretend play cooperative play with his older sister. He's right on track. Don't worry about the gender/toy issue. Before you know it, he'll be into Transformers, Star Wars, and other very boy-specific toys and you'll only have your memories of his playing daddy to his sister's dolls to hold onto.

Its totally fine its acting out what he sees around him have no fears :)

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Its totally fine its acting out what he sees around him have no fears :)

I think that is just lovely. Too many boys grow up thinking that the job of the father is to support the family, not to care for the baby. The truth is that the modern father needs to be able to do both. I would be completely delighted if my son took such an interest in baby dolls!

So normal! My sister and I used to force our little bros to play Barbies with us, and to dress up with us...they turned out at manly-men as they come.

I just Had to respond. I bought my now 5 year old a baby doll (specifically a water baby) for Christmas when he was 18 months old. I initially bought it for my niece. But he saw it and wanted it. How could I deny him that? he said, but Mommy, she is my baby and I love her and she needs me."
Yes, he got that baby! And loved it. And when people raised eyebrows when they saw a boy cradling a doll? My mother reminded them that Daddys have to learn to take care of children too!

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I just Had to respond. I bought my now 5 year old a baby doll (specifically a water baby) for Christmas when he was 18 months old. I initially bought it for my niece. But he saw it and wanted it. How could I deny him that? he said, but Mommy, she is my baby and I love her and she needs me."
Yes, he got that baby! And loved it. And when people raised eyebrows when they saw a boy cradling a doll? My mother reminded them that Daddys have to learn to take care of children too!

Yes its normal, let him learn to be a loving daddy! :)

Yes it is OK both my sons played with dolls with their cousins and step sisters. My brother used to play with us girls also growing up.On the same token the girls also played with the boys. My youngest actually was conned into playing with the dolls with his sister since she wouldn't play with tractors with him. My oldest son actually had his own baby doll when I went to buy my niece a doll for a gift he wanted one two he carried it around with him from 1 1/2 to about 3 and half not everywhere but occasionally he would get it out and play with it. He is a pretty normal well adjusted 19 year old today and is good with kids. My youngest is now almost 11 and he played with the same baby doll (in which I still have as a momento) a plus side to it is it kept them from taking the girls dolls and it only lasted till they were a little over 3. My youngest is my dirt and tractor child and still is. I think where the problem comes is if the fathers or someone starts teasing them. How else do they learn to help out and be fathers when they are older I read somewhere its the same concept as with little girls we get most of our skills from playing with dolls. Good luck and enjoy the time it only lasts for a little while.

Yes, just let him know what an awesome dad he will be.

Yes, it is fine for your son to play with dolls, and it is perfectly normal. Do not worry about it one bit.

Absolutely normal! My nephew always had a baby doll. His dad wasn't in his life, only had Mom as a role model...he, at 2 even had pink painted nails just because he wanted to be like Mommy. It has not had any effects that one might be concerned about. I think it's great that he does understand that a baby is not the same as a truck and that you shouldn't be throwing it around. No worries!

yes quit freaken hes as normal as any other... its excellent he wants to play that rule and with his sister.

Yes, it's normal and healthy - he is, after all, hopefully going to be a daddy one day and there is nothing abnormal about that! Children need a balance of activities - nurturing, athletic, artistic, musical, problem solving.

My 3 1/2 year old has a baby. He "adopted" her when my daughter was born right before his second birthday. When my daughter was tiny, he would "nurse" his baby too... it bothered my husband, but I thought it was fine. He's past that phase now... but he still sleeps with the baby every night.

J.

YES!!
My brother who is turning 30 this year played with Barbie's when he was small. I think he saw me with my dolls and really wanted one. My mum bought him one of course.
Today he is a completely normal loving and gentle guy. So do not worry about it.
blessings,

the ultimate goal of a girl playing with dollies is to learn how to be a mom, if you let a boy play with dollies, he is learning how to be a dad.

It is very normal for your son to be playing with dolls. Every little boy (well almost everyone) will. Its nothing to be concerned about, hes' having a good time with his sister and they all have to know about dolls, parts etc. Its very good for him to know. Not to worry mom, he will be fine.

yeah of course. that is great. afterall he needs pratice to be a good dad! and I hope he also plays in her kitchen too,,,,my hubbie cooks wayyy better than I do. LOL