How do you deal with this?

EVERY time I say anything to one of my DDs that's her response. She INSISTS she's a baby and by no means a big girl. I've tried the 'well ok but only big girls can do (insert a favorite activity here), but I get no response. It's constant whining and time outs and crying (from both of us! :wacko: ) but nothing has worked thus far. So those with any experience, how do/did you deal with it? Her behavior isn't terrible or anything, I just want her to get that she really isn't a baby anymore. She likes to pretend she is one a lot when the girls are playing. Any ideas??

 

Mine did this. They did NOT want to be big kids till it suited their needs. Even now they will revert and say "I'm not a big kid" because it suits their agenda. Don't worry about it. Just tell her - well, you aren't a baby and you aren't a big kid, I guess I'll call you "toddler" - :laughing: That might snap her out of it!!

The problem is there is multiple levels of BIG KID! So they are small compared to kids in regular school, but big compared to babies....OY! It's all so complicated!! Good luck!

 

I'm not sure that I see what the problem is. Is she just pretending to be a baby, or whining and crying all the time like a baby when she doesn't get her way? My first thought is she may be doing it just to get attention. Have you tried ignoring her? I guess I'm confused because my girls like to pretend they are babies alot and even have bottles they carry around. I just let them play--it doesn't bother me at all. If they tell me they are a baby I just say, "Oh, okay, well when your ready to be a big girl let me know," and then I don't say anything else to them. They usually play like that for a while and then forget about it and go on to something else.

 

My DD still does this occassionally, but it's usually when it suits her needs. For example, she can't pick up her toys because she isn't a big girl, or, she'll pee her pants because she doesn't want to take a break from playing to use the potty. I just tell her, "Being a baby or a big girl has nothing to do with it. You need to _____."

 

QUOTE(~* dfaut *~ @ Oct 22 2008, 05:09 PM) [snapback]1037545[/snapback]
Mine did this. They did NOT want to be big kids till it suited their needs. Even now they will revert and say "I'm not a big kid" because it suits their agenda. Don't worry about it. Just tell her - well, you aren't a baby and you aren't a big kid, I guess I'll call you "toddler" - :laughing: That might snap her out of it!!

The problem is there is multiple levels of BIG KID! So they are small compared to kids in regular school, but big compared to babies....OY! It's all so complicated!! Good luck!


I totally get what you're saying, thank you!

QUOTE(Utopia122 @ Oct 22 2008, 07:39 PM) [snapback]1037749[/snapback]
I'm not sure that I see what the problem is. Is she just pretending to be a baby, or whining and crying all the time like a baby when she doesn't get her way? My first thought is she may be doing it just to get attention. Have you tried ignoring her? I guess I'm confused because my girls like to pretend they are babies alot and even have bottles they carry around. I just let them play--it doesn't bother me at all. If they tell me they are a baby I just say, "Oh, okay, well when your ready to be a big girl let me know," and then I don't say anything else to them. They usually play like that for a while and then forget about it and go on to something else.


The pretend play doesn't bother me one bit. It's when we aren't playing that it becomes a problem. She will literally scream that she's a baby and cry pretty hysterically if I say otherwise. Usually happens when she doesn't want to do something.

QUOTE(threebecamefive @ Oct 22 2008, 07:57 PM) [snapback]1037787[/snapback]
My DD still does this occassionally, but it's usually when it suits her needs. For example, she can't pick up her toys because she isn't a big girl, or, she'll pee her pants because she doesn't want to take a break from playing to use the potty. I just tell her, "Being a baby or a big girl has nothing to do with it. You need to _____."


This is exactly what I did tonight at bath time! She didn't want to dry off and somehow the baby/big girl thing came up and I said it doesn't matter, either way you have to dry off.

 

QUOTE(threebecamefive @ Oct 22 2008, 06:57 PM) [snapback]1037787[/snapback]
My DD still does this occassionally, but it's usually when it suits her needs. For example, she can't pick up her toys because she isn't a big girl, or, she'll pee her pants because she doesn't want to take a break from playing to use the potty. I just tell her, "Being a baby or a big girl has nothing to do with it. You need to _____."

THIS IS EXCELLENT!! Thank you for that!!!

 

I don't argue. I just agree with them and say but we still need to do this or that. For mine anyway they just don't want me to say that they are big kids sometimes so if I agree it nips it in the bud.

 

I tell them that if they want to be a baby, that's ok, but babies take 5 naps a day. Looks like it is time for a nap. They don't want to be a baby anymore.

 

I have the opposite problem--DS is 3 and when I call hem my little baby he says --no way, Im not a baby Im a big, strong man--I is 20 yrs old--lol---Hes so silly!!

 

Lou, I have not figured this out yet with my big boy, and he is 6 now. I am going to try some of the advice you got. :good: I have hugs for you though. :hug: The whining totally grates on the nerves, kwim? :hug: