Do you let your son play with dolls?

I let my son have his own baby doll (Cabbage Patch Kid actually) when I was pregnant with his sister..I was a single mom, he was only 18 months old when she was born and it helped a great deal with jealousy....he took care of his baby when I would tend to his sister....then when he was 6 and his baby brother was born and finally came home he had his doll out again (during my preg) and by the time his brother came he was actually very capable at helping to take care of him.... I understand that some ppl have the same outdated feelign as you do (not to be rude but it is very outdated)...and I get that..and I can respect it even if I dont agree with it..HOWEVER its ppl like my brother who genuinely believe that a boy playing with dolls will make the boy and extremely feminine gay (not just gay) etc that gets me bent..My son is FAR FROM gay LOL BUT he is very compassionate and caring when it comes to other ppl particularly babies and children..I firmly believe that his having his own "baby" to care for and being encouraged to help out with "womanly" things when he was younger is a key factor...along with the simple fact that I raised both my kids that way..

I have both a son and a daughter. My daughter is the oldest and when she was younger I would let her play with anything that was interesting to her, including cars which are typically thought of as being a boy's toy. Thus, when I had my son, it was only natural that I would let him play with any kind of toy that was interesting to him and yes, that does mean that he has his very own Cabbage Patch Kid doll and that doesn't disturb me at all.

At first I was so against my stepson playing with dolls. Now, it's just natural in our household. He is being rasied with 3 younger sisters so I saw it coming. They all take turns with different toys. One minute they will be playing with baby dolls then the next minute they are all playing with G.I. Joes. I see nothing wrong with it anymore. He will grow out of it as he gets a little bit older. His father on the other hand doesnt seem to see where I come from and doesnt think it's normal. I'm sure by the time he is 9 or 10 he will no longer like playing with dolls.

I did when I was younger, and I came out perfectly fine. My opinion is that I feel as if society has labeled everything to be either "for boys" or "for girls". However, I feel anything is for anyone and our gender shouldn't depict what we can and cannot participate in. I'd much rather my son play with a barbie doll, then watch him decapitate one. That's an early sign of violence, something I would never edict to my kids. If playing with "girl toys" means keeping my son out of trouble, then so be it. Same thing if I had a girl who wanted to play with "boy toys." I only want my kids to be happy and to be safe, not malicious and unhappy.

I think I might be a little more disconcerted if I saw my son trying to BLOW UP a barbie doll than simply play with it. I don't have a son, and probably won't any time in the near future..But I figure, whatever makes him happy! (So long as it doesn't hurt anybody, of course). I have a cousin who is 10 and loves playing with barbie dolls. Likewise, I have a half sister who is a total tomboy and totally LOVES anything to do with dinosaurs. I think we should let them be themselves; however we can. If your son ends up being a bit feminine.. Oh well! And likewise with a girl. We shouldn't try to repress their personalities!

I'm a boy.. I'm the type of boy that would punch a guy in the face if they provoked me too much. And while I was growing up, I played with a rabbit doll. I think it's completely ridiculous to say that boys can't play with dolls. That's like saying girls can't... well... I dunno. But it's a double standard.

The only time my 10 year old son ever played with dolls is in the last almost 3 years when he was playing with his little sister. He did have a stuffed duck that always had a diaper on when he was younger though. I don't think there is anything wrong with it really. He just never got into that stuff.

My sons are grown up now and never asked for Barbie type dolls but they had teddies and other soft toys, Chuckie and Tommy Rugrats dolls and even Lego has female figures. I'd agree with maezee that I'd be more concerned about the blowing up and decapitation than with them 'caring' for a doll. I've worked in schools and, when the children have "free play" plenty of boys will play in the home corner or with dressing up the Barbies. I think its good that they are not feeling forced into stereotypical roles - few people find it disconcerting to see girls playing with cars, construction toys playing football etc

I do not have boys, I have only girls but on the other side I let them be as rough and tumble as the boys are. They play in the mud, hunt, fish, and play sports. Yes they do girl things as well like dance and draw "fashion" clothes....(not sure who would wear them but...). I think as long as there is healthy mix it is OK for a boy to play with a doll. In today's society where men are expected to help care for their children in an unprecedented form, being as involved as any mother or more in many cases it is healthy and good for a boy to play with a baby doll, it helps teach life lessons of parent hood so why not?

When a boy was kids and he was totally depended on you. If you give him a doll then he will play with dolls or if you give him a car then he will play with that car. So it's up to you. But one thing if one boy is more attractive with girls toy and it's continue with your forbidden then it's very important to thing. You should consult with a doctor. And you question answer i will not let my son to play with dolls or any kind of girls toy.

Hello Tannie, Good question indeed!!! I let them play with whatever type of toys they like. Of course I wouldnt let them blow up anything for real lol. I wouldnt let torture be a part of it either explaining that its a game and not something to be done for real. But kids will be kids and they want to reproduce their video games. Not only boys will "torture" their dolls, Ive lost a few heads on my dolls when playing with some of my girl friends as a kid. So as long as the kids know its make believe, it should be allright.

I have 2 kids a 4 year old son and a 1 year old daughter. Before my daughter was around my son didn't even know what a doll was. But now we have a girl and she has a couple dolls and he does like to play with them a little but not so much that it makes me worry I have to admit I would never buy my son a doll even with all the kids are equal thing. Funny thing is I have bought my daughter play cars. The double standard does bother me but yet I still can't bring myself to buy my son a doll. I do think if you put a boy and a girl in the same room with the same toys even at a young age the boys are more drawn to the cars, airplanes and trains and the girls the dolls and kitchens. I do think some of it is hardwired.