Friends Daughter Calling My Husband Dad

Whether or not her dad is in her life, she is going to do what kids do best "repeat" what they hear. The kids in my childcare call their dad "dada" b/c one little girl called her dad "dadda". Even my own daughter started calling her "daddy" "dadda". You can correct her by teaching her his name, or maybe she can call him uncle.

I think it's sweet, and you and your husband should enjoy it while you can. What would be the point in correcting her? She obviously doesn't understand the definition of "daddy," and she will find out all too soon that she doesn't have one. Later in her life, she can remember that she was comfortable enough in your family to call your husband "daddy," and that should be a good memory for all of you.

this has happened to me at my daycare, I just say "yes" that is "soinso's" (name) daddy. So when they say daddy, you just say "yes, that is (name) daddy. They are just learning and I agree with everyone else that has written in. Good luck

at this age, like others have said, your friend's daughter is probably just imitating what she hears others call your husband (For a while one of my twin daughters seemed to think one of her names was "you" - she'd point at different chairs at the table and call them "mommy chair, daddy chair, sissy chair, you chair" - and we finally figured she got the idea from the times we'd be looking at a mirror and we'd ask her "who's that?" - she'd answer "sissy" and we'd tell her no, that's not sissy, that's you ;-)).

one possible alternative if you and your friend's family are close and you'd like her daughter to call your husband by something less formal than "Mr. Yourlastname", you could suggest she call him "Uncle Hisfirstname". (our kids call many of our close friends "auntie" and "uncle" even though we're not biologically related, and I think it's a common thing for many cultures)

If it makes you uncomfortable just be sure to use his name at all times around her. She is just calling him what she thinks his title is. At 15 months, she is not giving him recognition as being her father, so relax she will learn in time who is who.

C. :o)

You don't say how old this child is. If it is a very young child then most likely it has heard your daughter call him daddy and it is natural for them to do the same. If it is an older child then this is going to take some careful thought on how to talk to them about it.
If the child is younger, just smile and say, "John" or (with the mom's permission) Poppy, or some other nickname. The child will get the idea that that is what they should be calling your husband.
If it is an older child sit down with them, give them a great big hug and tell them that it is nice that they want to call him daddy but his name is "John". If it is ok with their mom, come up with some other name that you ALL agree on...that isn't daddy.

When I worked in the church nursery, some of the 1- and 2- year olds called me "mom". And not just me, but the same children would call the other nursery workers "mom" too. In their little minds, "mom" must have equalled "the person in charge who would give you snacks". :) As they got bigger and more adept at speaking and thinking, they started calling me by my own name.

It's nice that this little girl has your husband to give her a picture of what a daddy is like. She hears your daughter calling him "daddy" (and if you're like our family, you often call your husband "daddy" also) so to her "daddy" is his name. If you would like to make the distinction that his name is "Mike" (or whatever), then you'll want to consistently use the name Mike around her. When she makes a statement about "daddy", you can repeat it in affirmation, but substitute "Mike", like, "Yes, Mike will be right back with your crackers."

It will help her to see that only your daughter calls him daddy, and that to other people his name is Mike.

As other's have said she's just repeating what she's hearing your daughter call him (and probably you too occaisionally). If it really bothers everyone that she's calling him daddy ... you could go with uncle.

My husband's best friend is "Uncle Jerry" to my kids. Always has been ... always will be even though there is no blood relationship. And my husband and I are Auntie and Uncle to his kids also.

Blood doesn't make a family ... love does. And it sounds like you both love this little girl, so don't sweat it too much.

Heck at least half my kids friends call me Mom. I guess for me it's just not that big a deal. But as I said if it is for all of you then there's lots of other options for her to call him that isn't a formal "mr. z"