Wanting to Be 'A Baby' at 4 - King of Prussia,PA

I have a long-ago picture of all my children when the youngest one was a newborn. His siblings suddenly wanted to be babies. So I took a picture of all of them together - the youngest one in his bassinet and the other three drinking out of baby bottles. The phase didn't last long after that.

And I don't think this will. Four-year-olds have many interesting things in their heads. If he wants to play this game, how about playing with him for a bit? "It's too bad you're back to being a baby, because babies can't eat hamburgers" (or something else he really likes). "I wonder if we can find a diaper that will fit you." "Babies aren't big enough to play on swings, but if you want to go outside I could put you in a playpen."

This game has to be played VERY lightly and in private, though - you can't be doing this angrily or with anyone else around, or it would be teasing! When he decides that he doesn't want to be THAT much of a baby, you can have a laugh together and go do some big-boy stuff.

He's enough of a "baby" to hug, though. In another ten years, you'll call him your baby and he'll say, "Aw, MOM!"

Awww, no worries momma, that sounds like normal, temporary regression. It's classic at four (my son is doing this right now as well) When my daughter did this we just let her be 'the baby' for a few days. I held her and rocked her and dressed her. She couldn't stand me anymore after a week! We also, while babying her, made a big deal out of all the big girl stuff she could do when she was behaving like a big girl. It's a totally normal phase and I am sure you will get a lot of good advice. Deep breath, it's okay =)

At first I was going to say, "They are only young once......let him be a baby." But- then I read that he pooped his pants twice........ game over with that deal-breaker... Maybe he needs to see some privileges that only "big boys" get to have........ using a digital camera....... going on certain rides at the fair....... having 'big boy' toys.....having an allowance/commission for doing chores..... If you have any friends or family with slightly older kids (especially with handheld electronic devices like Gameboy or DS, invite them over.. maybe a little peer-pressure will go a long way.....

Good luck! My little guy is only 20 months... I certainly baby him.. (He won't even wear shoes!) I will keep this in mind for the future.. ;o)

I would tell him if he really wants to be a baby then you can buy him some diapers. Does he feel like he is not getting enough attention from you? If he feels lack of attention then I would say that is the reason he is digressing back to being a baby. Ask him why he wants to be a baby? I would tell him that the next time he poops his pants then he can clean them up. Stick to your guns and find out what is going on.

I do have a baby and a 3 year old. When my 3 year old says she wants to be a baby I tell her "okay, you can stay at home in your bed when your sister gets bigger she and I will..." and I list all the things I am able to do with her that I can't do with her sister. The goal is to list everything she likes to do now that she didn't/couldn't do when she was a baby. Works for us - good luck!

Aren't children wonderful? Always keeping us wondering! Most probably just a phase. I would suggest that you keep certain phrases absent from your conversation, such as : big, boy, growing up, so big, now that your older. If one behavior is really getting to you, just refer to his age, and say "You get to do this because you are 4." If it continues to be a problem, you may think about what he's over-seeing or hearing that makes him concerned about the adult world. The news and daytime programs are full of references to awful things, and little ones seem to hear them, even when they seem to be doing something else. Often children are not aware why they are worried, so I would just eliminated tv and radio, if you think that's a problem. Good luck.