Attached to items

gy86

Hello mamas, hope you can give me some perspective or advice on this topic.  I know it's normal around our LO's age for them to develop attachments to a particular blankie, stuffed animal, etc.  My daughter has never had a special lovey or cuddly toy, but recently she's become OBSESSED with balls to the point where it's the first thing she asks for when we get in the car, get to school, get home from school, etc.  She doesn't so much play catch as just walk around the house with it.

So my question is how do you deal with the fact that there are places and times when it is not appropriate to be bringing a beloved toy with you everywhere?  For mealtimes I usually set it on the counter, within sight, but tell her that it's dinner time right now, and we'll play with the ball when we're done eating.  But she goes right for it again as soon as we're done.  Plus, if she's really into balls I'd kinda prefer playing catch or soccer or something... but my attempts to encourage the appropriate behavior are pretty much lost on her.

ladybugpjb

No personal experience - DS isn't particularly attached to anything right now. He also likes balls, though, and it's often hard to pry them out of his hands when it's time to leave. At this point, I just tell him to say bye-bye to whatever it is, take it away, and carry him off screaming. He usually gets distracted two seconds later. But like I said, he's not really that attached to anything right now, so it's relatively easy.

Yeah...that probably didn't help.

Edit: I meant to add (since my personal experience is limited) that I have friends who let their son take his little blanky everywhere. If he's not holding it, it's in his backpack. They're really laid back, so it doesn't bother them.

Is there a smaller ball that you can just always have with you, that maybe she'll be happy just to know that it's in the diaper bag if she "needs" it?

NotSharknado

I'd let it be. It lasts for such a short time. Dd is seriously attached to her blanky and her little Mickey. It bugs me that she insists on holding both while eating but they can be washed. It's just not a battle I'm up for fighting. Again, this phase doesn't last long, so no biggie to me.

NotSharknado

Also, your dd just carrying the ball around is "appropriate" play, for her. She will learn soon enough how to catch and kick a ball.

melissa0726

DD has just started (literally in the last two weeks) having fleeting attachments to random items.  One minute it's a particular stuffed animal or toy, the next minute it's a couch pillow.  LOL. 

Anyway, I'm not doing anything to stop her, and I guess I'm taking the same approach as ladybug.  If we need to leave the house and there's no way I'm dragging the couch pillow with us, I just take it from her and we walk out the door.  She screams at first, but gets distracted once we're out the door.

I also liked the idea of having a smaller ball that is the appropriate size for your DD to take to go, if she really wants to take one out of the house.  I don't really see much reason to discourage her from carrying it around, if it makes her happy.

Duffgurl

L has a rabbit stuffed animal who he has to have when in bed. Also any blanket he sleeps with he has to bring with him. Although he does not freak out if we set it down or take it away.

I am sure it's a phase.

Monsieur_et_Madame_Ha

gy86:

So my question is how do you deal with the fact that there are places and times when it is not appropriate to be bringing a beloved toy with you everywhere?  For mealtimes I usually set it on the counter, within sight, but tell her that it's dinner time right now, and we'll play with the ball when we're done eating.  But she goes right for it again as soon as we're done.  Plus, if she's really into balls I'd kinda prefer playing catch or soccer or something... but my attempts to encourage the appropriate behavior are pretty much lost on her.

I have no idea, but it seems to me that you are able to get her to let go of the ball when you need to (meal time), so I don't think I would really push the issue right now. Or maybe I'm just lazy?

gy86

Thanks everyone for the advice!  Good to hear it's just a normal phase, albeit kind of annoying.  LOL Kimbus re: spoons!!! 

I'm probably hyper-sensitive to this because I used to babysit a little boy with a whole host of cognitive and behavioral problems who would latch on to a red lego and needed it to function.  I struggled a lot with him trying to get him to do things without lego in hand, and I don't want the same thing to happen with LO.

Fortunately she likes those little 4-inch balls you win as prizes at Peter Piper Pizza and stuff, so they are cheap, portable, and in abundance with the amount of older kids' parties we attend!