Kid 3 is a boy - now what?

[Anonymous]

I don't totally agree with all of these replies. I think they are well intentioned and probably correct for the first few years or so, but I also thibk it's irresponsible to pretend like boys aren't subjected to a different set of expectations and pressure in the world.

OP, it's going to be awesome, but if I were to have a boy (I have 2 girls) I'd be thinking longer term about how I am going to teach him to share and communicate his emotions, to pursue what he loves whether it's "masculine" or not, to value and love his friends (especially the male ones), to show affection and vulnerability, amd of course to respect women and see them as equals. It's a noble, but I fear misguided, approah to just treat boys and girls the same and assume they'll turn out equally.

[Anonymous]

Well, one thing for sure is that he will be a little prince. All those girls will love him to to no end. He'll be spoiled for sure.

Boys (imo) are easier. Physicall more demanding not emotionally. They get over things quickly. Lots of laughter is necessary. Mine is 16 and is just a nice guyn from birth. And, they love their mamas. Congrats and enjoy!

As far as the pee fountain, just have a wash cloth handy for each change. If the room is warm at changing time, shouldn't happen often. Get a baby wipe warmer or fill a the small bowl with warm water and washcloth. It's not a lot of pee if it happens lol. Circumcision should be cared for as hospital suggests and kept very clean, be gentle. It heals quickly.

[Anonymous]

I have a boy and a girl. Other than the obvious difference, it's all personality-based. You could have a super chill boy and high energy girls. Or vice versa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't totally agree with all of these replies. I think they are well intentioned and probably correct for the first few years or so, but I also thibk it's irresponsible to pretend like boys aren't subjected to a different set of expectations and pressure in the world.

OP, it's going to be awesome, but if I were to have a boy (I have 2 girls) I'd be thinking longer term about how I am going to teach him to share and communicate his emotions, to pursue what he loves whether it's "masculine" or not, to value and love his friends (especially the male ones), to show affection and vulnerability, amd of course to respect women and see them as equals. It's a noble, but I fear misguided, approah to just treat boys and girls the same and assume they'll turn out equally.

As mom to one girl and two boys, I get what you're saying, but we should be teaching ALL kids about emotional health, pursuing passions regardless of gender, appropriate boundaries, etc. You're assuming that these things naturally arise in parenting girls but not in boys, and that's not true IME. But, yes, probably because the OP is asking this question, her gender norms are stronger than in those of us who are responding that the differences tend to be more individual rather than solely as a function of gender. Sure, you take society into consideration and at the same time, pay attention to your own beliefs about gender.

[Anonymous]

Boys are more immature than girls. It's very evident in grade school but persists to a lesser extent through high school. This isn't a problem, boys get there. But it's something to consider when calibrating your expectations.

Boys do not hear as well as girls, especially in the speech frequencies, which is something to keep in mind if you have a soft voice or are far away.

[Anonymous]

One of the pps and I loved these cup of jo articles when I was pregnant with a boy coming from a family of girls, so sweet! Comments are great as well

https://cupofjo.com/2011/04/motherhood-mondays-on-having-a-boy/

https://cupofjo.com/2017/05/having-a-boy/

https://cupofjo.com/2015/12/on-having-two-boys/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't totally agree with all of these replies. I think they are well intentioned and probably correct for the first few years or so, but I also thibk it's irresponsible to pretend like boys aren't subjected to a different set of expectations and pressure in the world.

OP, it's going to be awesome, but if I were to have a boy (I have 2 girls) I'd be thinking longer term about how I am going to teach him to share and communicate his emotions, to pursue what he loves whether it's "masculine" or not, to value and love his friends (especially the male ones), to show affection and vulnerability, amd of course to respect women and see them as equals. It's a noble, but I fear misguided, approah to just treat boys and girls the same and assume they'll turn out equally.

As mom to one girl and two boys, I get what you're saying, but we should be teaching ALL kids about emotional health, pursuing passions regardless of gender, appropriate boundaries, etc. You're assuming that these things naturally arise in parenting girls but not in boys, and that's not true IME. But, yes, probably because the OP is asking this question, her gender norms are stronger than in those of us who are responding that the differences tend to be more individual rather than solely as a function of gender. Sure, you take society into consideration and at the same time, pay attention to your own beliefs about gender.

Yeah it's important for any child, I think the pp was just highlighting some of the areas that might require special care and thoughtfulness due to the pressures society will place on a boy to not develop some of those skills. Similar to how you might have to pay closer attention to a young girls perception of her body. Yes you will help your son develop a positive perception of his body but a daughter could potentially need more support in this due to the messaging from society is typically stronger for girls so good to be aware of certain areas. Just like the messaging for boys to hide their emotions is typically stronger than for girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t worry too much about the pee In the face. My two boys only did this once or twice. If yours does just keep the diaper covering the penis the whole time then do a quick swap with fresh diaper. The ob usually does the circ in the hospital day 2. Congrats

There is just a lot of penis fascination. Also, remember to point it down in the diaper and then get a potty seat with a high pee guard when it's time for potty training. My biggest issue is just the aiming and pointing it downwards when they sit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am expecting a boy after two girls. I have no idea what to expect! This is the first boy in my family. My sister also has two girls close in age as my two and they are a little band of 4. I helped a lot with my nieces too so I feel like I have been raising little girls for a long time and am a little freaked about a boy!

Also my oldest will be 5 and younger one will be 3 when this one is born. Anything I should think of getting before this one comes? A lot of my stuff is from my oldest niece who is 8. So I need a new car seat. I am going to get a new baby carrier that can go both front facing and backwards. Not sure what else I will need.

We are super excited and were planning on being done with kids no matter what but this was a nice surprise.

Congrats! You are so lucky! I have two girls myself and would love to have a little boy.

[Anonymous]

For the pee in the face, I kept some of those baby washcloths by the changing table to put over his penis because I never mastered the super quick diaper change and got a lot of pee in the face the first couple weeks! It’s like as soon as the air hit it, he would pee. I also have two girls and that is just about the only difference in infancy!

One of my daughters was very into baby dolls and reading and arts and had no interest in her brother’s trains, balls or trucks. Other daughter likes a little bit of everything. My son never wanted to play with dolls, he was into very typical boy stuff - fire trucks, dinosaurs, balls, running around and destroying my house But that is all personality dependent, so you can deal with that as he gets older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't totally agree with all of these replies. I think they are well intentioned and probably correct for the first few years or so, but I also thibk it's irresponsible to pretend like boys aren't subjected to a different set of expectations and pressure in the world.

OP, it's going to be awesome, but if I were to have a boy (I have 2 girls) I'd be thinking longer term about how I am going to teach him to share and communicate his emotions, to pursue what he loves whether it's "masculine" or not, to value and love his friends (especially the male ones), to show affection and vulnerability, amd of course to respect women and see them as equals. It's a noble, but I fear misguided, approah to just treat boys and girls the same and assume they'll turn out equally.

As mom to one girl and two boys, I get what you're saying, but we should be teaching ALL kids about emotional health, pursuing passions regardless of gender, appropriate boundaries, etc. You're assuming that these things naturally arise in parenting girls but not in boys, and that's not true IME. But, yes, probably because the OP is asking this question, her gender norms are stronger than in those of us who are responding that the differences tend to be more individual rather than solely as a function of gender. Sure, you take society into consideration and at the same time, pay attention to your own beliefs about gender.

Yeah it's important for any child, I think the pp was just highlighting some of the areas that might require special care and thoughtfulness due to the pressures society will place on a boy to not develop some of those skills. Similar to how you might have to pay closer attention to a young girls perception of her body. Yes you will help your son develop a positive perception of his body but a daughter could potentially need more support in this due to the messaging from society is typically stronger for girls so good to be aware of certain areas. Just like the messaging for boys to hide their emotions is typically stronger than for girls.

I get that, but you have to be careful not to do too much of it. For example, I think parents need to be mindful of their sons' perceptions of their bodies, too, and the parents who think of this as a girls issue don't tend to do that. It's not so blunt a hammer as pretending gender doesn't exist, but there's a subtle distinction that I think PP is missing.

[Anonymous]

Be prepared for him to be a lot more rough and destructive. My little boys love to dump stuff out, knock things over, get as dirty as possible. All the stereotypical stuff.

[Anonymous]

Give him plenty of time, seek it out if you have to, with other boys, and your husband, and trusted other males (he will already be getting plenty of female influence)

[Anonymous]

3 girls, #4 is a boy.
Here's what you need to know...

They have big heads
They are balls of energy, love to climb, tumble around, rough house
They're fascinated with anything with wheels; the bigger the better. Bonus if it also has lights and makes noise
They seem to gravitate towards men/other boys
They eat a lot
They get sweaty easily
They are amused when they pee
They give the best hugs

[Anonymous]

Mom of both here. Girl then boy.

Boys pee more in the front, girls pee more in the back. So I learned at night to put the diaper higher and lower in the back. Also point everything down when diapering.