Mommy?

Updated on January 11, 2009
T.D. asks from Canton, MS
12 answers

I have a wee one who will be 2 next month. I am concerned because she calls everyone "Mommy." She calls the dog by her name but her 4 year old sister and her father she calls mommy. She is a mommy's girl but even through games of saying names and pointing at pictures she refuses to call her father and sister anything other than Mommy.

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C.H.

answers from Little Rock on

Its just a phase...just don't make a big deal about it. You just use the right name and she will catch on eventually. Best of luck!!

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J.C.

answers from New Orleans on

My son use to call all men daddy. He out grew it. If bringing it to her attention isn't working, then maybe ignore it all together. Maybe the fact that she gets attention for it is causing her to continue?? Good luck.

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C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

She'll grow out of it. It could be that she calls them Mommy becuse Mommy is the one that does the most in terms of taking care of her all day, so Mommy is the word that comes t omind first because she uses it so much.
When she calls her sister or her dad "Mommy," just tell them to smile or laugh (gently, not mockingly or derisively) and say something like "No, I'm Daddy (or whatever her sister's name is); that's Mommy." and point to you.

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E.W.

answers from Jonesboro on

I think its just a stage because my 2 year old does it to she knows everyone elses name but she is so used to me being a SAHM that mama is just a habit.

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C.G.

answers from Huntsville on

Hi T.,
When my girl was about 18 mos old she called every man she saw "Da".
Which was embarrasing when we were in the grocery store/walmart and she pointed to men and said "Da".
I just told her "Yes that is a Man and lots of men ARE 'Das' ". Many of the men were a lot older than Her 'da' and they just smiled-I gathered from that it's pretty common. I think she was recoginzing that men were different from women-even did that when the weather guy was on tv ;-).
She grew out of it-now she;s almost 3 and calls men "guy, or man" :-).
She never called everyone Mommy, but over the Holidays my Mom stayed over a week with her and she called her "Mommy" several times after she'd been there a few days. I think (like several other moms have stated) it's a term that's indicitive of her level of comfort and safety from YOU. (I'm not sure kids that young really understand what Love is-I think we adults struggle with it too sometimes.)
I'd try and take heart-the fact that she calls the dog by her name means she understands that animals aren't people. I'd only get upset if she called the DOG "Mommy".:-)
Hope this helps,
C.

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K.W.

answers from Dothan on

My 2 year old granddaughter does the same thing. She calls her mommy-mommy and tries calling me momma or mommy when her mom isn't around. She was referring to every woman as mommy for a few months, but as she gets closer to 3 years old, she's starting to refer to other women correctly. Just keep lovingly correcting her when she calls auntie or the neighbor mommy and she'll grow out of it.

One thing also, she sees other women and knows that they can be mommies, so it is a general term for women. My granddaughter looks in magazines and points to pictures of women and says "Mommy". It is nothing against you, she's just learning her concepts.

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P.M.

answers from Birmingham on

As worried as you are my this, she will out grow it.

But if it really bothers you, try having your husband and 4 yr old not respond to her until says their name. She will eventually get it.

Consider it high praise - she could be calling you Daddy (haha)

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A.C.

answers from Monroe on

Hi T.. I have a 20 month old son that calls everyone, encluding stangers, daddy. I don't mind when he calls me daddy but it's embarrassing when he calls stange me daddy. Don't worry, they will all grow out of it, for now just try to laugh at the little things she does and remember these things for stories when she grows up.

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A.D.

answers from Fayetteville on

My son turned 3 in August and until a couple of weeks ago had never called me Mommy. He has been saying Daddy for a long time and called me "Da" for whatever reason. It made my heart ache every time he said something cute with Daddy...I felt very left out, although I did learn to love that he gave me a nickname and actually felt sad when he stopped calling me "da" because he is getting so big! Motherhood is a mine-field of contradictions! I'm sure it is just a phase and you will probably find yourself missing it once she figures everything out. Good Luck!

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A.R.

answers from Tuscaloosa on

hahaha...My daughter, Harper will be 2 in 2 weeks and she did this for about 3weeks. She saw Cameron Diaz and started yelling "mommy mommy!"...now I was flattered, but then she was just calling any lady with blonde hair mommy. I explained it to her that I am her only mommy and all the other ladies are just ladies. :-) She also called Nick Saban, Alabama football coach Daddy! It is just a phase where toddlers are figurinig it all out.

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K.L.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I love this. When my daughter was around the same age, my feelings were really hurt. She said daddy first. Well, actually, she said baba first. Later I realized I was baba so it made me feel a little better. Then, she started calling everyone Mommy. Once again, my feelings were hurt. It really didn't last very long, but to me it was forever. The term Mommy is an endearing one to her, and it is comforting to her. In a way is it actually a compliment to you. Just wait till she learns your first name and refuses to call you Mommy for a while. Once again, my feelings were hurt. When my son went through it all 8 years later, I was able to laugh about it a little more. He called everyone Mommy so my Mother and Mother in Law played along and just asked "Well which mommy do you want? We are all Mommies." When he had to clarify, he realized I responded to Mommy and they only responded if he gave clarification. Then he gave his own twist and called women things like "red shirt mommy" or "Lauren's Mommy" until he could remember names better. Good luck, enjoy that age. Enjoy nursing school too. It is a great field to go into, and well worth the time invested.

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S.M.

answers from Tulsa on

If you can do it light heartedly -join in and call your daughter mommy too =)S.

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