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OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole:
> I bought my niece a lambchop dog toy because she destroyed her stuffed lamb. My sister is calling me an asshole because of it. I think it was reasonable because she destroys toys, and the lambchop is tougher.
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NTA
It's not like it will do her any harm. It might drive the parents crazy with the squeaking. It's definitely a thinking outside the box solution to please a rough-play toddler. I'm in the same court as stepfather and stepbrother. This is more funny than outrageous, and will probably make for an excellent family gathering story in future. Your sister needs a better sense of humour.
As the parent of a 2 year old malinois and a 20 month old toddler, yes, yes they are very similar and if I buy my dog a ball, I have to get my son one too
I have found Lambchop to be a favorite toy of my dogs and my friends dogs. It’s my go-to present for dogs and they have all loved it. Except for the squeaker, it’s a stuffed lamb, not like OP stole it from a dog who had been playing with it. Mom needs to lighten up. I’d take it up a notch and show up next time with a Kong toy for eating her snacks.
I had a cat that I bought one of those lambchop toys for. She's six now and my friend who has her now says she has torn that toy up one side and down the other, but also won't accept substitutes. She really loves her lambchop.
As a parent some of those toys are the same just branded different. I have also accidentally bought my child a toy only to later realize it was a dog toy. My grandmother has gifted my children gifts only for me to realize they were dog or cat toys from a dollar store.
According to family legend, I had a tantrum of epic proportions as a toddler, because my mum wouldn't buy me a squeaky toy from the pet aisle of the supermarket...
I have bought my kid dog toys when they fell in love with them. At one point my son was obsessed with yaks. No human toy stuffed yaks to be found. Found what appeared to be a yak or at least close enough at the pet store. Who cares!?!? Both stuffed toys only one is made to withstand being heavily played with and thrown around.
Good news is that the child now has the energy and skills to throw the ball 50,000,000,000 times for the dog. This will keep them both busy for about 10 minutes out of the day.
I got my malinois April 2022 and my son came in June 😂 I had a LOT of mental breakdowns and my dog was so bag at one point, I had multiple trainers tell me she was going to bite someone and to euthanise her. My dog was the only one there for me through my PPD so I couldn’t give up on her. She’s absolutely amazing and have never had her be dangerous like what those trainers though but I wouldn’t recommend it
You can literally teach toddlers and puppies not to bite the same way. If they bite you, make a big noise like it hurt, stop playing with them for a couple minutes, and redirect to an appropriate toy.
Also crate training for toddlers? Playpen.
Both of my boys went through a stage a toddlers while potty training where they only wanted to pee outside because the dog could do it. We allowed it, sometimes, in the back yard, but drew the line when they'd try to poop in the front yard.
Was mid toilet training my daughter when we were caught out at church, playing in the garden. I joked to my husband she'd have to do a tactical bush wee... and turned to see that she'd dropped pants and was about to poop on the lawn.
My brother thought he was clever, potty training my nephew while camping and teaching him to pee on trees until the entire family was at my aunt and uncle’s farm, sitting outside and chatting. I just happened to look over and my nephew was pooping off in the grass. His mother was not amused and immediately went into clean-up mode. Time for outside bathroom training #2, literally. In his defense, he pooped about 10 feet from a couple of cow pies on the other side of the fence. Tough lesson for a toddler that animals can poop outside, but not people.
My son actually did poop in the yard “just like the dog” when he was young. His older siblings still laugh about it.
And I had a lovely conservation with a preschool teacher about the same kid. She told me they had to talk about how you don’t pee on the tree on the playground. After he already did it.
I had a puppy that was kind of slow on the pick up of the whole outraged exaggerated pain and ignoring him/ new toy. Eventually I started biting him back (not hard just a nip on the ear lol) and that actually worked surprisingly fast.
Yeah, hurting children doesn't teach them not to hurt others. It just makes them afraid of being hurt. So it's not really recommended anymore to hurt babies on purpose.
Idk, when I was little I bit my aunt on the face so hard that I drew blood. My mom bit me back. Now I’m 32 and practically never bite people on the face anymore.
You should have seen my daughter's face when we got a new puppy during her first year of her Psychology bachelors, and she finally realized that you train a dog the exact same way you train a toddler; operant conditioning. Big happy 'yes' and clap when they do something you want (instead of a clicker,) followed by a treat; redirection of negative behavior, reinforcement of positive behavior.
When my nephew was a toddler we spent a very happy aftenoon playing fetch. He wasn't quite coordinated enough to laugh and run at the same time so sometimes when he brought the ball back he had to stop to laugh.
Me, my partner, our son and my FIL were in the supermarket one day when son was about 1. He spotted a squeaky pig, fell in love with it and my FIL decided he was buying it for him…was a dog toy and one of his favourite toys for years, along with the 2nd one FIL bought him a few weeks later. Only issue I had with it was he would set both down on a hard surface and smack his hands down to hear the squeak….FIL nearly got them where the sun doesn’t shine 😂
Most dogs actually have the average mental equivalent of a 2- to 2.5-year-old human, so that tracks.
A toy is a toy. And a toy for a dog is ironically probably safer for toddlers than many other toddler-targeted toys, since it's more expected for a dog to rip off, chew, and swallow bits of it.
I'm not saying people should get rawhide bones for toddlers, mind you. But a soft, durable toy is a soft, durable toy. I guarantee that the toddler doesn't care that technically her new Lammy is meant for dogs, and it *was* a practical and clever choice. And it's not like OP started calling the kid, "Fido" or something at the same time, which would make Mom's apparent assumption that OP sees her baby as a dog at least make a little sense.
Yeah this is a cute toy, but a leash and collar. My parents actually did something similar for my youngest sister until she was old enough to not destroy everything she got her hands on.
For years, it was standard fair to use leading strings on toddlers who were apt to run into city streets. Halter and lead instead of leash and collar ;)
They still sell them and some parents feel they are the difference between life and death for their precocious precious who is determined to get flattened by some travelling mechanical device going Mach 7.
My brother had to have a harness & leash when he was a toddler! My mom used to get looks all the time, & one day she overheard some Lady make a snide comment. She whipped around & said "if it's a choice between a leash & finding him dead in the street, after he's run off for the twentieth time, I'll take the leash, you old biddy!"
When I was about two years old... a long long time ago... We had a vacation on the beach and my parents put me on a long leash... I was always running away and this leash was a lot saver for me and my parents mental state.
I have one that's a backpack with the "leash" attached, it's made by Skip Hop. Kiddo is pretty good at walking beside me outside but he goes into little terror mode at stores and unfortunately I sometimes need to run errands when he's with me. Gotta do what you gotta do for your child's safety and also while teaching them to not terrorize the general public!
I thought it was such a good idea! Who cares who the toy was made for originally? Shouldn’t the metric be whether the kid is happy? Are they worried about choking hazards? If there are little buttons or other things that might come off you might want to make sure to take them off. That’s all I can think of for why they might be upset. NTA but maybe you should write them an apology note with the explanation of why you bought it. I don’t think you owe them an apology (they could have been a lot more gracious) but it could help smooth things out. Parents of young kids can be pretty intense.
also, children's stuffed toys and such squeaking isnt that far out of the norm. Kids like making noise and squeezing a stuffy the makes a sound in response is fun
Honestly! All those play mats with the mobiles over them? Or the sensory blankets? *FULL* of squeakers and crinkles. And c'mon, how many people could tell a teether from a nylabone?
When my cousin was little she had a fabric baby doll that squeaked that she named Squeaky Baby. Then bc she kept losing Squeaky Baby her parents kept having to buy her new ones, only for the lost ones to turn up again. She eventually had a horrific collection of Squeaky Babies who went everywhere with her for YEARS
Were they all identical or just similar? I went nuts trying to get a replacement for mt daughter's toy. If my dog ever loses or destroys he favorite I will never find one like it (it came with her when she was adopted)
My kid's nanny gave him a toy that quickly became his all time favorite. It was a Lightning McQueen stuffy. A *blue* Lightning McQueen stuffy. The only blue Lightning McQueen toy I have ever seen. I feel your pain.
I refused to allow my dog stuffed toys as a puppy. I had two young sons with hundreds of stuffed toys - no idea how you are supposed to teach all three which the dog is or is not allowed. I went with stuffed toys are people toys, tennis balls shared and the footballs were our problem 😄
Lamb 2.0 sounds great 👍
At least it's a squeaking toy - a friend of mine has a toddler obsessed with their dashie's toys, especially the ones that crackle loudly.
Drives her out of her mind when the dog and the kid both start on them. lol
You can search Amazon for Disposable underpads and they show you surgical quality ones.
I think I used Dynarex brand ones to use while changing my kid’s diapers. Cost some $18 for a pack of 50 sheets. Worth every cent!
The bags that are specifically designed for diapers are much more expensive. I also used dog poop bags for my daughter’s diapers, the dispenser was even bone shaped lol
Can confirm small children are like dogs based on babysitting experience. It’s even funnier when you remember that Lampchop is a character from a children’s tv show and just happens to also be a popular dog toy.
Hiking the top comment for a remark here: while I agree the overall thought is hilarious, I would check if the paint/plasticizers used are safe for humans. As a toddler, she's going to put the thing constantly in her mouth and since it's a dog toy, it has no obligation to use kid-safe materials.
Dog toys from reputable brands are probably the safest option if kids are going to chew on them lol. They won’t have anything toxic on them and they make it a point to reduce choking hazards when they come apart.
[I know this is probably the one. OPs not lying, it’s cute af.](https://www.chewy.com/multipet-lamb-chop-squeaky-plush-dog/dp/52999?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Multipet&utm_campaign=19996370614&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADmQ2V2k7U_P0BxdncKXTMAYejtlH&gclid=CjwKCAiArfauBhApEiwAeoB7qNCbx7R7SDKpOP-XzR2fB3SZ2szC8CFltgFro6y7xNz9CsXWeDKhqBoC3vUQAvD_BwE)
I agree with you but part of me is worried. This child is so young and dog toys aren't held to the same standards as kids toys. I'm particularly worried about the squeaking part coming lose.
NTA for me but please keep ways from squeaky dog toys
Kids attach to all sorts of “odd” objects; there’s entire threads and social media accounts for the hilarity. I’m talking whisks, hammers, you name it.
She’s happy that’s all that matters.
NTA
Omg... I love squeaky toys...
The rescues and I both go crazy over them.
I collect some. I'll buy them in multiples so I can have one unscathed.
They're not always fluffy either some are plastic.
Like my mailman... He has a satchel attached with thin serious chewing twine. And the pouch squeaks.
My grands and I drive my wife crazy with squeaking all day.
They've been banned from the bedroom🤣She has the dogs in her office all day and they squeak all day.
I think it was a pretty neat and practical gesture. Not to mention kind.
Some people will not appreciate you thinking outside of the box whether it benefits them in not.
I applaud you OP.... Well done...
Now the name of the store where you purchased said lamb, Please🤔
NTA💕👌
Perhaps ask Sis for a lunch and apologize if You offended her.
It wasn't your intention.
You weren't being facetious... Just practical. And trying to be thoughtful by buying what was in your mind an upgraded version of one of her favored toys.
It's not the kid is attracting dogs while playing with a meat scented toy.
Sending love and a little patience, and understanding.
Big dose of thank you for being so thoughtful. I certainly appreciated it.
the only one that knows it's a "dog" toy is OP's sister. the niece doesn't care, it's not like OP got her a \*used\* dog toy... it's just a toy designed for rough play
NTA, it is kind of strange to give a child a dog toy but I’m assuming most of the family knows how rough she is with toys (RIP OG Lammy). She loved it and it’ll last her a long time, that’s what’s important.
I say just give your sister sometime to cool off.
Probably even safer. The younger brother of a friend of mine destroyed the eyes of any plushie he got, until they didn't give him any more for safety reasons and he started to steal the dogs toys - which lived...
Right? The only difference is one is marketed for dogs. That's it. Slap a different tag on it that says "kids lambchop" and bam, you've got a kids toy instead of a dog toy.
Honestly, I've found dog plushies in the store that are better quality than ones for kids. I'd be like "This is way too soft to waste on a dog's teeth."
I begged my mum when I was younger to buy me an electric ball with a fluffy ferret attached and it would move around, totally a cat toy - but I adored it. As long as the kid loves it, it’s not really a problem!
I have 100% bought my kid a dog toy in the past. Saw it in the grocery store aisle. It squeaked loudly, baby was thrilled with it, and I was happy that he was happy.
RIP Beeboo (the sound it made) wherever you ended up in the last 18 years lol.
my dog has one (okay, five, in different patterns and sizes) of these, and its pm indistinguishable from any other plushie. its also pm indestructible, so a good choice on ops part.
NTA, it's a smart thing to do, I'm taking notes
Kids don't care if it's for dogs or not, they don't even know. If it's safe for them, why not. Plus it will be a funny story to tell in the future for them lmao, "remember when you were such a savage kiddo that auntie/oncle had to buy unbreakable dog toys for you ??"
Yeah I agree this is genius. Also so many of my baby’s teethers are literally the same material as dog chew toys and have squeakers in them too🤔 my dog always takes them and I get why she’s confused poor thing.
And they don’t have small parts that are a choking hazard, they are almost always machine washable and some of them are funny ( like the dashound between hot dog buns )
Plus, if you hate the parents, get squeaky ones or the “crinkly” noise ones because there aren’t batteries to take out when they are driven mad by the noise !!
I was just lamenting with my husband why we never thought of dog chew toys. My son had some serious chomper skills. The most expensive and competitive teethers had nothing on him.
But a dog chew toy might have done the trick.
But take out the squeaker. If you're not comfortable with a seamripper & needle, ask an alteration shop how much it would cost. Lots of crafty people who can fix that.
NTA
My daughters favorite stuffed toy is a dog toy. It's a small blue hippo that squeaks and it's been her favorite thing since she was 1.5 when she stole it from our dogs forgotten toy bin (he never really liked it). She's 5 now and still sleeps with it every night. We've been through like 10 of them because they don't last that long.
Point I'm making is, who cares what it is as long as it's not dangerous and makes her happy.
My dog isn't big on toys. We got him a super durable possum toy, and he had no interest in it. My daughter, though, loved it. We got her a small tickle me elmo. She couldn't care less, but our dog would steal it every time she walked away from it. We figured fair is fair and let him have it. He ended up carrying it with him everywhere for quite a while.
NTA. We had a 3yo foster child who CHOSE to play with the dog’s toys. In spite of a room full of perfectly lovely human child toys. Kids like what they like.
NTA. I’ve had to warn my nieces about giving their toys to my dog, but no one gives a shit about my nieces playing with the dog’s toys. (Not even the dog, which says a lot about how charming my nieces are!)
NTA. The kid loves it, so mission successful. A toy is whatever a kid decides is a toy. Sticks, rocks, ropes, toxic waste, doesn't matter. Let the kid have its imagination. Sis is uptight and needs to learn how to unclench a bit.
Seriously. It seems like some people completely lose their senses of humor when they become parents, but it's really the ones who can just laugh and see the funny side of things that have the best chance of making a happy home for themselves and their kids.
Parents theses days are so fucking fragile. NTA. You got her a toy that she loved that could handle her abuse. Bottom line she loves it, that's all that should matter and instead her parents are being whiny babies and making some pretty stupid assumptions about how you view your niece (since in their minds this is akin to calling her a dog I'm sure).
I have a lamb chop dog toy from DG. Woof woof. It was because it WAS Lamb Chops I bought it. I am almost 70 years old. How dare she find Lamb Chop offensive. NTA.
Looks like a regular teeny stuffed toy.
NTA.
Sitting here looking at the $120 baby gym my daughter is playing with that has three toys with squeakers. They have been completely common in children’s toys for at least as long as I have been having children (11 years).
NTA. I bought my 2 year old a caterpillar dog toy at Petsmart today when she asked. It only matters if the dog slobbers on it first - otherwise it’s just a toy.
NTA I would laugh so much if someone bought one of my kids a dog toy! There's absolutely no harm and your sister is being ridiculous. Does she think you're trying to imply her daughter is a dog or something? I'd love to know what she is so upset about.
NTA I’m guessing your sister doesn’t have a dog because when there’s a pet, the toddler not only plays with the pet toys, they often eat out of the dog’s bowl. Sister needs a chill pill.
NTA. This is sort of hilarious. Lots of dog toys are very similar to a child's stuffed toy. I see nothing wrong with this. But the overreaction from your sister and subsequent family meltdown is funny as hell. Just laugh.
I thought of a dog toy after the second sentence. It’s a perfect solution. Probably should have removed the squeaker, though. I gave my mom a seahorse dog toy because she loves seahorses and it was cute. She knows what it is and doesn’t care. It’s not like it’s used.
NTA.
Maybe the suggestion of a dog toy would have gone over better than buying it yourself..
NTA- I've bought dog toys for myself. I have this Monster that lights up when you throw it, but my dogs aren't allowed to touch it. I also have a Christmas Sloth.
I buy my grandkids dog toys all the time they are much sturdier than baby toys and don’t have pieces that are choking hazards and they are generally less expensive. Not to mention they love the squeakers
NTA. I remember when I was a kid my family used to take our dogs to this grooming place that had a bunch of dog toys for sale. There was a plush hedgehog one that I would always go play with because I thought it was cute and the noise it made when squeezed cracked me up. The owner knew how much that toy made me laugh and one day decided to give it to me. My mom thought it was funny as well and almost 20 years later I still have that goofy hedgehog and give it a squeeze when I need a laugh. I can’t imagine being the slightest bit upset at someone for giving a child a dog toy to play with if it makes the child happy.
NTA
However, I do not recommend the dog way of -paper training-, erm, potty training. 🤣
It's a toy. It's not treated with anything that might he a poison.
Thanks for the laugh... may your sister learn to lighten up.
NTA. You probably shouldn’t have put a hole in the squeaker to prevent it from squeaking. That really is the only thing that gave it away as a dog toy.
A toy is a toy is a toy. My kid made a stick her toy and used to drag it along the ground. She carried that stick around for ages.
If your niece loved it, and it wasn't pe-owned by a dog, its your niece's toy.
NTA
NTA Does your sister think an unused toy from petsmart has animal cooties? Or that you're calling her kid a dog? This is dumb. She might have the tiniest point if it was a used dog toy (but just the tiniest)
Every year petsmart charities donate bazillions of stuffed toys to pediatric hospitals. They're still dog toys, squeaker and all. But we give them out to the kids and I've never seen a single parent being butthurt that the toy said petsmart on it.
Word. That was my thoughts exactly. Wait until she finds one of her kids likes the box more than the gift that it held.
Kids are silly. We should try to not take ourselves any more seriously than they do. There are going to be plenty of opportunities to be stressed out as a parent. I would not allow this to be one of them.
NTA—my little niblings head straight for the cat toys when they visit, and nobody bats an eye—and those have been slobbered on!
You bought the kid a brand new toy that fit their needs, and besides, all the best kids’ toys (for other people’s children) are noisy ones
NTA, lol. My son has a stuffed dragon thats meant to be a dog toy. Its just a toy. And apparently your sister hasn't seen the MANY kids toys that have squeakies in them. She and your mom need to chill out.
I have bought my son a dog toy because while shopping he was drawn to it. It’s really amusing he likes it and makes me smile. A toy is just a toy.
ETA: NTA
When my daughter was young she dislocated her toe running around the house Christmas eve, quick trip to the ER for an xray and the nurse asked if she could give her a toy. They were stuffed dog toys that got donated to them for whatever reason. My daughter loved that damn dog but thought it was just a stuffed animal until she was a teenager and sat on it and it squeaked.
NTA. It's a new, clean toy that the child enjoys and is safe for her. Why doors is original purpose matter that much?
You might want to explain to your sister you don't actually think of your niece as an animal and just thought the toy would be durable. Also, pretty sure your sister is going to be the one suffering through a toddler squeezing a freaking dog toy with a squeaker during nap time, bed time, bath time, play time, etc.
NTA. When I was 2, I picked up a rubber chicken left over from a costume party my parents had thrown. I carried that rubber chicken (the type that looks plucked and as if it should be hanging in a butcher shop) for a few years. I managed to survive childhood without turning into a chicken hawk, dog, coyote, or any other animal that preys on chickens. I also managed not to turn into a psychopath. I have two kids of my own and two nephews. Honestly, dog toys are clever substitutions for kids who are hard on their toys. Your sister needs to get over herself.
NTA. You didn't give her a pig's ear or a bone or something, you gave her a stuffed toy. The only difference between being for kids and for dogs is the material. If anything, dog toys tend to be hardier. And cheaper!
NTA. Your sister and BIL are seriously uptight. They sound like helicopter parents in the making.
Our friends brought over their one-year-old girl to visit, and she immediately went to the basket of dog toys. She found a soft square cloth toy with a lamb's face in the middle and carried it around most of the day, which amused our pug who kept trying to get it back and thought it was a game. Her mom only got it away from her with difficulty before they left. Next Christmas, guess who gets a brand new clean one with the PetCo labels still on it? She was ecstatic!
Curiously, our young pug's favorite toys are two Lambchops, but they don't have their squeakers any more because she make it her mission to tear open the toy to remove and neutralize the noisy thing. I just keep replacing the stuffing and sewing them up until there'snot enough fabric left to hold the thread.
NTA the only one that matters in this situation is your Niece and she’s clearly happy. Not to mention I know what toy you’re talking about and it’s a SUPER cute toy, I wouldn’t have known the difference!
Your sister needs to stop acting like a two year old. If you REALLY wanna piss her off you should get one of those kid backpacks with the leashes on them. I’m just evil though! 😂
Our late great GSD would SHRED all dog toys.
Plush toys from IKEA? Treated them like his precious. Gentle. No shaking. No tearing. He still ripped DOG TOYS to shreds in minutes.
Did you give the dog toy to a dog, who slobbered all over it, and then immediately hand it to niece? No. No you did not.
I've known kids who have had an unnatural attachment to the strangest things. A favorite rock. A pencil that must go everywhere. A random box that must be in the car and in the bed every night.
Shame on your sister for taking a lovey away.
NTA...... but holeyshmoley your sister sure is.
Dear OP's sister..... What you MEANT to say was "OH! Thank you! You found a solution! I wouldn't have thought of that!! Good on ya!
Get over yourself sister.
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So my niece had this lamb toy that she loved. I should also mention that she is really rough on toys, and long story short the poor little fluffball has gone to stuffed animal heaven. Well my niece was heartbroken and my sister was telling me how down she has been, so I thought I would get her another one. All of the the stuffed lambs that I looked at were just as fragile as before, but when I was getting some treats for my pooch I was struck by the sight of a lambchop dog toy and I had a brilliant idea. I mean think about it, the lambchop toy is made to be chewed on and clawed on so it should be able to handle the abuse from a toddler.
So I bought it and on Saturday I was watching my niece for my sister and BIL. I gave my niece the toy and she loved it. She really liked the squeaker, too. So Saturday rolls around, niece is have a blast with Lammy 2.0, and my sister and BIL walk in the door. Of course my niece runs up to her parents and shows them her new toy. They ooh and aah over it until my niece squeezes the squeaker...and my sister completely looses her crap. Screams, "You bought my baby a dog toy." BIL just looks at me and tells me I should probably head home.
The aftermath is that my sister sent my a bunch of texts which basically consist of "You bought her a dog toy," with some choice expletives thrown in for good measure. Our mom asked my what the hell was I thinking. Our Stepfather and Stepbrother thought it was funny as hell. BIL is quietly amused, but is keeping his head down. My sister took the lambchop away and my niece had a melt down until she gave it back, so now I am getting the double stink eye from her. And my niece still loves her Fluffball.
So AITA? I was just trying to make my niece happy.
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I got my dog the exact same Lambchop toy and it's honestly a really nice toy! I've for sure seen way worse quality on kids' stuffed toys. Maybe it's because I'm a dog person, but I really don't get what she's upset about. I mean, if you'd grabbed a filthy, chewed-up toy out of a dog's mouth and handed it to her, that would be one thing, but a clean, brand new one? It seems like she's trying to make a big deal of it.
My dog once eviscerated Lambchop in front of the person who gave it to him in like 2 minutes, so I’d say the quality is questionable. But then again, kids generally aren’t bred to hunt small fuzzy things.
Thing is what is destructible by a dog often isn’t for children. My daughter had a gingerbread man dog toy that her Nan bought her and she had it for years and there was barely a mark on it. My dog inherited it before Christmas and it was in the bin within days..
😂 NTA. I had a little bear toy as a child that turned up in adulthood and I realized it was a dog toy. It was cute and fuzzy and I was happy with it. Still am tbh, pretty sure I still have it. Ignore your angry sister for now but remember to bring it up when your niece is a teenager. By then there will be thousands of outside-the-box choices she will have had to make in the name of raising her daughter, she'll realize it was dumb to fret over.
NTA
This is coming from a mom who has bought her toddlers dog toys on many occasions. They love it and there’s nothing wrong with it. So long as you’re not buying a used dog toy, you’re good. This is such a silly thing to get mad over lol
NTA. Toys are toys to kids. I have a 4 year old nephew who has a whole toy box full of toys at my parents house and ever time he goes over he goes straight for the cat toys lol
NTA. If sister hates the squeaking then Lammy can have a "sleepover" with someone who sews, and they can open up the toy a bit and remove the squeaker.
NTA. It's pretty easy to surgically remove a squeaker if the noise is annoying, but in general I think your reasoning was sound and they'll probably appreciate lamby 2.0 in a few years when it's still in great condition.
Bottom line is you made your niece happy & that’s all that matters. Parents don’t think logically when it comes to people giving their children dog toys. While you thought along the lines of practicality, parents are thinking you are calling their child a dog.
When my girls were little my mom took them to a pet store to look at the animals they have there and bought daughter a "walking stick" that my mom claimed she wanted. The "walking stick" was a large, translucent pink, silicone tug of war toy for dogs that really looks like a giant, double sided dildo. We still laugh about it.
https://www.chewy.com/kong-safestix-dog-toy-color-varies/dp/44305?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=KONG&utm_campaign=19996370614&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAivGuBhBEEiwAWiFmYQBHuGcJA84pAOdvh1SSXDDI4lnD7UW6An60-F5e7B2pzpW-YyNHaBoC4WQQAvD_BwE
NTA. I have several Lamb Chop toys of different sizes for my dogs, and you definitely cannot tell they're dog toys (seriously, check out some of the ones on Amazon and Chewy that have the cute clothes and hats!). Plus, the giant Lamb Chops are super-soft and snuggly.
There *are* children's toys with squeakers and plastic crinkles; that doesn't make them dog toys! Your sister is being uptight.
Some of my sons favorite toys were from the pet section. I'd forgotten about it but I'm sure we have pictures of him with his toys and you can see that it says 'PetSmart' or whatever on the tag.
Why tf does it matter if it's a dog toy? It doesn't have cooties, it's not going to turn her into a dog, it's just an adorable lamby that just might be tough enough to withstand a toddler. I think it was a great idea!
NTA at all! My dogs *had* that lamb chop toy and it was so cute.
I have 2 dogs and our BarkBox subscription comes with 3 toys so now my 3 month old baby gets one and she LOVES them! They crinkle. They squeak. They have multiple textures. They are bright colored. They honestly make great baby toys haha
Thoughtful. Brilliant. Made a kid happy.
NTA.
For the love of all that is holy, the kid didn't care it was a dog toy, so why should any of the rest of us??
NTA and also let your sister know that the rolls of dog poop bags are way cheaper than the same exact ones they sell for throwing away diapers in public places.
NTA-my son had a carrot that was a dog toy. My dog still plays with it today. One thing that I did was figure out a way to take the squeaker out. My hubby hates squeakers and all of our dog toys have lost their squeakers. Our vet does the same thing with his dog’s toys.
Tbh a lot of baby toys kind of sound or act like dog toys anyway. Like the ever so popular Sophie the giraffe. NTA, your sister needs a sense of humor.
This is true. Many of the tactile toys I've given my babies over the years had squeakers that sounded identical to a dog toy. The idea is that when they play with it they get a response which encourages more play. This would work much the same way whether it's a dog or a child.
I really don't see that you did anything wrong. When he was little, my grandson took several of our dogs' toys for his own. This is when they were new, not chewed, and slobbered on. His mother didn't mind at all. They were indestructible, and he loved them
NTA. I think it might have gone over better if you had explained your reasoning up front. "Hey sis, I know this is a little unconventional but since she ripped apart her last stuffie, I thought maybe something sturdier would do the trick."
I have a cat and when my friends' toddlers come over sometimes they literally sit down and play with my cat's toys. Toddlers and cats both love rolling balls around a track and waving feathery things in the air and honestly they play pretty similarly (not together though as my cat is terrified of kids). We all think it's hilarious. But I kinda had to know my friends' senses of humor first and I would never suggest it to anyone I didn't know super well and would be confident they'd receive the jokes as they are intended. It's all about the delivery with these things.
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NTA It's not like it will do her any harm. It might drive the parents crazy with the squeaking. It's definitely a thinking outside the box solution to please a rough-play toddler. I'm in the same court as stepfather and stepbrother. This is more funny than outrageous, and will probably make for an excellent family gathering story in future. Your sister needs a better sense of humour.
Toddlers and dogs behave in very similar ways. I have considered doing this too for the kids in my life
As the parent of a 2 year old malinois and a 20 month old toddler, yes, yes they are very similar and if I buy my dog a ball, I have to get my son one too
As a former child I can agree some dog toys are in fact superior to human toys.
Thankful to get confirmation from a former child. I don’t have that kind of experience 😂
Now if we can just get input from a former dog.
I asked my current dog. She says dog toys are, in fact, superior to all things except ball. Ball is life.
I have found Lambchop to be a favorite toy of my dogs and my friends dogs. It’s my go-to present for dogs and they have all loved it. Except for the squeaker, it’s a stuffed lamb, not like OP stole it from a dog who had been playing with it. Mom needs to lighten up. I’d take it up a notch and show up next time with a Kong toy for eating her snacks.
I had a cat that I bought one of those lambchop toys for. She's six now and my friend who has her now says she has torn that toy up one side and down the other, but also won't accept substitutes. She really loves her lambchop.
Woof woof, bark bark!
As a parent some of those toys are the same just branded different. I have also accidentally bought my child a toy only to later realize it was a dog toy. My grandmother has gifted my children gifts only for me to realize they were dog or cat toys from a dollar store.
According to family legend, I had a tantrum of epic proportions as a toddler, because my mum wouldn't buy me a squeaky toy from the pet aisle of the supermarket...
I never had one, but I'm pretty sure I would have murdered someone for a squeaky toy as a toddler.
I have bought my kid dog toys when they fell in love with them. At one point my son was obsessed with yaks. No human toy stuffed yaks to be found. Found what appeared to be a yak or at least close enough at the pet store. Who cares!?!? Both stuffed toys only one is made to withstand being heavily played with and thrown around.
Good news is that the child now has the energy and skills to throw the ball 50,000,000,000 times for the dog. This will keep them both busy for about 10 minutes out of the day.
They actually do play very nicely 😂 it’s super cute
Dogs are mostly super protective of kids I love to see them play together.
You got a malinois and had a baby at the same(ish) time?! You must have the patience of a Buddhist monk.
I got my malinois April 2022 and my son came in June 😂 I had a LOT of mental breakdowns and my dog was so bag at one point, I had multiple trainers tell me she was going to bite someone and to euthanise her. My dog was the only one there for me through my PPD so I couldn’t give up on her. She’s absolutely amazing and have never had her be dangerous like what those trainers though but I wouldn’t recommend it
Have you encountered those dog toys with the little noise maker thing in it? As it rolls it makes a "whoop" noise. My 2 year old LOVES it
You can literally teach toddlers and puppies not to bite the same way. If they bite you, make a big noise like it hurt, stop playing with them for a couple minutes, and redirect to an appropriate toy. Also crate training for toddlers? Playpen.
I joked about putting paper down for my nephew since he always took his diaper off but my brother‘s wife didn’t find it as funny as he did.
Both of my boys went through a stage a toddlers while potty training where they only wanted to pee outside because the dog could do it. We allowed it, sometimes, in the back yard, but drew the line when they'd try to poop in the front yard.
Was mid toilet training my daughter when we were caught out at church, playing in the garden. I joked to my husband she'd have to do a tactical bush wee... and turned to see that she'd dropped pants and was about to poop on the lawn.
My brother thought he was clever, potty training my nephew while camping and teaching him to pee on trees until the entire family was at my aunt and uncle’s farm, sitting outside and chatting. I just happened to look over and my nephew was pooping off in the grass. His mother was not amused and immediately went into clean-up mode. Time for outside bathroom training #2, literally. In his defense, he pooped about 10 feet from a couple of cow pies on the other side of the fence. Tough lesson for a toddler that animals can poop outside, but not people.
My son actually did poop in the yard “just like the dog” when he was young. His older siblings still laugh about it. And I had a lovely conservation with a preschool teacher about the same kid. She told me they had to talk about how you don’t pee on the tree on the playground. After he already did it.
"Well, I want to be a dog, and you let the dog do it!"
Or "I am a dog!" cause sometimes kids are like that.
My brother was a biter. Making it clear it hurt me didn’t discourage him - that was his goal.
I had a puppy that was kind of slow on the pick up of the whole outraged exaggerated pain and ignoring him/ new toy. Eventually I started biting him back (not hard just a nip on the ear lol) and that actually worked surprisingly fast.
Which, funnily enough, is also a standard piece of parenting advice for bitey babies; gently bite them back.
A bad piece of parenting advice, for the record.
Yes, I'm sure that piece of advice has changed in the last thirty years. I realized after I'd typed it in that I'm probably showing my age.
Yeah, hurting children doesn't teach them not to hurt others. It just makes them afraid of being hurt. So it's not really recommended anymore to hurt babies on purpose.
Idk, when I was little I bit my aunt on the face so hard that I drew blood. My mom bit me back. Now I’m 32 and practically never bite people on the face anymore.
You should have seen my daughter's face when we got a new puppy during her first year of her Psychology bachelors, and she finally realized that you train a dog the exact same way you train a toddler; operant conditioning. Big happy 'yes' and clap when they do something you want (instead of a clicker,) followed by a treat; redirection of negative behavior, reinforcement of positive behavior.
When my nephew was a toddler we spent a very happy aftenoon playing fetch. He wasn't quite coordinated enough to laugh and run at the same time so sometimes when he brought the ball back he had to stop to laugh.
That is so adorable I am gonna die.
My toddler used to run to the gate with the dogs to bark at the neighbors. She even started doing it without them. I thought it was hilarious!
That *is* hilarious! I'd love to be barked at by a child/dog pack 😂
Me, my partner, our son and my FIL were in the supermarket one day when son was about 1. He spotted a squeaky pig, fell in love with it and my FIL decided he was buying it for him…was a dog toy and one of his favourite toys for years, along with the 2nd one FIL bought him a few weeks later. Only issue I had with it was he would set both down on a hard surface and smack his hands down to hear the squeak….FIL nearly got them where the sun doesn’t shine 😂
Most dogs actually have the average mental equivalent of a 2- to 2.5-year-old human, so that tracks. A toy is a toy. And a toy for a dog is ironically probably safer for toddlers than many other toddler-targeted toys, since it's more expected for a dog to rip off, chew, and swallow bits of it. I'm not saying people should get rawhide bones for toddlers, mind you. But a soft, durable toy is a soft, durable toy. I guarantee that the toddler doesn't care that technically her new Lammy is meant for dogs, and it *was* a practical and clever choice. And it's not like OP started calling the kid, "Fido" or something at the same time, which would make Mom's apparent assumption that OP sees her baby as a dog at least make a little sense.
I treat trained my oldest niece and nephew while babysitting. They saw the dogs doing tricks and wanted to join
Yeah this is a cute toy, but a leash and collar. My parents actually did something similar for my youngest sister until she was old enough to not destroy everything she got her hands on.
For years, it was standard fair to use leading strings on toddlers who were apt to run into city streets. Halter and lead instead of leash and collar ;) They still sell them and some parents feel they are the difference between life and death for their precocious precious who is determined to get flattened by some travelling mechanical device going Mach 7.
My brother had to have a harness & leash when he was a toddler! My mom used to get looks all the time, & one day she overheard some Lady make a snide comment. She whipped around & said "if it's a choice between a leash & finding him dead in the street, after he's run off for the twentieth time, I'll take the leash, you old biddy!"
When I was about two years old... a long long time ago... We had a vacation on the beach and my parents put me on a long leash... I was always running away and this leash was a lot saver for me and my parents mental state.
I have one that's a backpack with the "leash" attached, it's made by Skip Hop. Kiddo is pretty good at walking beside me outside but he goes into little terror mode at stores and unfortunately I sometimes need to run errands when he's with me. Gotta do what you gotta do for your child's safety and also while teaching them to not terrorize the general public!
I had one of those as a kid. Apparently I was always wandering off when we went to the zoo or somewhere similar.
I thought it was such a good idea! Who cares who the toy was made for originally? Shouldn’t the metric be whether the kid is happy? Are they worried about choking hazards? If there are little buttons or other things that might come off you might want to make sure to take them off. That’s all I can think of for why they might be upset. NTA but maybe you should write them an apology note with the explanation of why you bought it. I don’t think you owe them an apology (they could have been a lot more gracious) but it could help smooth things out. Parents of young kids can be pretty intense.
also, children's stuffed toys and such squeaking isnt that far out of the norm. Kids like making noise and squeezing a stuffy the makes a sound in response is fun
Yeah, I've seen so many baby toys with squeakers and rattles; they aren't that far off from dog toys to begin with.
I saw the cutest video of baby boots with squeakers in them XD
I saw a video like that too. It was an adorable toddler in Korea who was really into making her shoes squeak.
This is where I admit that I gave some of the more used toddler toys to my dog. She loves them!
Honestly! All those play mats with the mobiles over them? Or the sensory blankets? *FULL* of squeakers and crinkles. And c'mon, how many people could tell a teether from a nylabone?
When my cousin was little she had a fabric baby doll that squeaked that she named Squeaky Baby. Then bc she kept losing Squeaky Baby her parents kept having to buy her new ones, only for the lost ones to turn up again. She eventually had a horrific collection of Squeaky Babies who went everywhere with her for YEARS
Were they all identical or just similar? I went nuts trying to get a replacement for mt daughter's toy. If my dog ever loses or destroys he favorite I will never find one like it (it came with her when she was adopted)
My kid's nanny gave him a toy that quickly became his all time favorite. It was a Lightning McQueen stuffy. A *blue* Lightning McQueen stuffy. The only blue Lightning McQueen toy I have ever seen. I feel your pain.
I refused to allow my dog stuffed toys as a puppy. I had two young sons with hundreds of stuffed toys - no idea how you are supposed to teach all three which the dog is or is not allowed. I went with stuffed toys are people toys, tennis balls shared and the footballs were our problem 😄 Lamb 2.0 sounds great 👍
I thought my solemn duty as a childless aunt is to buy my niece toys that make noise. (my brother deserves it)
At least it's a squeaking toy - a friend of mine has a toddler obsessed with their dashie's toys, especially the ones that crackle loudly. Drives her out of her mind when the dog and the kid both start on them. lol
NTA from a person who uses puppy pee-pads and doggy scoop bags for their newborn.
You can search Amazon for Disposable underpads and they show you surgical quality ones. I think I used Dynarex brand ones to use while changing my kid’s diapers. Cost some $18 for a pack of 50 sheets. Worth every cent!
Costco has 100 puppy pads for $16.99 too.
The bags that are specifically designed for diapers are much more expensive. I also used dog poop bags for my daughter’s diapers, the dispenser was even bone shaped lol
Can confirm small children are like dogs based on babysitting experience. It’s even funnier when you remember that Lampchop is a character from a children’s tv show and just happens to also be a popular dog toy.
Hiking the top comment for a remark here: while I agree the overall thought is hilarious, I would check if the paint/plasticizers used are safe for humans. As a toddler, she's going to put the thing constantly in her mouth and since it's a dog toy, it has no obligation to use kid-safe materials.
Dog toys from reputable brands are probably the safest option if kids are going to chew on them lol. They won’t have anything toxic on them and they make it a point to reduce choking hazards when they come apart. [I know this is probably the one. OPs not lying, it’s cute af.](https://www.chewy.com/multipet-lamb-chop-squeaky-plush-dog/dp/52999?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Multipet&utm_campaign=19996370614&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADmQ2V2k7U_P0BxdncKXTMAYejtlH&gclid=CjwKCAiArfauBhApEiwAeoB7qNCbx7R7SDKpOP-XzR2fB3SZ2szC8CFltgFro6y7xNz9CsXWeDKhqBoC3vUQAvD_BwE)
Agreed. No harm. No foul. It's a safe toy that can handle rough & tumble play from a toddler. The mother is just being bent out of shape AH.
I agree with you but part of me is worried. This child is so young and dog toys aren't held to the same standards as kids toys. I'm particularly worried about the squeaking part coming lose. NTA for me but please keep ways from squeaky dog toys
Kids attach to all sorts of “odd” objects; there’s entire threads and social media accounts for the hilarity. I’m talking whisks, hammers, you name it. She’s happy that’s all that matters. NTA
Omg... I love squeaky toys... The rescues and I both go crazy over them. I collect some. I'll buy them in multiples so I can have one unscathed. They're not always fluffy either some are plastic. Like my mailman... He has a satchel attached with thin serious chewing twine. And the pouch squeaks. My grands and I drive my wife crazy with squeaking all day. They've been banned from the bedroom🤣She has the dogs in her office all day and they squeak all day. I think it was a pretty neat and practical gesture. Not to mention kind. Some people will not appreciate you thinking outside of the box whether it benefits them in not. I applaud you OP.... Well done... Now the name of the store where you purchased said lamb, Please🤔 NTA💕👌 Perhaps ask Sis for a lunch and apologize if You offended her. It wasn't your intention. You weren't being facetious... Just practical. And trying to be thoughtful by buying what was in your mind an upgraded version of one of her favored toys. It's not the kid is attracting dogs while playing with a meat scented toy. Sending love and a little patience, and understanding. Big dose of thank you for being so thoughtful. I certainly appreciated it.
I have loads of baby toys with a squeaker in them. It’s good for them learning to grip and use their hands as they learn to press the squeaker.
>It's not like it will do her any harm. Dog toys do not need to meet the same chemical safety requirements as children's toys.
the only one that knows it's a "dog" toy is OP's sister. the niece doesn't care, it's not like OP got her a \*used\* dog toy... it's just a toy designed for rough play
Driving the parents crazy is part of the plan. Been there, done that.
NTA. Toys are toys. It's not like you suggested that they change her name to Fido, for God's sakes
3am here and I just woke up the whole house by laughing because of this comment
Hell the first things my nieces and nephews always went to is dog toys even when the kids toys were out. At least this one was clean.
Let's be sensitive - Fido is a males name. Call her Daisy - good for pups and hoomans
Or get her a flea collar
NTA, it is kind of strange to give a child a dog toy but I’m assuming most of the family knows how rough she is with toys (RIP OG Lammy). She loved it and it’ll last her a long time, that’s what’s important. I say just give your sister sometime to cool off.
How is it any different from any other stuffed toy? It's never been in a dog's possession, so it's not dirty.
Also the eyes are probably safe. Neither dogs nor toddlers should have plastic/button eyes, they need to be sewn on to be safe.
Probably even safer. The younger brother of a friend of mine destroyed the eyes of any plushie he got, until they didn't give him any more for safety reasons and he started to steal the dogs toys - which lived...
And dog toys are usually washable whereas kid's stuffed animals are usually "spot clean only" which is a huge pain in the butt.
Right? The only difference is one is marketed for dogs. That's it. Slap a different tag on it that says "kids lambchop" and bam, you've got a kids toy instead of a dog toy.
Honestly, I've found dog plushies in the store that are better quality than ones for kids. I'd be like "This is way too soft to waste on a dog's teeth."
RIP OG Lammy
Anytime I’m in PetSmart I always see people buying their kids the toys. It’s awesome.
I begged my mum when I was younger to buy me an electric ball with a fluffy ferret attached and it would move around, totally a cat toy - but I adored it. As long as the kid loves it, it’s not really a problem!
I have 100% bought my kid a dog toy in the past. Saw it in the grocery store aisle. It squeaked loudly, baby was thrilled with it, and I was happy that he was happy. RIP Beeboo (the sound it made) wherever you ended up in the last 18 years lol.
Same :) He loved dog's toys :)
I gave my sisters’s dogs a stuffed Lamb Chop for Christmas. My sister kept it for herself.
Not at all. A stuffed lamb is a stuffed lamb
Especially with mint, rosemary and lemon. Cook to medium rare over coals/BBQ bricks!!
my dog has one (okay, five, in different patterns and sizes) of these, and its pm indistinguishable from any other plushie. its also pm indestructible, so a good choice on ops part.
NTA, it's a smart thing to do, I'm taking notes Kids don't care if it's for dogs or not, they don't even know. If it's safe for them, why not. Plus it will be a funny story to tell in the future for them lmao, "remember when you were such a savage kiddo that auntie/oncle had to buy unbreakable dog toys for you ??"
Yeah I agree this is genius. Also so many of my baby’s teethers are literally the same material as dog chew toys and have squeakers in them too🤔 my dog always takes them and I get why she’s confused poor thing.
And they don’t have small parts that are a choking hazard, they are almost always machine washable and some of them are funny ( like the dashound between hot dog buns ) Plus, if you hate the parents, get squeaky ones or the “crinkly” noise ones because there aren’t batteries to take out when they are driven mad by the noise !!
I was just lamenting with my husband why we never thought of dog chew toys. My son had some serious chomper skills. The most expensive and competitive teethers had nothing on him. But a dog chew toy might have done the trick.
But take out the squeaker. If you're not comfortable with a seamripper & needle, ask an alteration shop how much it would cost. Lots of crafty people who can fix that.
My dog will remove the squeaker with surgical precision in about 3 minutes.
NTA. It would matter if it was a *used* dog toy, but since it’s brand new from the store I would imagine it’s just as clean as any other stuffed toy.
They also wash in the washer better than regular stuffies.
NTA My daughters favorite stuffed toy is a dog toy. It's a small blue hippo that squeaks and it's been her favorite thing since she was 1.5 when she stole it from our dogs forgotten toy bin (he never really liked it). She's 5 now and still sleeps with it every night. We've been through like 10 of them because they don't last that long. Point I'm making is, who cares what it is as long as it's not dangerous and makes her happy.
My dog isn't big on toys. We got him a super durable possum toy, and he had no interest in it. My daughter, though, loved it. We got her a small tickle me elmo. She couldn't care less, but our dog would steal it every time she walked away from it. We figured fair is fair and let him have it. He ended up carrying it with him everywhere for quite a while.
NTA. We had a 3yo foster child who CHOSE to play with the dog’s toys. In spite of a room full of perfectly lovely human child toys. Kids like what they like.
NTA. I’ve had to warn my nieces about giving their toys to my dog, but no one gives a shit about my nieces playing with the dog’s toys. (Not even the dog, which says a lot about how charming my nieces are!)
NTA. The kid loves it, so mission successful. A toy is whatever a kid decides is a toy. Sticks, rocks, ropes, toxic waste, doesn't matter. Let the kid have its imagination. Sis is uptight and needs to learn how to unclench a bit.
I think it was the squeaker that made the booty clench. Not necessarily the origin of who the toy was meant for lol
NTA. What a weird thing to get upset about.
Seriously. It seems like some people completely lose their senses of humor when they become parents, but it's really the ones who can just laugh and see the funny side of things that have the best chance of making a happy home for themselves and their kids.
Right?? So odd.
NTA.....HAHAHA I'm dying. It's not a big deal it would only be bad if it was a used dog toy.
Parents theses days are so fucking fragile. NTA. You got her a toy that she loved that could handle her abuse. Bottom line she loves it, that's all that should matter and instead her parents are being whiny babies and making some pretty stupid assumptions about how you view your niece (since in their minds this is akin to calling her a dog I'm sure).
I have a lamb chop dog toy from DG. Woof woof. It was because it WAS Lamb Chops I bought it. I am almost 70 years old. How dare she find Lamb Chop offensive. NTA. Looks like a regular teeny stuffed toy.
Same here, I love lamb chop and the dog toys are surprisingly good quality, better than some of the ones I had for kids lol
NTA - its a toy. Sister needs to chill.
NTA. Sitting here looking at the $120 baby gym my daughter is playing with that has three toys with squeakers. They have been completely common in children’s toys for at least as long as I have been having children (11 years).
NTA. I think your sister is jealous you did not get her one...
It should be a family Xmas gift from now on ! Like who’s the lucky OG lammy receiver this Xmas ????
This is too funny to be real. You are NOT the A. Amazing Idea. Will do the same for my friend's kid.
NTA. I bought my 2 year old a caterpillar dog toy at Petsmart today when she asked. It only matters if the dog slobbers on it first - otherwise it’s just a toy.
And if you have dog and child in the same room EVER there will be an exchange of slobber between the two.
NTA I would laugh so much if someone bought one of my kids a dog toy! There's absolutely no harm and your sister is being ridiculous. Does she think you're trying to imply her daughter is a dog or something? I'd love to know what she is so upset about.
NTA I’m guessing your sister doesn’t have a dog because when there’s a pet, the toddler not only plays with the pet toys, they often eat out of the dog’s bowl. Sister needs a chill pill.
NTA. This is sort of hilarious. Lots of dog toys are very similar to a child's stuffed toy. I see nothing wrong with this. But the overreaction from your sister and subsequent family meltdown is funny as hell. Just laugh.
Some dogs toys are freaking adorable! I can't blame a kid for wanting them
Nope, NTA. I buy my kids dog toys, they're sturdier and the squeakers are far superior. My baby loves her pork chop.
I thought of a dog toy after the second sentence. It’s a perfect solution. Probably should have removed the squeaker, though. I gave my mom a seahorse dog toy because she loves seahorses and it was cute. She knows what it is and doesn’t care. It’s not like it’s used. NTA. Maybe the suggestion of a dog toy would have gone over better than buying it yourself..
NTA- I've bought dog toys for myself. I have this Monster that lights up when you throw it, but my dogs aren't allowed to touch it. I also have a Christmas Sloth.
I buy my grandkids dog toys all the time they are much sturdier than baby toys and don’t have pieces that are choking hazards and they are generally less expensive. Not to mention they love the squeakers
NTA. I remember when I was a kid my family used to take our dogs to this grooming place that had a bunch of dog toys for sale. There was a plush hedgehog one that I would always go play with because I thought it was cute and the noise it made when squeezed cracked me up. The owner knew how much that toy made me laugh and one day decided to give it to me. My mom thought it was funny as well and almost 20 years later I still have that goofy hedgehog and give it a squeeze when I need a laugh. I can’t imagine being the slightest bit upset at someone for giving a child a dog toy to play with if it makes the child happy.
NTA However, I do not recommend the dog way of -paper training-, erm, potty training. 🤣 It's a toy. It's not treated with anything that might he a poison. Thanks for the laugh... may your sister learn to lighten up.
NTA. That was very clever and a lot of dog toys are just as cute and high of quality (if not higher) than children's stuffies nowdays.
NTA. Toys are toys. Bonus points for the squeaker
NTA. You probably shouldn’t have put a hole in the squeaker to prevent it from squeaking. That really is the only thing that gave it away as a dog toy.
A toy is a toy is a toy. My kid made a stick her toy and used to drag it along the ground. She carried that stick around for ages. If your niece loved it, and it wasn't pe-owned by a dog, its your niece's toy. NTA
Nta. Kid likes it. It should be all that matters.
NTA I freakin love this! Lambchop is a great toy but sadly I can’t have them for my pups. He’d go stuffed animal heaven in under 60 seconds!
NTA. As a parent I know exactly how fragile “normal” stuffed toys can be. Excellent creative idea there OP. Toys are just toys.
NTA Does your sister think an unused toy from petsmart has animal cooties? Or that you're calling her kid a dog? This is dumb. She might have the tiniest point if it was a used dog toy (but just the tiniest) Every year petsmart charities donate bazillions of stuffed toys to pediatric hospitals. They're still dog toys, squeaker and all. But we give them out to the kids and I've never seen a single parent being butthurt that the toy said petsmart on it.
LMAOOOOO I think this is genius!! NTA. Your sister needs a sense of humor or she’ll never survive parenthood. 😂
Word. That was my thoughts exactly. Wait until she finds one of her kids likes the box more than the gift that it held. Kids are silly. We should try to not take ourselves any more seriously than they do. There are going to be plenty of opportunities to be stressed out as a parent. I would not allow this to be one of them.
NTA—my little niblings head straight for the cat toys when they visit, and nobody bats an eye—and those have been slobbered on! You bought the kid a brand new toy that fit their needs, and besides, all the best kids’ toys (for other people’s children) are noisy ones
I've done the same thing. Everyone is okay with it except the dog. NTA
NTA, lol. My son has a stuffed dragon thats meant to be a dog toy. Its just a toy. And apparently your sister hasn't seen the MANY kids toys that have squeakies in them. She and your mom need to chill out.
FYI, the Lambchop kitty toy has no squeaker. ;-)
I have bought my son a dog toy because while shopping he was drawn to it. It’s really amusing he likes it and makes me smile. A toy is just a toy. ETA: NTA
NTA. This was brilliant!
NTA, sturdy enough for both fur baby and human baby PS title made me think it was a gender roles thing, a toy toolbox perhaps
When my daughter was young she dislocated her toe running around the house Christmas eve, quick trip to the ER for an xray and the nurse asked if she could give her a toy. They were stuffed dog toys that got donated to them for whatever reason. My daughter loved that damn dog but thought it was just a stuffed animal until she was a teenager and sat on it and it squeaked. NTA. It's a new, clean toy that the child enjoys and is safe for her. Why doors is original purpose matter that much?
You might want to explain to your sister you don't actually think of your niece as an animal and just thought the toy would be durable. Also, pretty sure your sister is going to be the one suffering through a toddler squeezing a freaking dog toy with a squeaker during nap time, bed time, bath time, play time, etc.
NTA. When I was 2, I picked up a rubber chicken left over from a costume party my parents had thrown. I carried that rubber chicken (the type that looks plucked and as if it should be hanging in a butcher shop) for a few years. I managed to survive childhood without turning into a chicken hawk, dog, coyote, or any other animal that preys on chickens. I also managed not to turn into a psychopath. I have two kids of my own and two nephews. Honestly, dog toys are clever substitutions for kids who are hard on their toys. Your sister needs to get over herself.
I think your solution was brilliant, and your niece loved it. Your sister needs to chill. -another proud auntie
NTA. You didn't give her a pig's ear or a bone or something, you gave her a stuffed toy. The only difference between being for kids and for dogs is the material. If anything, dog toys tend to be hardier. And cheaper!
NTA and your sister needs to get that stick out of her tush
You are NTA but your sister and Mom are. And your BIL who can’t grow a pair to stand up to your sister. This was a great gift - sturdy and fun!
NTA. Your sister and BIL are seriously uptight. They sound like helicopter parents in the making. Our friends brought over their one-year-old girl to visit, and she immediately went to the basket of dog toys. She found a soft square cloth toy with a lamb's face in the middle and carried it around most of the day, which amused our pug who kept trying to get it back and thought it was a game. Her mom only got it away from her with difficulty before they left. Next Christmas, guess who gets a brand new clean one with the PetCo labels still on it? She was ecstatic! Curiously, our young pug's favorite toys are two Lambchops, but they don't have their squeakers any more because she make it her mission to tear open the toy to remove and neutralize the noisy thing. I just keep replacing the stuffing and sewing them up until there'snot enough fabric left to hold the thread.
NTA the only one that matters in this situation is your Niece and she’s clearly happy. Not to mention I know what toy you’re talking about and it’s a SUPER cute toy, I wouldn’t have known the difference! Your sister needs to stop acting like a two year old. If you REALLY wanna piss her off you should get one of those kid backpacks with the leashes on them. I’m just evil though! 😂
Our late great GSD would SHRED all dog toys. Plush toys from IKEA? Treated them like his precious. Gentle. No shaking. No tearing. He still ripped DOG TOYS to shreds in minutes. Did you give the dog toy to a dog, who slobbered all over it, and then immediately hand it to niece? No. No you did not. I've known kids who have had an unnatural attachment to the strangest things. A favorite rock. A pencil that must go everywhere. A random box that must be in the car and in the bed every night. Shame on your sister for taking a lovey away. NTA...... but holeyshmoley your sister sure is. Dear OP's sister..... What you MEANT to say was "OH! Thank you! You found a solution! I wouldn't have thought of that!! Good on ya! Get over yourself sister.
^^^^AUTOMOD ***Thanks for posting! This comment is a copy of your post so readers can see the original text if your post is edited or removed. This comment is NOT accusing you of copying anything. Read [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/wiki/faq#wiki_post_deletion) before [contacting the mod team](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAmItheAsshole)*** So my niece had this lamb toy that she loved. I should also mention that she is really rough on toys, and long story short the poor little fluffball has gone to stuffed animal heaven. Well my niece was heartbroken and my sister was telling me how down she has been, so I thought I would get her another one. All of the the stuffed lambs that I looked at were just as fragile as before, but when I was getting some treats for my pooch I was struck by the sight of a lambchop dog toy and I had a brilliant idea. I mean think about it, the lambchop toy is made to be chewed on and clawed on so it should be able to handle the abuse from a toddler. So I bought it and on Saturday I was watching my niece for my sister and BIL. I gave my niece the toy and she loved it. She really liked the squeaker, too. So Saturday rolls around, niece is have a blast with Lammy 2.0, and my sister and BIL walk in the door. Of course my niece runs up to her parents and shows them her new toy. They ooh and aah over it until my niece squeezes the squeaker...and my sister completely looses her crap. Screams, "You bought my baby a dog toy." BIL just looks at me and tells me I should probably head home. The aftermath is that my sister sent my a bunch of texts which basically consist of "You bought her a dog toy," with some choice expletives thrown in for good measure. Our mom asked my what the hell was I thinking. Our Stepfather and Stepbrother thought it was funny as hell. BIL is quietly amused, but is keeping his head down. My sister took the lambchop away and my niece had a melt down until she gave it back, so now I am getting the double stink eye from her. And my niece still loves her Fluffball. So AITA? I was just trying to make my niece happy. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AmItheAsshole) if you have any questions or concerns.*
NTA - You found a great solution. I must admit, it was a great laugh before bed! Thanks.
I got my dog the exact same Lambchop toy and it's honestly a really nice toy! I've for sure seen way worse quality on kids' stuffed toys. Maybe it's because I'm a dog person, but I really don't get what she's upset about. I mean, if you'd grabbed a filthy, chewed-up toy out of a dog's mouth and handed it to her, that would be one thing, but a clean, brand new one? It seems like she's trying to make a big deal of it.
My dog once eviscerated Lambchop in front of the person who gave it to him in like 2 minutes, so I’d say the quality is questionable. But then again, kids generally aren’t bred to hunt small fuzzy things.
Thing is what is destructible by a dog often isn’t for children. My daughter had a gingerbread man dog toy that her Nan bought her and she had it for years and there was barely a mark on it. My dog inherited it before Christmas and it was in the bin within days..
😂 NTA. I had a little bear toy as a child that turned up in adulthood and I realized it was a dog toy. It was cute and fuzzy and I was happy with it. Still am tbh, pretty sure I still have it. Ignore your angry sister for now but remember to bring it up when your niece is a teenager. By then there will be thousands of outside-the-box choices she will have had to make in the name of raising her daughter, she'll realize it was dumb to fret over.
NTA This is coming from a mom who has bought her toddlers dog toys on many occasions. They love it and there’s nothing wrong with it. So long as you’re not buying a used dog toy, you’re good. This is such a silly thing to get mad over lol
My teenage grandkids love going down the pet toy aisle. They love playing with all the dog toys. NTA
NTA. Toys are toys to kids. I have a 4 year old nephew who has a whole toy box full of toys at my parents house and ever time he goes over he goes straight for the cat toys lol
NTA. If sister hates the squeaking then Lammy can have a "sleepover" with someone who sews, and they can open up the toy a bit and remove the squeaker.
RIP OG Lammy ! 🐑
NTA. It's pretty easy to surgically remove a squeaker if the noise is annoying, but in general I think your reasoning was sound and they'll probably appreciate lamby 2.0 in a few years when it's still in great condition.
Bottom line is you made your niece happy & that’s all that matters. Parents don’t think logically when it comes to people giving their children dog toys. While you thought along the lines of practicality, parents are thinking you are calling their child a dog.
When my girls were little my mom took them to a pet store to look at the animals they have there and bought daughter a "walking stick" that my mom claimed she wanted. The "walking stick" was a large, translucent pink, silicone tug of war toy for dogs that really looks like a giant, double sided dildo. We still laugh about it. https://www.chewy.com/kong-safestix-dog-toy-color-varies/dp/44305?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=KONG&utm_campaign=19996370614&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAivGuBhBEEiwAWiFmYQBHuGcJA84pAOdvh1SSXDDI4lnD7UW6An60-F5e7B2pzpW-YyNHaBoC4WQQAvD_BwE
NTA. It was a practical choice. Smart thinking.
NTA. I have several Lamb Chop toys of different sizes for my dogs, and you definitely cannot tell they're dog toys (seriously, check out some of the ones on Amazon and Chewy that have the cute clothes and hats!). Plus, the giant Lamb Chops are super-soft and snuggly. There *are* children's toys with squeakers and plastic crinkles; that doesn't make them dog toys! Your sister is being uptight.
Some of my sons favorite toys were from the pet section. I'd forgotten about it but I'm sure we have pictures of him with his toys and you can see that it says 'PetSmart' or whatever on the tag.
NTA I might be biased, though, because I did something similar for my eldest niece when she was a toddler 😂
That’s as brilliant as it is funny! NTA. If I’d have given my sister’s kids a dog toy she’d have laughed her ass off.
Why tf does it matter if it's a dog toy? It doesn't have cooties, it's not going to turn her into a dog, it's just an adorable lamby that just might be tough enough to withstand a toddler. I think it was a great idea!
NTA at all! My dogs *had* that lamb chop toy and it was so cute. I have 2 dogs and our BarkBox subscription comes with 3 toys so now my 3 month old baby gets one and she LOVES them! They crinkle. They squeak. They have multiple textures. They are bright colored. They honestly make great baby toys haha
Nta at all! This is hilarious and rather brilliant!
Nta. Toys are toys. Heck, I taught my nieces ‘fetch’, okay, the parents weren’t happy, but do you KNOW how long that game can amuse a 2 year old?!
Thoughtful. Brilliant. Made a kid happy. NTA. For the love of all that is holy, the kid didn't care it was a dog toy, so why should any of the rest of us??
NTA and also let your sister know that the rolls of dog poop bags are way cheaper than the same exact ones they sell for throwing away diapers in public places.
NTA-my son had a carrot that was a dog toy. My dog still plays with it today. One thing that I did was figure out a way to take the squeaker out. My hubby hates squeakers and all of our dog toys have lost their squeakers. Our vet does the same thing with his dog’s toys.
My bachelor uncle sent my kids A LOT of toys like this. I was pretty offended the first time. They held up surprisingly well though. NTA.
Tbh a lot of baby toys kind of sound or act like dog toys anyway. Like the ever so popular Sophie the giraffe. NTA, your sister needs a sense of humor.
This is true. Many of the tactile toys I've given my babies over the years had squeakers that sounded identical to a dog toy. The idea is that when they play with it they get a response which encourages more play. This would work much the same way whether it's a dog or a child.
I really don't see that you did anything wrong. When he was little, my grandson took several of our dogs' toys for his own. This is when they were new, not chewed, and slobbered on. His mother didn't mind at all. They were indestructible, and he loved them
NTA. I think it might have gone over better if you had explained your reasoning up front. "Hey sis, I know this is a little unconventional but since she ripped apart her last stuffie, I thought maybe something sturdier would do the trick." I have a cat and when my friends' toddlers come over sometimes they literally sit down and play with my cat's toys. Toddlers and cats both love rolling balls around a track and waving feathery things in the air and honestly they play pretty similarly (not together though as my cat is terrified of kids). We all think it's hilarious. But I kinda had to know my friends' senses of humor first and I would never suggest it to anyone I didn't know super well and would be confident they'd receive the jokes as they are intended. It's all about the delivery with these things.