I'm starting to go nuts!

[sherriann]

First of all, I dearly love my 22 month old son. He is a totally healthy bundle of fun and energy that I just can't imagine life without! That being said, I think I may be about to lose my mind!! :)

Here's the deal. My son LOVES Thomas the Train and 'Choo-choos' of all kinds. He has a great vocabulary for a 22 month old and says plenty of things at the appropriate times but over the last month or so has become almost OBSESSED with trains and choo-choos. I'm glad he has something he likes but I am about to go nuts! I got him a Thomas video a while back thinking he would like it and BOY DOES HE! He begs to watch the Thomas videos ALL DAY LONG by saying 'choo-choo' and making his 'more' sign. If I heard 'choo-choo' one time, I heard it 500 times today in combination of his playing with trains and asking to watch the dvd! I don't like the idea of him being a vegetable in front of the tv when the dvd of Thomas is on, but that is what he turns into when he watches the Thomas dvd. I try to limit the dvd to no more than twice a day at apx 45 minutes each time. He begs for it early in the morning before I even have it on and after it is over he begins to beg for it more. Some mornings 'choo-choo' has been the first word out of his mouth.

He has several train types of toys that I try to distract him with instead of having the videos on, and I just got him the GeoTrax Timbertown Mountain or whatever it is called that is being advertised lately and he loves it. I don't know if that is just feeding into the 'choo-choo' obsession or making it better.

Anyway, my main question is: Is this something that toddlers do often? Attach themselves so whole-heartedly to one type of toy and then to repeat the same phrase over and over and over again reguarding that toy and type of play?

Thanks and 'CHOO-CHOO'...sorry but it is almost all I have heard today! :)

[craftyashley]

I'm sorry, but your post made me laugh hysterically. My kids are obsessed with Curious George- THE MOST boring show on PBS. Anything Monkey or monkey related- their favorite food is even bananas...
The good news? He'll move onto something else eventually.
The bad news? It will probably be just as annoying as the trains.

Hang in there!

[liamsmom526]

my son is only 5 months old but my niece is 2 1/2 and my sister says that she is like that too and that's just what some kids do. If you don't want to have the dvd on all day then try doing things with him outside with trains or just play with him and his other toy trains. I know that in some cities they have events where you can take the kids on the trains and show them how it works and they have Thomas the train come to the station.

[sherriann]

craftyashley thanks so much! Glad I could make you laugh! ;) Seriously, it is good to know that it isn't just my son. I didn't think that it was too unusual but at the same time, I'm afraid that I'm gonna start hearing 'choo-choo' in my sleep. I also have always heard that parents seem to wait so long (about 12-15 months) to hear their kids talk but then want them to shut up for the next 17 years. I just never thought that his sweet, adorable, totally cute little voice would drive me so nuts so quickly. I just hope that when his communication skills grow it will get better?!?!

liamsmom526-thanks! I'm planning on taking him to my MIL's town soon where there is a model train store set up that I'm sure he will love. I just hope I can get him out of there without a total tantrum... Playing with him with trians and outside is something I do much of the time, but when 'mommy' playtime is over and I need to do laundry, dishes, cook, etc. then the begging and 'choo-chooing' begins!

Arg! I guess it is just part of it all! Ah, the joys and wonders of parenting!