Kids of this age don’t really understand what the word means. And I’m sure he doesn’t mean it. Perhaps every time he says it, you could calmly say “that’s not very kind. You hurt Daddy’s feelings.” EVentually he should stop.

I recently visited my grandson and he said a couple of times that he didn’t want me there cos he didn’t like me. Broke my heart and made me cry, but they don’t fully understand what they’re saying

I think this is normal and part of the development. Around this age the child discovers the identity and the difference between boys and girls. Often the child set his/herself off against the parent with the same sex and favours the parents with the opposite sex. Your husband shouldn’t take this personal at all and just continue the way he expresses his love and care to his boy. It’s just a stage, it will change.

Cool! It was interesting reading the answers to this!

I am sure it is just for a reaction. My son went through phases of doing this. He was upset whenever Daddy went to work, so when he got back he would say these things to try hurt Daddy back.
Tell you husband its ok, and to keep acting normally and doing everything he normally would – especially telling you bubba that he loves them!

yeah we’ve heard this but only when they are angry but not carrying it on for more than a minute. they are little monkeys!

Most kids go through this phase but it does pass

How is he now? Was it just a phase?

I don’t really think they know what they are saying half the time, a phase I guess too.

I hear my neighbour’s boy say that all the time. He’s a gorgeous child but he’s just going through this phase. They grow out of it.

When my kids do it I just tell them it’s not nice to say that, it can hurt peoples’ feelings. I’m pretty sure its just a stage, I hope its gotten better since you asked this

Kids dont mean it at this age They will grow out of it

Kids can be funny at times. I guess its a stage, that he will get over in time

I would be firm with him, and have his dad hand him things/do things for him anyway, and saying he is doing them because his daddy loves him anyway.

Also we say to them when they say to us I don’t love you… Well guess what I LOVE YOU !

Its a faze that they go through, we just kept telling our daughter its very rude/mean to say that and eventually they got past it/over it and moved on

Oh and try to have daddy spend some alone time with him

ouch you both totally need to ignore her when she says it and refuse to even look at her till she changes topic

its a stage, the more attention you give to this type of behaviour, the more likely they are to repeat it if they know it gets a reaction! If you’ve explained that it’s not the right thing to say a few times, I’d ignore it and praise good behaviour, so that they know by doing the right thing, they get attention whereas poor behaviour will be ignored.

It’s just a stage, a lot of kids go through it. Just keep saying I love you, and daddy should be back in the good books in no time.