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Most men like to take care of themselves on their own, but 30-year-old Stanley Thornton prefers to be treated like a baby.

Ever since he was a teenager, Thornton has had the desire to drink out of a bottle, suck on a pacifier, and play with toys similar to that of a toddler.

“For me it’s about as simple as you can get,” Thornton told the Dori Monson Show on 97.3 ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ FM. “You’re not worrying about adult stuff, you’re just trying to get the kid inside of you, out.”

Doctors say Thornton suffers from infantilism, a condition that involves role-playing in an infant-like state. The condition allows him to live off Social Security, as it is considered a disability.

While Thornton looks like an average male to the outside world, his life at home is a reflection of the abuse he suffered as a child.

“I needed a way to escape to be able to cope with what was going on,” Thornton explained.

Thornton was abused by his alcoholic father and picked on constantly in public school as a child. Though many people cope differently adjusting from a teenager to an adult, Thornton yearned to feel comforted like a baby.

“Right now I really like it, its fine with me,” Thornton said. “I imagine in the future, getting married and what-not, it will probably go off a little bit. But right now I’m definitely in to do it probably more than most.”

Thornton isn’t alone in his desire to act like a toddler. He has a friend – married with two children – that flies out to see him every year to role play as babies together.

“We just kind of had fun together doing the role-playing thing and that’s what he looked forward to as a vacation every year,” Thornton explained.

Although Thornton is unemployed and living off social security, he’s stayed active by building a crib and a high chair for himself to use. However, Thornton knows he’ll eventually have to get a real job in order to support his unusual habit.

“I loved when I was working security – it’s my favorite thing. I love working in the old folks homes and just being able to help people, and I miss that,” Thornton said.

Once Thornton chooses to start focusing on his future rather than reflecting on his past, he might be able to take care of a baby on his own.

By Michael Simeona, MyNorthwest.com Editor

Listen to Stanley Thornton