A conservative Christian family in California have decided to raise their child as a boy, even though he was born a girl.

Jeff and Hillary Whittingdon discovered that aged two, their child, Ryland, cried when dressed in feminine clothes and ignored dolls in favour of boys' toys, according to The Telegraph. Friends of the couple, who are regular churchgoers raised in conservative households, told them it was just a phase and labelled Ryland a "tomboy".

"The trouble is, phases end," said Hillary describing how her child became more resolute in her identity as a boy.

When Ryland asked, "when the family dies, can I cut my hair so I can be a boy?", Hillary decided to Google "transgender". She found that 41 per cent of transgender Americans attempt suicide.

"This made things very clear to me," said Hillary, 32. "Do I want a living son or a dead daughter? I wasn't going to take this risk by waiting around and doing nothing."

The couple spoke to a number psychiatrists who told them Ryland was transgender. "Although Ryland was born with the anatomy of a girl, her brain identifies with that of a boy," Hillary said.

From that point on Hillary and Jeff decided to raise Ryland as a boy.

They have made a short video about their journey which has over 7.5 million hits on YouTube. A book is also to be published.

The family have faced extensive criticism, not least they are exploiting their child's "phase" or "confusion" for publicity. 

Hillary has also faced comments from other parents at the school gates. One mother told her: "God created Adam and Eve."

Her response was: "I don't have all the answers, but I have exhausted all of the resources, and this is my only option to save my child's life."

However their family have been supportive with one Mormon uncle writing: "We are all God's children made in his image, and we'll love Ryland for who he is, unconditionally."