AIBU about this nickname from grandma?

You'd really start calling your Mother names to do with aging, but wouldn't have a proper conversation with her? Not exactly teaching your children anything positive are you?
Plus, she might not have anymore wrinkles than the OP, we had our children younger.
Just ask her to make up a nickname from his name.

I hear you OP,
having experience of working with people with eating disorders, childhood nicknames referring to size contribute to an unhealthy relationship with self / body image / food

I’m sure many people experience such nicknames as ‘affectionate’ cute whatever, I’m aware my perspective has a bias, but I would steer family away from body shape related comments and labels

I don't like Squidgy as a nickname or as a term of endearment but I would not have associated it with a large or fat baby in particular. I'd have thought he was "squidgy" because easy to pick up and squeeze - not that anyone necessarily should.

(The suggesting to call her "Granny Prune" etc. are counterintuitive; if stereotyping or calling names based on physical attributes is something you don't want your child exposed to, why escalate? )

Your history with your mum’s comments on weight are colouring how you view this.

You are projecting your own issues onto your baby. I call my babies all sorts including pumpkin, chonk, stinky etc it means nothing
Also with the kissing and cuddling, babies usually love all that but once they reach child or even toddler stage they may not want to so cross that bridge when they come to it tbh toddlers dont do much they dont want to do anyways

You are projecting your own issues onto your baby. I call my babies all sorts including pumpkin, chonk, stinky etc it means nothing
Also with the kissing and cuddling, babies usually love all that but once they reach child or even toddler stage they may not want to so cross that bridge when they come to it tbh toddlers dont do much they dont want to do anyways

you need to sort your relationship with your mum and weight out - it’s ruining (for you) what should be an uncomplicated and loving relationship between grandma and grandchild

Policing what people say is a road to nowhere. It’s best to cultivate equanimity.
Being controlling is toxic to relationships.

I think it's adorable.

If your child did happen to get fat, that's a completely different issue and would be nothing to do with your mum anyway.

‘My little squidge’ doesn’t sound like she’s fat shaming your baby.

babies are little and squidgy

I called one of my DC ‘squidge’ as a baby and young toddler. They were on the 20th centile, so quite slim. It’s a term of affection like ‘cuddles’, ‘snuggles’, etc. I think you’re equating it with weight because of your sensitivity to this and because your DC is at a higher centile.

The comments from your mum about what your baby eats might be wrong, or they might not. It depends on how they’re said. My mum used to comment when my DC ate a whole bowl of something but it wasn’t in a critical way, just a ‘haven’t they done well’ way. If your mum is saying it in a critical way, do have a word with her, but I don’t think you should worry about ‘squidge’.

It’s sweet!

My first baby resembled a sumo wrestler. My dad used to call him Porky Fat Chops. 😂

@40notouttoday That made me laugh. I'm the fourth child and just automatically respond to the names of both my sisters and my brother- my parents often don't even notice they've said the wrong name!

@wiredandtired I think the nickname is fine, but the comments about his weight/eating aren't, so ask her to give it a rest.

Physically intercept with hugs."want to hug granny? Great! Go for it! ....not sure abiut a hug? Want to blow a kiss or do a high five?"
Or "Mum stop.we talked about this before. Want to blow a kiss or high five sweetie"

Really? it seems a bit extreme for a normal grandma/grandchild relationship. Most families don’t interact like this irl!

YANBU, what sort of comments did she make about your weight when you were a child?

Be careful not to project your own insecurities onto your children. What you’ve described here sounds like a completely normal grandparent/grandchild relationship. Squidgy is a cute nickname! If she was calling him “fatty” I would complain! Commenting on a baby being big and eating well is normal, as is wanting to cuddle them. There’s a world of difference between saying “give grandma a cuddle” and forcing it.

I think you're projecting your own issues onto this.

All just terms of affection. You are readiness too much into it

My son was a squidge at 10 months. by 2 he was running around so much he was very lean. i think you have time to see how it evolves.

However I would make sure she understands how you are approaching food + mealtimes and ask her if she thinks she can line up with that.

I think it means 'cuddly'. You being defensive about someone thinking DC is overweight may draw attention to weight anxiety more than this. He's a happy baby, he's fine.

Just ask her to stop if you don’t like it. Doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, if you don’t like it, that’s enough reason to ask.
My DS was on the 90th projectile when he was 1, really chunky. As soon as he started walking, actually at 11.5mths, the weight fell away very quickly. He’s 25 in a few days and he’s never had a day overweight since then.

I call my one year old little squidgy, chunky chops and stinker amongst other things 👀, she's small and other than the odd poo doesn't smell.
(I don't know a percentile she's a 3rd kid, I do remember her real name, occasionally)

I call my granddaughter 'sausage'.

She does not bear the slightest resemblance to any pork products. She's also three months old and doesn't have a clue, she's picking up on my tone and face. I expect she'll be called something else by the time she starts walking.

I used to call her dad, my DS, 'boozer' when he was small. I also called the pony and one of the dogs the same thing, None of them ever objected. It was just a word which rolled off the tongue. So I wouldn't worry.

I think the banging on about his eating and size probably needs a word, but are you sure she isn't using 'squidgy' to mean cuddly?

I still call my daughter Squishy from time to time and she asks for a squish every now and then (it's actually from Finding Nemo iirc)...my DD is 22 😁

And you can start calling her granny prune cos she's so wrinkly. Isn't it sweet?

But that would be a deliberately nasty nickname - whereas the granny in question is being affectionate in addressing her GS in this manner