To be annoyed MIL talks to DS like a pet

[Zara1984]

Ok this is half-annoying and half-hilarious that she is bonkers.

MIL talks to my baby DS like her pet cat. "Who's a gorgeous boy? Who's a gorgeous boy? You are!" And whistles at him to get his attention (no idea why, it doesn't work).

We're staying at PILs at the moment. It's getting so ridiculous that I heard her going "who's a beautiful boy??? Would you like a cuddle?" in the next room and I assumed she was playing with DS (DH let me have a lie in). I sat up in bed and realised that DS was asleep next to me in his Moses basket and she was talking to her cat.

AIBU to find this annoying but also hilarious proof she is getting old and dotty?

She sounds nice to me. She is just showing affection. Don't be mean!

I suppose it is just a habit.

I have a toddler and recently looked after three cats for a few days while their owners were on holiday. I constantly found myself talking to the cats the way I talk to my toddler. It was lucky there was no one around to hear me they would have thought I was insane praising cats for waiting nicely or for good listening.

My mother has a cat and constantly mixes up my son's name and the cats name when they are in the house together.

"Good listening, Tiddles!" . I love it.

I guess I just talk to my cats differently - they are not kittens any more, so no baby talk!

It's the whistling at him like a dog that really grated on my nerves...

When dd was small, dh used to roll balls for her to amuse her and was always faintly surprised when she didn't pounce on them.

Just laugh and tell her he's not a dog!

"Ah...whoosis then...ah it's mummy's babiest boy. Yes it is! Oh yes it is. you little cutie you. You cutiest cutie you. Mummy's favoritist boy...oh yes he is. yum yum yummy in mummy's tummy"...continued page 94.

This is me talking to my parrot.

I talk to my fluffy wuffy cat like a baby

Constant talking to children encourages their word formation, speech skills and verbal dexterity later. It doesnt matter what you say, you could be reading the contents of a bleach label, it's all about communication and intonation of word patterns.

She's not 'dotty' shes been parenting a lot longer than you and instinctively knows whats what with small children. Far better to have constant real person speak than stuck infront of CBBC.

My MIL (who is grandmother of ten previous grandchildren, so far from inexperienced) clicks her fingers at my nine-month-old, I mean over and over again, as if he's a dog she's trying to get to obey her. Also, the only thing she ever says to him is 'Clap handies! Come on, clap handies!' He looks at her as if she is barmy.