To really detest the term 'little man' for a baby/little boy

[Mimicat44]

It just seems that everyone is using this term now and it annoys me - they're not a little man, they're a baby or a little boy! Why impose any connotation of being a 'man' already on a tiny child, just let them be a child! I don't hear 'little woman' with reference to a baby girl so why the keenness to have it the other way round?! Is this some subconscious way of encouraging little boys to be 'manly' or stereotypically masculine or am I completely overreacting and it's just a cute term. I am prepared to accept that maybe I am Anyway, anyone else got any terms/sayings they find (potentially) unreasonably annoying?

Oh some of these threads are just bloody ridiculous!! What the hell is wrong with Little Man for gods sake? I called it my son.....I even call it my cats, its just a term of endearment, no harm, no stereotyping.......get a life!

You know, just because you don't understand a point a person makes, doesn't mean it's ridiculous. It might mean you don't understand

I and others used to call my DS little man amongst other nicknames but then suddenly everyone starting using the term and it put me off it, especially when they put l'il man on FB or buy tee shirts saying it.

I hate the term 'little princess' even more. And as for the car stickers saying 'little princess on board' I'm tempted to accelerate right into their rear bumper.👿

I find it really strange when people have car stickers with the kids' actual names on them. I saw one that said 'princess Sophia and princess Olivia on board' the other day.

Calm down, Lorraine. I have no problem whatsoever with you calling your cats 'little man'

Just her son then Mimi

I don't like 'little man' at all. I don't like the implications that they should be 'manly'. Seems to go along with 'little princess' I think.

Yes, exactly. That's the point of the thread. Do try and keep up.

little man you're crying i know why you're blue

someone stole your kiddy car away

aint' no use in crying, little man you've had a busy day

That was directed at agentPineapple by the way

Always call my son my little man. He is a little man and will grown up to be a gentleman! Although he is Tom and if people call him Tommy I want to hit them! lol

Little boy is so much cuter.

Mimi I am keeping up fine thanks, just trying to determine why it's offensive to a little boy but not a cat, that point must have slipped by you...

I remember my neighbour called me little woman when I was 4. I thought why is she calling me a woman when I am a girl. I thought it was really weird. YANBU! Let kids be kids we spend more than enough time as grown ups.

Would tiny sir be more appropriate? . I have a friend who calls her son tiny sir and I think it sounds very cute. I call my son little man because I see my husband in him so much. Same cheekiness and sense of humour. I think it's cute and I never thought of it offensive. Nor did I think I pressure him in being anything else than the toddler he is. I call my daughter little lady too. I understand that some might find this offensive but I never thought about it that way.

I call my ds wee man and i care not one jot if people dont like it. If someone has a problem with a term of affection then they really do need to get a life

AgentPineapple I don't think it's offensive, just creepy and twee and unimaginative. They're going to be a man anyway one day so why hurry the process? I think it's fine to call a cat a little man because it's vaguely amusing and not imposing any kind of sterotype on them. I also think it works the other way round and is fine to call kids inanimate objects/animals etc. I hope that clarifies things!

I find it toe-curlingly cringey.

Wow, some of you would really unfriend someone because of a term they use - seriously!? Blummin heck, let it go over your head and enjoy life

YABU. There's always going to be things you don't like kids being called but you are massively overthinking this. I could understand if the kids were being called 'little heterosexual make/female' to try and instill stereotypical traits but I can't imagine any child would turn around and think 'oh I better act a particular way because I'm being called a man/lady.'

Certainly much more tolerable than things like babycakes, honeymufffin and various other ridiculous conjoined words! My lg is usually called monkey or munchkin but again, she's not going to grow up acting like a monkey or munchkin!

It's a personal dislike on your account Im guessing. Which is allowed. YABU though of course.

I hadn't thought about it. I think you make a very valid point.

Mimi no one is hurrying the process, it's just an affectionate name, it doesn't mean they want him to go out and get a job next week YABU

Mine have been called Little man, Princess, sausage, pudding, Babe, sweetheart, sweetie, darling, gorgeous, handsome, and more recently Little shit Bags (25,20,14) who really cares!!