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?

Those who say "Little Man" and "Little Lady" why not Little Gentleman and Little Lady?

Or Little Man and Little Woman?

Why?

Soupdragon yeah I think I have sounded confused, so take your point. I know what I mean but it's not coming out right - I think I'm trying to make a distinction between woman and lady, in that they have slightly different connotations. But I am also aware that I am probably reading too much into it, and my dislike for the term is more down to the fact that my ex calls his sons little men and mini men and I think he's a twat. Ps Can someone tell me how to tag someone's user name when you're replying to them please?

Yup Lonny T'would be a dull world if we were all the same

I'm not in the least bothered whether it's common (common as muck, me). I just think it's cringey.

i don't call my son little man, he is however 'dude' I also don't call my DD 'baby girl' she is 'flower'

i call my male cat 'little man' though, and my female cat 'baby girl'

You get "wee woman" or "bird" in Northern Ireland usually addressed in kindly soothing tones to a crying baby or injured pet, as in "ach wee woman, poor wee bird". I like it. I don't like my MIL's "Now then young lady" in schoolteacher addressing naughty child tones to my very young baby when she is upset. She means well and rocks my daughter gently but the phrase puts my teeth on edge slightly, as if "young ladies shouldn't make a fuss if they're unhappy" needs instilled in female children from birth.

DS2 is Dumpling. He's not a dumpling.

YANBU, it sounds so twee.

But it is not as bad as "littl'un" which makes me heave.

You can't 'tag' them (like on Facebook, so they get a notification) but you can bold their name by putting a * at the beginning and end of their name as you type it.

YANBU.
I hate 'little man', 'monkey' and my absolute worst 'monster'. I used to work with someone who referred to his son as 'the terrorist'. Which was confusing as we were vaguely connected with public safety. I really don't like people calling my child a monkey or a monster either. It's just name calling as far as I'm concerned. They are their own little characters without adults trying to push characteristics on them.

I have no issues with pet names etc, but when they are constantly used in place of the child's name it does grate on me. I know one mother who has never ever referred to her child by his name, he has always constantly been known as "the wee man". I didn't realize her DH did the same until I phoned her and he answered, saying she was "bathing the wee man". I only know the wee man's child's name because of the birth announcement. He is 12 now and still the wee man

I know another mother who constantly refers to her children as "the pixies".

Possibly a regional thing but "the child" (often pronounced as chil' with 'd' omitted) as in "the chil' is starting school/the chil' is getting his hair cut etc)

The most vomit inducing one I have ever heard is the baby being referred to as "the fruit of our marriage". It was a newborn photo shoot with the wedding rings of mother/father placed over the toes of the baby complete with the caption. Toe curlingly mortifying and posted publicly on FB so will remain in history until kingdom come.

I'm not keen on "little man", but what annoys me more is a friend I have who refers to her 18mo DS as "Baby A" when talking to him, or about him (though that's mostly with other children) . However, she did sign my birthday card with it and I wanted to rip it into tiny pieces

YANBU. But that isn't as bad as parents calling their DCs "mate".

"Put your shoes on, mate." "Drink your juice, mate."

The urge to slap is almost irresistible.

Horrible.

I agree with MrsDV people dont like it because they perceive it to be 'common'.
I did used to call my baby girl 'tiny woman' sometimes but not in public tbh.

I don't like it but if others like it so what. Only words.

OP, YANBU. It's cringeworthy (and I call my kids all sorts of ridiculous terms of endearment).
Worse when they're dressed up in mini-man 'outfits' - jeans and shirts and waistcoats or tanktops or little denim jackets and trainers

My DD is generally called Sausage or Ratbag.

Yes irritates me too, not sure what you can do about it though.

"Boob monster" is another one that a part of me dies when I hear it.

In the past children were treated as though they were indeed little adults, childhood/play/exploration/development was not really acknowledged maybe its a hangover form then.

But it does seem quite picky of you.

You can't help how you feel, it obviously bugs you, I think there are more important this to worry about but for me it doesn't at all, it's no different than young lady or young man, IMO.

Now onto the stuff that is worth worrying about people using the word sexy bothers me, to the point steam comes out of my ears

And prince/princess has me wanting to vomit.

Arrrrrghhh yes, Boob Monster is horrible!

Boob monster...

Nooooooooooo yuck do people actually say that.

YABU and YANBU

I don't mind 'little man' etc, but I don't like it when my DSis calls DD 'missus' - I can't articulate why, but I'd never mention it as it's just affectionate.

ExH calls my DD 'little girl' as in 'hello little girl!' - now that really gets on my tits, it sounds so creepy!

For the record I call her 'Noodle', 'Bean', and 'Scrum' amongst other silly nicknames.