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?

Doesn't bother me but i'm sure i've used it. I sometimes say "young man" in a screechy old lady voice - can't help it!

I call my little girl little lady or little bear. I have no problem with personally.

I don't see it as being a big deal, I'm sure there are no connotations attached to it by the people who are using the phrase. I just think you don't like it and are looking for more serious reasons for it not to be used. I think blocking/unfriending someone you are friends with over it, is a pretty massive overreaction

Chill out and only take offence where offence was meant

DS is 'little man' 'rat bag' and 'grotter' DD is 'princess' 'little lady' 'rat bag' 'grotter' both actively work towards the 'rat bag' and 'grotter' terms of endearment by being snotty/grubby/finders of earthworms at every opportunity

yanbu
I hate it!!

My son is nearly 17, one of his many nick names is 'huggy bear' he's nothing like a 70s pimp but from the age of two ran around with his arms outstretched yelling 'hug'! Have also called him my little man and his sister the little lady, not a problem at all. Our daughter is also called the 'tent rhino'!

I can't stand it either. A good friend of mine uses it all the time and it really sets my teeth on edge.

Haven't read the rest of the thread but I totally agree with you. It's a grim expression.

I think I've used the term if a baby is dressed in grown-up looking clothes - like a suit and tie.
I wouldn't take offence if someone said that about my baby boy. Did someone say they nearly blocked someone on facebook for saying it? If so, complete over-reaction.

This is a wind up post surely!? I call my boys little man and big man but I have no desire to push any adult responsibility or behaviour onto them! YABU as it's nothing to do with you what people choose to call a child

YADNBU it's bloody awful. It actually makes me cringe. Even worse if it's my gawjus little man. Ugh.

I don't mind it or at least not at all as much as princess for girls, ugggggh, makes my skin crawl.

Lil' man and 'Prinny' just no makes my skin crawl when I hear/see it

YANBU. The only worse phrase is lil man. It sounds like you're referring to a penis

As a Scottish person I say "wee man" in relation to my son a lot, he also gets called that by family. My brother was called "wee man" up until very recently too (he's 26 lol!) It's a very common and cute term of endearment up here. I've never read too much into TBH.

Ynbu.

It's reinforcing unhealthy gender stereotypes.

The reason it's assoiciated with 'common' is because education helps to understand this and avoid.

And...typos!

Agree with you. I hate it too

YANBU I hate little man, little lady and worst of all little legs
If you want to make me twitch, substitute little for lil

You have too much time on your hands.

I refer to my sons as Mr and to my daughter as Miss is that offensive?

I have been known to call my DS little man, but that's because it's exactly what he is - he is a little man. No different to calling a puppy a ' little dog'.

I started calling my son little man when we got him but then my friend got her son and started calling him little man too. she never uses his name, it's always little man so I ended up stopping calling my son that as it has made me hate the term now. we now call him megit or weirdo lol