To call my child this?

[Ayemama]

Sometimes when my DC have been naughty or especially cheeky I call them a little poop because that's how they are behaving.
It's always said gently almost like a pet name for their naughty side.
I never thought anything of it and it's always light hearted never shouted or said harshly.
They are both toddlers and I've never seen it as a massively negative thing.
However today one DC was having a complete meltdown and tantrum as she was tired and hot and had been stopped doing something potentially dangerous and I cuddled her and asked her to stop being a little poop and she did calm down.
When I had succeeded in calming my DC and had let her go back to playing another mother that I hardly know came over and rather harshly informed that she had over heard me and started having a right go at me for being horrible to my children. Apparently calling my child this makes me a bad mum...?
So am I being unreasonable to call my child a little poop on the odd occasion or was this mother being overly harsh?
I'm not overly fussed either way just a bit curious.

Little poop, or little shit?

Little poop never little shite even

What does little poop mean to you OP? Just for clarity.

I’d be thinking of another expression, it’s unpleasant and should your child repeat this at nursery it will not go down well

YANBU.

The woman sounds deranged.........mind you. We were called little shits / whites / shithouses / shitbags / bratlings etc and seem to be ok on it. The only one we drew the line at was kids which would bring the chant of 'kids are baby goats '.

I don't think it's great. It doesn't exactly set a good example to your DC about name calling.

I really wouldn’t over worry this, little poop is very mild!! My 12 year was being an absolute arsehole the other day, so I told him so. I think little poop is very low on the list of nasty words you can sometimes think/say pit loud by accident to your children.

It’s a weird thing to say. I might say being a little pickle or silly sausage or something innocuous like that. I don’t think you’re being horrible to your child but I guess it’s the fact you’re effectively saying they’re excrement that made the woman say something.
Little poop just sounds odd.

And given nurseries have children who live very sad lives and face real abusive at home I'd be amazed if even half an eyebrow was raised at 'little poop'. Honestly

Even if you gently said 'little poop' it's the same as saying 'little shit'. You are stlll referring to them as excrement.

I see nothing at all wrong with little poop! I hear parents saying far worse to their kids...
I usually say ‘you little wally’ or ‘you silly sausage’ but at times I’ve called them cheeky sods. It’s always with a laugh and a cuddle, never with anger or irritation.
And fuck people coming over to criticise your parenting in public.

I would stop doing that tbh it will sound to many as if you are calling your child a little shit. There are plenty of less controversial or frankly less gross terms of endearment.

It's a bit of an odd expression but it's hardly insult of the century. I think some people should mind their own business and go back to their own oh so perfect parenting.

I use turnip myself if they’ve done something daft

It's just something we say when they are being very cheeky or a bit naughty.
Like if one was to deliberately poor a toy box all over the floor just to be cheeky if told off for something else and not to play.
We have largely swapped to bism for the exact reason that my eldest is becoming more aware about things said to them and is repeating everything but it just slipped out today.
I just told the other mum to mind her own business and didn't make excuses because honestly it's none of her business.
I was called wee poop and all sorts growing up and it never really bothered me.

Maybe she thought you were saying little poof???
Little poop is funny... I've called mine ratbags, pickles, toads, sausages, devils etc. I have no problem with little poop!

I don't think it is a bad thing to say, but just remember kids repeat what they have heard. Would you be happy for them to call a school friend this ?

Well, I’d have never thought of it being like “little shit” until the PPs above mentioned that. The other mum sounds a little OTT confronting you about this.

I used to call my DD “sausage face” - I dread to think what that one will remind MNers of.

Thanks for the replies. It's helped to have some non bias feed back.

Why did you start using the phrase? Because it sounds like you are simply substituting the word poop for the word shit. And the listener knows the substitution.

Most people choose a word completely unconnected with an insult when referring to their children.

I think it's fine and I've said similar to my 2. You could be calling them much, much worse. Some of the replies on here are ridiculous. That other mother sounds like a right big poop.

I was all "ok, ok, fine" until I got to this, because it is the weakest argument her business. I was called wee poop and all sorts growing up and it never really bothered me.

The old "never bothered me or did me any harm"
Which leads me to believe nothing I say will make a difference

Now - That other mother sounds like a right big poop.

Wee besom has made me smile OP. Stick with that.

Unbelievable what people will get their knickers in a twist about.