Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To call my child this?

135 replies

Ayemama · 29/07/2019 15:57

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.

OP posts:
BillieEilish · 29/07/2019 16:51

Pancake, sadly I think it from the 'poo' emoji/Americanisms on youtube etc and DC's love, generally of the naughty word 'poo'!

I hate poop, I love poo!

Cohle · 29/07/2019 16:52

She compared her child to excrement.

The fact she did it in a twee manner doesn't make it ok.

BillieEilish · 29/07/2019 16:54

Grin Grin

Thesearmsofmine · 29/07/2019 16:57

It’s a weird term to me but I wouldn’t be bothered hearing it. Little poop isn’t the same as little shit just as go away isn’t the same as fuck off.

My dc have been called various things over the years pickle/toad/sausage and so on. Often said in a joking way to snap them out of whatever they are doing.

CrispSandwiches19 · 29/07/2019 16:57

It's fine.. Its not going to damage them
I've heard worse much worse..

beluga425 · 29/07/2019 16:57

Whike it's not that big a deal, your DC is highly likely to repeat it, maybe even call another child or teacher that at some point.
DC"s teacher wasn't impressed to be called a cheeky bugger!

SoundsAboutRight · 29/07/2019 16:57

I wouldn't say anything because it's not my business, it's hardly child abuse, and as others have said, we've all heard kids called far worse. But that doesn't mean just because it's not as bad that it's okay... I would be a bit Hmm because a) it sounds weird and b) it does sound like what you actually mean is "little shit!" Which I've said many times in my head but never out loud!

BillieEilish · 29/07/2019 16:58

OP be very aware that calling your child 'sponge Bob square pants' is a very derogatory thing and comparing him to below standard underwear.

In fact, it should not ever be on in the house. You really don't want you DC's thinking about poo or underwear or anything of the sort.

It is not the same as being hit as a child FFS Hmm Shame on the poster that said that.

Purplecatshopaholic · 29/07/2019 16:59

I don’t think being called little poop would have cost me years in therapy. I was called silly sausage... still traumatised...

ithinkiammelting · 29/07/2019 16:59

I called mine 'silly sausage twitface' Grin

BillieEilish · 29/07/2019 17:00

(I was being sarcastic OP!)

Oysterbabe · 29/07/2019 17:00

Mine get called pickle, scallywag or ratbag. Mostly just to try and make them laugh

Goldenbear · 29/07/2019 17:01

It's a euphemism for 'shit' so it is distasteful when talking to a very young child. I think older children, pre-teen and teenagers are different as if it is said in a funny way, they would laugh with you- the power is more balanced with insults at that age.

MitziK · 29/07/2019 17:02

'You furry wee shite' is acceptable for DTwatCats. Not so for children, IMO.

There are better words to use than calling your own child a small turd.

0lapislazuli · 29/07/2019 17:04

It depends if you’re ok with your kids calling other kids that, because they will start copying you. I would not be happy with that.

mathanxiety · 29/07/2019 17:08

It is not the same as being hit as a child FFS hmm Shame on the poster that said that

I didn't say that, BillieEilish.

The OP said she was called names as a child and it didn't hurt her. I said plenty of people have stories of being smacked as a child 'and it didn't do any harm'.

The point is that practices of previous generations were not always a good thing, and that there may well be effects that people either don't understand or don't want to think about.

BertrandRussell · 29/07/2019 17:08

Dingbat in this family.

But I’d need video evidence of the person coming over......

TheRealShatParp · 29/07/2019 17:08

It’s not something I’d say but wouldn’t get worked up hearing it. Perhaps your tone wasn’t as gentle as you imagine. It’s natural to say things a little sterner when we’re disciplining our children, isn’t it?

Naldorian · 29/07/2019 17:12

Eh, don't think it would be a big deal for a kid to call another kid 'a little poop' at nursery either... DDs friend from nursery said ''Bye-bye poo-poo head" to mine the other week, mine replied ''Bye poop snaaaaaaail''... (Not something she ever said before!), which they both found hilarious, well that's 3 years old for you.

MissPollyHadADolly19 · 29/07/2019 17:15

Lol this is hilarious!
It's no where near comparable to being called a little shit Hmm ffs shit is a swear word, poop/poo is not.
I call my DD6 a tramp when she's got grubby hands/face or is wearing socks that have seen better days and I'm sure I'd get flamed for that!

Naldorian · 29/07/2019 17:17

'Little moo' was common when I was growing up, and yeah it clearly comes from 'cow', but it was never said in the tone of a telling off, it was usually when having a cheeky joke as a kid and my grandfather would laugh and go 'ohhh, you cheeky moo' so to me, it's fond memories and not bad.

Jupiter13 · 29/07/2019 17:19

A little poop seems really nice....wish I was called that...tell the women to mind her own business... busy body. Good luck.☺️☺️☺️☺️

YourSarcasmIsDripping · 29/07/2019 17:23

Well I used to call DD (mostly to others) a little haemorrhoid when she was a baby/toddler because she was such a pain in the ass.Grin

1stmonkey · 29/07/2019 17:23

You're absolutely fine... she was being a massive poop for interfering.
Children need to know when their behaviour isn't good enough and this is a simple, harmless way of letting them know.
Objections to the word come from an adult association/understanding of the term. Your children know what you mean and that is what matters.
I know i've said much worse!

Original poster
Ayemama · 29/07/2019 17:26

Thanks for the replies.
I see a lot of you do thing I am BU and that's ok I was looking for perspective as it never occurred to me as being harmful especially as my children as happy, clever beautiful and very much know they are loved and adored.

I just asked her if she was ready to stop
Being a little poop, it definitely wasn't said harshly but I do understand why some people wouldn't like it.

Like I mentioned before I mostly call her my wee bism/besm depending now as she is repeating things more and more often.

And I told the woman to mind her own business as I genuinely give zero flying f*cks what she thinks of me, if it had been someone who mattered to us I'd have had a discussion about it.

The comment about being called it myself was mostly in response to a PP who had similar.
And tbh I'm not sure where it came from I remember some one mentioning how toddlers have wee poop days where they behave badly and perhaps it came from there?

I'm definitely sticking with wee bism as that's what I prefer to call them anyway and it suits them both

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread