Monster baby

[NoTimeLikeThePresent82]

My baby has always affectionately been called a monster, by almost everyone who's met him. Even my husband calls him "Monster Munch." I think I see why, but it's bothering me as he gets a bit older (he's 19 months now.) I think I'm just worried that they might all be right - he looks just like a monster.

He's got the most chilled, happy character in the world, but he's fat, he eats a lot, and he's got a shock of ginger, curly hair. He laughs and smiles all the time, and because he's a pudding, he loves his cuddles. Strangers stop to talk to him in the supermarket and the street - he has this humorous ability to attract people, because he is a funny, sunny baby. People laugh at him in surprise. He doesn't look anything like me. Or my DH.

But he's impossible to keep clean. He acts a bit like a monster in that he's always a state to look at. He's always got mud or dribble, or some muck on him. He's motivated by food, and his HAIR, it's just so wild and well, ORANGE!

I thought he'd be a bit more presentable when his teeth came through but there's big gaps in between the front ones, so if anything, it's made him look even more monstery than before. He's such a happy chappy, I don't want him to be teased but I know people are saying it from a place of love and affection.

AIBU to ask people to stop calling him a monster? It's literally the first thing people say when they see him. He was a big baby when he came out, so he's always been cuddly.

My twins are perfect. They are also called (by me, DH, DS, others....) Piglets. Hoglets. Potato. Boulder head. Bruiser. Big fat sister. Thighs almighty. Little Miss Serious. The shouty one. Boy about town. Pickles. Thing one and thing two. Bert and Ernie. Phil and Grant. Janet the gannet.

They are really big for their age. And these things are said with affection and humour. They're healthy, we love them infinitely, and yes, they're huge. So?

DS was the waffle monster for ages.

Stop worrying about pet names. I've always been known as spider because I've got a teeny body and long stringy limbs. It's a pet name. I don't have a complex that I'm small, hairy and scary

Your boy sounds adorable, he really does.

FWIW, I have three blond-haired, blue-eyed children (they don't take after me!), and they have all been nicknamed "Monster". The littlest one is always getting it, because she is so full of mischief and fun. It's said with the utmost affection, nothing to do with looks, and I imagine it's the same for your little boy too.

It sounds like people are being very tiresome and rude really. I don't blame you for wanting them to show your beautiful baby some minimal respect...I love seeing cute babies out and about and your son sounds super cute, but I would just smile at him or at most say, "what a cutie". He's a person and very soon he's going to start to take note of what people around him are saying. I get this a lot with DS, who is very, ahem, active. "Here comes trouble", "You must have your hands full", "Always up to mischief". It's meant kindly, but I'm convinced one of the reasons I was a clumsy child growing up is because I was repeatedly told (apparently affectionately ) by everyone around me that I was clumsy. If people say it often enough, it must be true, right?

OP he sounds wonderful, and you sound (rightly) besotted with him. I'm not sure where people have gotten the idea that you don't love him enough or aren't grateful to have him I have the impression that you're a little hurt that people are calling him a monster - which is understandable!
I don't think YABU at all to start gently pushing back. At 19 months he'll be starting to understand what people are calling him and he could start finding it hurtful too. I'd start by directing my comments to him, e.g. "Aw, you're not a monster; you're lovely!" and if the other person doesn't start clocking on then have a quiet word with them.

This is a really awful OP. Made me cringe.

My gosh he sounds adorable.

OP, he sounds FABULOUS!!!! I wish we could see him!

I have to say I was called big nose by my dad. I have hated my nose. Every since. So calling your kids all these names like fat. Or potato CAN have an effect.

YABVU to focus on the red hair.

OP, he sounds gorgeous. The pp determined to read your post as meaning you don't like or want him, on the other hand, sound ridiculous.

Awww bless you. Both my girls now 5 and 10 were very chubby babies like mini Michelin men with the rolls down arms and legs and both were very happy and funny babies so drew attention to themselves and we always got comments made like, chunk, fatty,chubby but were mostly said in an affectionate way. But it did sting sometimes and make me feel sad for them. But when they got to around age 2 and were a lot more active they just seemed to get taller and stretch it all out and now they are both keen dainty gymnasts. But if the pet names are bothering you then speak up. And as for his red curly hair...... lucky him. Red hair is very in and envied these days, its not like it used to be years ago

He sounds absolutely adorable

I'm not a lover of children but he sounds adorable. I'd love to see him charging about giggling and getting muddy. He'd definitely make me smile if I had the pleasure to meet him.

but there's big gaps in between the front ones

Well let me reassure you that that is a very good sign. It means that he's adult teeth will have plenty of room to come in and he is unlikely to need brackets.

He sounds gorgeous

You sound quite embarrassed by his looks.

@AKissAndASmile

What do you mean? Why is it a really awful OP? I’m sorry it made you cringe.

My goodness.........

He sounds utterly squishable!

People call babies all sorts of names that, were they given to adults, would get you a smack in the hob! But weirdly when referring to babies they mean cute.
It's very strange indeed but nobody is being mean about your baby, I'd put money on it.

Gob. Bloody autocorrect

He sounds absolutely gorgeous, OP, with the kind of super-cute looks that invite affection from strangers! He obviously gets lots of cuddles and love from you and his family. I love rotund babies and red hair!

I can't imagine that everyone who meet this (very cute-sounding) baby would spontaneously call him a monster. I can imagine it's copied behaviour among the family, but if other people are also doing it, are you sure you're not feeding them the line? It just seems like a weirdly specific and fairly rude thing to call a baby.

I think 'monster' is being used affectionately to mean a big (not mainly meaning 'fat' but growing well), healthy, active child. Being a bit chubby and liking your food as a toddler is quite normal - such babies used to be called 'bonny babies'. We shouldn't be extending current dieting, skinny-supermodel attitudes to those who haven't yet had their second birthday! And healthy toddlers do get dirty; it's a sign that they're active, which is a good thing!

We called out baby Peter Stringfellow on account of his flowing blond strands of hair. We was, and is utterly beautiful as I am sure your baby is.

I must have read a different OP from some PPs, as the OP's description of her DS made me laugh out loud and pushed my broodiness buttons (43, perimenopausal, kids are teens and DH would faint if I suggested a late baby )

Just tell people nicely not to call him a monster. It's clearly affectionate but if it bothers you, or you worry that it might bother him if it sticks, then it should be phased out now.

But oh my good gravy, he sounds like an utter delight!

@NoTimeLikeThePresent82 he sounds adorable! He will have an amazing sunny happy personality, and OH GOSH how I envy him the hair.

I would try to stop describing how he looks, he is a baby and all babies are adorable. If the "monster" thing bothers you, then by all means tell people to call him by his name, or something you like more.

FWIW I call my baby monster, simply because he is like a small tank, rolling around smashing into things and generally being a baby. But would never thing about how he looks or how that makes him look (and he spends his days in the stable so he is never even close to being clean). They are babies, they are supposed to be enjoying life and that means dirt all over.