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.

I can't imagine anything better than having an adorable mini Henry VIII bowling into my life with smiles and big squishy cuddles.

If he turns out to be six foot five and a prop forward (or whatever the name is) for the England Rugby Team, that's brilliant. Maybe that's his genetic destiny, to be called 'Enry or Tank.

Maybe he'll be a pale and pasty, five foot six and 7 stone, balding 22 year old with a degree in Medieval Studies instead. That's what DP was. Oh, and he's got an eating disorder thanks to his parents treating him as a monster because he was a large baby/toddler.

Just enjoy him. Don't call him a monster 'Yes, he is tall for his age', 'His hair is great, isn't it?'.

He ISN'T a monster. He's your adorable boy.

My 13 year old looked like the guy from the goonies the one that people say "hey you guys to" and my son use to giggle so much when people said that to him. I never thought anything bad by it as in my eyes he was perfect and still is part from his attitude lol. He looks nothing like him now but we still say it to him and he still laughs at it..

He sounds adorable.

He sounds adorable, I'm with you saying that it's maybe time to ask people to find a new pet name as he's becoming more aware tho......my niece was known as ' fat ginge ' because she was a huge, bowling ball of a baby. (( In a family full of gingers, we embrace the ginge )) and naturally dropping the fat half when she got to a year or so and she just became ginge.

My ds was known as ' the don ' because of the way he rarely cracked a smile and would sit scrutinising people with his arms crossed........sadly he didn't go on to be a.mafia boss.

He sounds lush! My DS was a sumo baby and a hungry one at that...I was worried about him then he grew then he got chunky again then he grew. He is 5 now and way taller than his classmates and has slimmed right down but still has chubby wrists. He still loves his food - full of energy and enthusiasm and still scruffy and covered in mud. Enjoy your delicious baby just the way he is.

Photo please!

And as long as him being called a monster is said in a playful/affectionate way then I wouldn't worry about him feeling hurt. about it. Its better than some names I've heard people calling kids in the supermarket

Sadly, I think all new babies look pretty ugly as I don’t really like the newborn baby stage, although other people seem to love them.

Thankfully, they grow and change and I think they only become adorable when they get older and develop their personalities.

Honest OP, don’t overthink it. He’ll change so much between now and starting school, so I wouldn’t worry too much.

@Mummyof2girls5and10

And as long as him being called a monster is said in a playful/affectionate way then I wouldn't worry about him feeling hurt. about it. Its better than some names I've heard people calling kids in the supermarket

And my nan always says a messy child is a happy child. If they ever come back from grandmas all clean and tidy as you sent them then they haven't had a good time

My DS is 10 months old but you've described him exactly - hungry, cuddly, chunky, smiley, curly red hair, looks a mess 99% of the time. I think he's the most amazing baby in the world.

and his HAIR, it's just so wild and well, ORANGE!

Seriously. Is this a piss take? Is it now ok to do a bit of casual ginger bashing on mn now. How can you expect other people not to comment on his looks when his own mum is part of the problem? Please don't let him grow up hearing how awful you think his hair is!

He'll get there. Babies/toddlers look terrible until they're more human proportioned! If they were an animal, they wouldn't even be born....human's produce weird, ugly, undercooked offspring! But they get there with time.

If you feel he's overweight and dirty, that's pretty much your job to sort out. Carry wipes, wipe his mouth, put on clean clothes. No need to look grubby.

@NoTimeLikeThePresent82
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.

Yikes. Having red hair is not a bad trait, really. This weird prejudice lots of English people have against red heads is bizarre especially in the 21st century.

But either way, I'm not particularly fond of kids but your description of him sounds adorable and made me want to squish him. Enjoy the baby you have, he sounds great. I also love the nickname "monster". It's super cute.

Who are these people you know/ encounter? It would never occur to me to call a baby/ toddler a monster.

I have sometimes heard of small children being called little monsters,because they are quirky, quick moving,and get up to some little mischiefs at times,that make people laugh, so no bad thing at all.Your son sounds like a little fun guy to me.

You talk about him like a big slobbery labrador!! "Motivated by food" ffs. Horrible. I don't think any upset he feels will come from other people. You're doing a grand job yourself.

poor baby, why you have to mention his ginger hair too....

@MissBaskinIfYoureNasty

He is like a big slobbery Labrador.....that doesn’t mean I don’t love him! My post was supposed to be lighthearted but it’s clear from some of the responses on here that some people have a humour bypass!

But thank-you for commenting so negatively. Hope you feel better now.

Thanks to everyone who has given advice based on the original concern. I think i’ll deflect monster comments by replacing them with a positive statement so he doesn’t begin to think it’s his name!!

I think a gentle "I think we better stop calling him that now he is getting to the age of understanding and possibly being upset by it" should stop close family. Important you lead by example though if you want people to remember and understand it is a habit that may take a few reminders to stop.

He sounds gorgeous! Body, mind and wrapping!

My three started off at 6,8 & 9lb respectively then consumed breast milk by the gallon until they were all off 98th centile by three five months (you can't over feed a bf baby. Really?). Carried on scoffing once weaned, very healthy diet.

We once 'staged' a photo of ds1 with bottle of full fat coke & greggs sausage roll, propped against his rolls of arm fat. 😂

As years went by, they all followed exactly same height/weight curve pattern to even up as average height, just below average weight for age 14, 12, 9.

I'm v sad none inherited my ginger hair😭.

They do however know we love them as they are. I grew up with parents with strict criteria how you should look, and felt invalid. My children are told everyday how special they are, how unique the are, how its OK to be different. How their bodies change and to love their own body. Right from the earliest age.

That includes being respectful. I don't like being called a shortened version of my name - I'll correct people. You are your child's advocate. Do the same for them. When people you don't know say something you don't like, just say 'we call him x. We prefer to say that to him'. If it is people you know well, take them to one side and explain... 'he's at the stage where he's parroting a lot of language now, please use his name, using monster isn't appropriate'

I've been looking back at photos. Change is so fast at the 18-36 months stage.

It's uncomfortable to hear you speak that way about your own child. He sounds like a lovely, happy boy

Bit gingerist?

I agree to gently stop calling him "monster" now he's a bit older, but also to stop referring to (or thinking about) ginger hair as a negative might be helpful too.

It's either tiny and precious, wow that hair, a little doll, chunky monkey, little monster. Honestly I wouldn't read too much into it!