Mistakingly confusing sex of a child

[Husbandno3]

Met a work colleague in the park the other day. I did not know she had a child as we arnt that close and mostly discuss work related matters.
The child was about 4 and was dressed in shorts and t shirt. They had long messy hair. I said ‘…and whose this little chap then?’ at the kid who got a bit upset and went to hide behind mum. Turns out, I her name is Charlotte. Obviously immediately apologised, massively embarrassed and mum appeared fine.
But did make me think whether that is something one might take offence to?
Would any of you be offended if someone you didn’t know confused your child’s sex?
People who don’t know the child already, must confuse babies all the time, but at what age do you think you would start to be a bit irked if someone didn’t recognise your child as the sex they are?

My son has long hair, despite it usually being in a joora he sometimes gets called a girl, we don’t care, after all they’re calling him a girl, not something horrible. Sometimes he corrects people, sometimes he doesn’t bother.

we don’t care, after all they’re calling him a girl, not something horrible.
Very healthy attitude. I really wonder why some people get so bent out of shape about this stuff.

My husband confused a boy for a girl in a park once, luckily not in ear shot of his Mum, he had really long blonde hair and admittedly looked like a girl.

My DS and I were last called 'ladies' when he was 14, about 5ft 4, and wearing jeans and t-shirt. You'd think being completely flat chested at 5ft 4 would indicate boy but they just saw the hair I assume.

Sometimes I dress my little girl in clothes that aren't 'girly' and people think she's a boy. It doesn't bother me because I can see how they came to the assumption.

It can be hard enough when they are so young, but so many young boys between covid and fashion have longer hair now, compared to when I was that age. I wouldn't worry.

I used to have short hair when I was a kid and often got confused for a boy. I HATED it.

People mistake my 7yr old long haired son for a girl all the time. Probably doesn't help that he likes to wear a dress sometimes but also happens when he's wearing standard shorts and T-shirt or his school uniform.

It doesn't bother any of us and we don't ever correct anyone. We've taught our son that being a girl isn't a bad thing so it's not an insult when someone calls him one it's just incorrect information. He's comfortable enough in his skin to not be bothered by people getting his gender wrong.

@GreyhoundG1rl

As I said further up thread - my daughter was hugely distressed by people referring to her as a boy after she lost her hair from chemo. It was a really important thing to her. She had lost control over so much already and to feel that the way the world saw her changed so much really, really hurt. Lots of examples here where people don’t care. But some will. Why would you not just stick to gender neutral questions / introductions to respect the feelings of those who are distressed by it?

Sorry to hear that, Chinateapot. Fwiw, I probably would do just that if I was in the habit of talking to random small children...
I think most people getting their knickers in a twist for no actual reason are a bit precious, though.