Can you dictate what people call your child? Or is that unreasonable?

[cocorum]

MIL keeps calling DD first and middle name, every time. Both long names. Sounds ridiculous. There's no hyphen. It's two names. In fact, she has three.

Can I ask her to stop ? Or is that mean ? I hate it. Child is a small baby.

I'm also baffled by this assertion that you can't dictate what people call your child.

Of course you can! You literally give the name to the child. How many people give birth and tell folk "oh, just call the baby what you want, I may have just birthed them but I have no say and no opinion on what you call them."

Middle names aren't normally used when you call someone by their name unless the parents choose to do it.

I agree, a lot of the responses are bizarre.

Nobody expects their child to be referred to by both first and middle name. Most people's middle names are just...there...they don't get used.

Short answer: no

Do not change your child’s name for anyone.

Should your child get older and decide the name should be changed? That’s fine. As it’s THEIR choice

other than that, it does not get changed

Agreed. I've never been referred to using my middle name as well, never heard it happen with family or friends either.

Your MiL is allowed to have her own relationship with her grandchild, including how she uses the names you’ve given your child.

It sounds as though you basically just don’t like your MiL.

You gave your child these names and yet don’t want your MIL to use them. It sounds like a you problem. Don’t stress about it, enjoy your baby. The novelty will probably wear off.

I get that you're annoyed but you genuinely can't force anyone to use the name you chose.

My aunt (in law) does the same. Uses our child's first and middle name because purely by coincidence they share the same middle name.

Other friends use a nickname we didn't give her and don't like. Plenty of other people use an abbreviation I can't stand.

You just grin and bear it. I remember my mum (and cousin) constantly correcting anyone that didn't use the full name of their child (think Michael instead of Mike). People just think you're precious and ignore you.

Unfortunately I think she will just do what she wants. Don't worry when they get old enough to they will be like why do you keep calling me that that's not my name.