AIBU?
"Baby" as a petname for my kids
ourflagmeansdeath · 18/03/2023 22:23
I feel as if I'm not being unreasonable but I just wanted to check.
I call all 3 of my children the pet term "baby" - 19 year old son, 14 year old daughter and 5 year old daughter.
I met an old friend recently and when I referred to my 14 year old as this she looked me horrified. And asked if I said this to all my children. I said yes, it's just a habit really and they don't mind/don't notice me doing it at all.
She said I should have stopped for my teens ages ago, and should be considering stopping for the 5 year old as none of them are "babies" and this is a term used with relationships.
I don't agree personally because of course I know they're not babies but they'll always be MY babies. And if her argument is that surely it makes no sense to use this term in a relationship because your partner is not your baby??
Please tell me if I'm wrong though and I've missed something.
Am I being unreasonable?
AIBUYou have one vote. All votes are anonymous.
LolaSmiles · 18/03/2023 22:42
Ha. I just posted to say exactly the opposite. it’s a funny world
That's quite funny.
To me baby as in "hey baby" is definitely more of a romantic thing in a way that darling isn't.
Although I'd not use "my babies" myself, I've only ever known people use it in a silly way to talk about their children. If they genuinely babied their kids then it would probably get on my nerves though.
It's a funny world indeed.
derbylass81 · 18/03/2023 22:53
I don't particularly use it but I don't see a problem in calling your own child this, because they actually were your baby and therefore always will be. Like "hiya baby" to me seems fine.
But calling them baby when talking to other ppl, not sure how that would work?
People who call their partners baby: 
🤢 🤢 yuck
iwontforgetyoumyfriendwhathappened · 18/03/2023 22:55
derbylass81 · 18/03/2023 22:53
I don't particularly use it but I don't see a problem in calling your own child this, because they actually were your baby and therefore always will be. Like "hiya baby" to me seems fine.
But calling them baby when talking to other ppl, not sure how that would work?
People who call their partners baby: 🤢 🤢 yuck
🙋♀️ Me! I call my hubby 'baby' 🤣
(Chucked a 'hubby' in there for all your cringing needs)
iwontforgetyoumyfriendwhathappened · 18/03/2023 22:59
derbylass81 · 18/03/2023 22:58
@iwontforgetyoumyfriendwhathappened fair enough.
It just gives me the creeps using the word baby in a sexual relationship. I just don't get it and cringe a bit when I hear it.
Different strokes for different folks, as they say!
Absolutely, would be a dull world if we were all the same.
ourflagmeansdeath · 18/03/2023 23:01
Albiboba · 18/03/2023 22:37
I met an old friend recently and when I referred to my 14 year old as this she looked me horrified.
I can’t really work out how you said this or in what context. Sure, they will always be YOUR babies and even as a pet name to them is one thing but are you referring to your 14 year old as ‘a baby/the baby’ to your friend?
As in ‘remember Karen, I have to leave by 3pm to pick the baby up’?
No I don't really do that, it was more like "Baby could you get a spoon for me please?" Would that be considered an issue?
gemloving · 18/03/2023 23:02
Sounds personal in my opinion and just call them what you want as long as they don't mind.
I only call my unborn child in my belly baby. I don't call my 1 or 4 year old babies although, wait... I did say the other day, you won't be the baby much longer as my 1 year old still is the baby of the family but as we're growing, he just naturally won't be the baby anymore. I don't actually use it as his name, I call him by his name.
Widowtoaworkaholic · 18/03/2023 23:02
Babes, bubba, bubs, baby.... it's normal surely? If anything baby for a partner is weirder than for your child who was actually a baby once upon a time. FYI- I don't object to being called baby by my husband, my aunt is referred to as baby as ages the youngest of her siblings/cousins. It's just a pet name x
NadjaCravensworth1 · 18/03/2023 23:08
RosaBonheur · 18/03/2023 23:05
Well my kids still are babies, but in general I think it's far less weird to use "baby" as a term of endearment for someone you gave birth to than for someone you are having sex with.
Hahaa so true, why is this acceptable?!!
ourflagmeansdeath · 18/03/2023 23:10
RosaBonheur · 18/03/2023 23:05
Well my kids still are babies, but in general I think it's far less weird to use "baby" as a term of endearment for someone you gave birth to than for someone you are having sex with.
This made me laugh, thanks 😂
thinkhorsesnotzebra · 18/03/2023 23:11
My siblings and I are all in our 30s and my Mum will often say to us something like 'are you ok baby?' it is now being extended to grandchildren and it not the only term of endearment she uses.
If my husband called me baby though I would laugh at him as that would seem very weird to me
nc13467 · 18/03/2023 23:11
So were you addressing your teen dc as "baby" in the presence of your friend, as in "baby can you pass me the spoon please?" And your friend overheard?
Or we're you having a conversation with your friends and refer to you teen DC as a baby?
IMO the first is totally normal/acceptable, latter is a bit cringey. It's personal taste but I'd find it a bit "icky"'
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.