it really irritates me when people say their baby is flirting

[koolaid]

at adult members of the opposite sex.

As in "oh DS was flirting with all the health visitors at the doctors today"

When all the baby did was smile/gurgle at someone who was showing them a lot of attention, in the way that babies do.

And always said about their DS, no-one who say the same thing about their baby girl.

It just really irks me. AIBU?

i don't think she was talking to you, dog. i think your post was very reasonable and true. i suppose that the sniffy 'stupid adults sexualising babies' tone has got the backs up of those of us who don't use the word flirt in a sexual manner.

any adult who uses the word flirting when describing a baby smiling at an adult is a weirdo.

maybe your kids just didn't do it, stripey? i don't think they all do. dd1 was rotten for it, dd2 not so much. she can turn on the charm, obv, but not as often as dd1 did it.

Pointy is that you?

My post was not aimed at you

Ego, you make a remarkably insightful point.

lol at 'no, you're a weirdo' turn of conversation. but really, ego, people who panic at the use of the word flirt wrt babies are weirdos. and probably crap in bed, with the exception of shiney who is a taaaaart. [ma boswell]

Duuuuuurr. dog of points. but OF COURSE.

LMFAO Aitch

wrt eye batting btw shiney, dd1 practically horse whispered people into her orbit. showing a little attention, taking it away, repeat, giggle etc.

that stripey suit is FANTASTIC on you btw stripey. and your hair? have you had it done?

lol at me being crap in bed just because i think you're weird...

There is a difference between being friendly and smiley, and flirting.

FWIW there has been research (which I am not going to look up, prove, document and hand in to the tutors etc) that babies respond to friendly smiley faces with traditonally attractive features - and to children.

So when baby grins and gurgles at attractive people it is probably because of that.

And the adult with them sees friendly - big eyes, smiling - etc - and as they are adults and know, think "the baby is really going overboard for that pretty woman/fit bloke". That is the adult's interpretation. And possibly the adult notices when others are attractive and doesn't notice when the baby gurgles at old/unattractive people - as the adult notices them less anyway.

Oh and Aitch

I'm clearly in the minority here too.

I couldn't care less about the dictionary definition of flirting (or even sexy)- like everything we say there is more than one meaning and it depends on the context.

And in this case, ie by a parent or close family/friends to their very little ones, it wouldn't even cross my mind that anyone would be offended never mind that they might think it was meant in a sexual context.

I tend to agree with Ponders - some people on here seem to fall over themselves in their efforts to be PC and are really overthinking this. I've never heard anyone in RL worrying it.

lovelytinofspam;

agree that a baby/small child probably responds better to a pretty blond person than a goth dressed in black with piercings everywhere....

i probably respond better to people i find attractive, but wouldn't flirt with many.

laughing at me being PC ....

always think the "PC lot" argument is lame makes me think harrumphing gimmers "what ever happened to good old common sense..."

Ego - if the pretty blonde was frowing and not smiling and stand-offish, the the goth had big eyes and was openly smiling and friendly, the baby would respond more to the goth.

They are the ultimate PC weapon

...i'm a part-time tory, DM reader..and a bit of a goth

In that case I predict that DD would initally smile, but then suddenly frown and pass wind.

In fairness though, that is what she does with everyone

arhhh....i bet she's beautiful.....like her mother....

why are you all

well obviously we are hoping it'll be too difficult for you to understand, sm